《From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea鈥檚  Ascent (Anthea )》


 Chapter 1

    Anthea Yeager¡¯s eyes fluttered open to a world of darkness, the thick scent of stale beer invading


    her nostrils. Though sight failed her, her keen senses as a tech mogul whispered a truth. It was no


    longer the world she knew.


    Where was she? Was she even alive?


    Fumbling for a switch, Anthea flicked on the light.


    Click!


    The room flooded with a harsh, sterile glow, and Anthea surveyed her surroundings with a steely


    calm. Drawn curtains, a sea of empty beer bottles, and cigarette butts strewn across the floor were


    all signs of a soul in the throes of despair.


    Memories cascaded into her mind, and as she methodically pieced them together, one conclusion


    became clear. She had undergone a soul journey, and now her spirit resided in an unfamiliar body,


    retaining the original host¡¯s memories.


    The original Anthea Morris was an object of envy, a silver¨Cspoon heiress born into opulence but


    regrettably bereft ofmon sense. Illiterate in more ways than one, her high school peers knew


    her as the family¡¯sughingstock.


    Three days prior, the Morris family had uncovered a shocking truth that Anthea was not their


    biological daughter but a child mistakenly swapped at the hospital.


    The revtion had rocked her world, leaving it utterly colorless. Already distant, the Morris family


    viewed her with undisguised disdain.


    The true heiress was Reba Yeager, a paragon of grace and talent, whose aplishments


    outshone the original¡¯Anthea¡¯s like the sun does the moon.


    As Reba would officially reim her ce in the Morris family, avish feast awaited her


    downstairs, attended by the big shots of society.


    With the past dissected and understood, Anthea steeled herself for the switch. The lives they each


    should have lived were about to be corrected.


    Intent on washing away the stench of alcohol and sweat, Anthea opened the wardrobe, only to be


    assaulted by an array of outfits that screamed rebellion, like tops with necklines plunging like stock


    markets and shorts that could pass for belts, studded pants, fis stockings.


    The reflection in the mirror, a caricature of subculture extremes, nearly floored her.


    ¡°No way!¡±


    With no semnce of normalcy in sight, she abandoned the shower idea, instead throwing on a


    long¨Csleeved cover¨Cup over the oundish makeup and headed downstairs.


    ¡°Mom, Dad.¡± Anthea approached the Morris couple, her voice steady.


    The guests sneered at her appearance. It was Reba¡¯s day. What business did this fake heiress


    have there, calling the Morris parents her own? Could she be more shameless?


    ¡°What is she doing here? I would have long killed myself if I were her. What¡¯s the point of still


    breathing here? Shame on her!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s ugly and a troublemaker!¡±


    ¡°I heard that her birth mother, Carole Yeager, is of low birth and hasn¡¯t got a ce to stay. Anthea¡¯s


    been used to this extravagant life and doesn¡¯t want to leave.¡±


    ¡°Do you guys know Carole is a home wrecker? God knows who Anthea¡¯s father is.¡±


    ¡°Gosh, it turns out she¡¯s a bastard child.¡±


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    Their cruel whispers cut through the air, but Anthea stood unflinching, a mountain amidst the storm.


    With a smile that barely concealed her contempt, Sandra Morris beckoned Anthea closer. ¡°Come


    here. Let me introduce you to your sister, Reba. You two¨Cmust get along.¡±


    It was no secret that Sandra loathed Anthea, who clung to the Morris name like a stubborn stain.


    But they had ways to erase her from existence altogether.


    Anthea turned to Reba with a nod. ¡°Hello.¡±


    Reba ignored her, instead turning to Sandra with tears brimming. ¡°Mom, I thought I only had two


    brothers. Who am I if she¡¯s your daughter?¡±


    Reba had always felt out of ce, a princess among paupers, repelled by the dreary cer of


    her supposed upbringing. She hated the low lives around her and never believed she was the


    daughter of a mistress. And her intuition was correct. She was nobility, misced among


    After hearing the news, her joy was uncontainable. Yet, her past life haunted her, a well¨Cdealt hand


    yed disastrously. Misguided by a deceptive suitor, she had met a tragic end.


    But this life was not thest. Reborn with the memories of her previous existence, Reba held a


    trump card the average personcked. She would not repeat the mistakes of her past.


    In this life, she would surely outshine them all!


    She was determined to make her parents beam with pride!


    She aimed to elevate the Morris name to be the most distinguished in all of Cloudcrest.


    Moreover, ording to her memory, tonight¡¯s g was graced by a tycoon whose mere foot tap


    could send tremors through Cloudcrest. Sadly, the crowd was thick as thieves, and in her past life,


    she had never met this elusive magnate.


    But with a beauty that could make the moon hide in shame and swans plummet from the sky. she


    was confident she would catch the tycoon¡¯s eye. She would make herself indispensable to him.


    11:15


    In this life, she would not allow Anthea to slip away so effortlessly as she did in her previous


    onel


    Did Anthea wish to remain with the Morris family? Well, then she would grant her that wish!


    She would keep Anthea close and turn her into the foil that entuated her brilliance. She also


    Intended to marry Anthea to that brute from her previous life! She would ensure that Anthea, the


    eyesore, became nothing more than a stepping stone for her ascent!


    With these thoughts, Reba¡¯s lips curled into a sly grin, a barely perceptible look of fierce


    determination twinkling in her eyes.

 Chapter 2

    In the far corner of the grand hall, two men were seated.


    The man sitting in the higher position wore a ck fedora that cast a shadow over his features.


    obscuring them further behind curls of cigarette smoke. His long, delicate fingers, elegant even


    while holding the cigarette, stood in stark contrast to the dark beads of a rosary he twirled in his


    other hand, which only entuated the pallor of his skin.


    He was in a in, a neatly buttoned suit that spoke of a disciplined elegance but with an air of


    austerity that made him imposing. His face was hard to discern, but the authority in him was


    impossible to ignore..


    With a handsome and carefree face, the other man fixed his eyes on Anthea. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have


    believed such shameless people like Anthea existed if I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes,¡± he said.


    ¡°She¡¯s a cuckoo in the nest, a jackal in sheep¡¯s clothing. Sherman, your fianc¨¦e¡¯s behavior is


    despicable.¡±


    To a bystander, Anthea¡¯s actions were indeed shameless. As an imposter, she dared to interfere


    even in a family reunion for the true heiress!


    At this point, the speaker, Daniel Robinson, a prominent figure in Capital City, paused and then.


    added, ¡°Wait! The one engaged to you is the true Morris heiress. This counterfeit has nothing. to do


    with you!¡±


    Such low¨Cquality goods weren¡¯t even worthy of tying Sherman¡¯s shoes.


    Despite the Morris family¡¯s diminished status in Cloudcrest, they wouldn¡¯t usually have the clout to


    summon someone of his standing.


    But how could he refuse when Sherman was engaged to the Morris family¡¯s true heir?


    Daniel was merely apanying Sherman for the visit.


    The man across from him, named Sherman Christensen, sat with crossed legs, his noble bearing


    exuding a chilling aloofness, an aura of frost about him.


    With a sigh, Daniel said, ¡°Poor Reba, to have her identity usurped for so many years, and now


    she¡¯s forced to acknowledge this impostor as her sister.¡±


    It was a situation no one would envy.


    Looking up at Sherman, hemented, ¡°But honestly, Sherman, I have never expected your


    unseen fianc¨¦e to be so attractive! I didn¡¯t think a small ce like Cloudcrest could have such


    beauties.¡±


    After all, Reba was of Morris¡® blood and naturally beautiful. How else could she be the campus


    belle?


    Besides the heavily made¨Cup Anthea, Reba¡¯s beauty stood out even more strikingly.


    Sherman finally looked up, his eyes deep and mysterious, with a red mole above the corner of his


    eye, adding a touch of morbidity to his otherwise fierce and untamed appearance.


    He was not an easy man to serve.


    ¡°Shut up. You¡¯re talking too much, Sherman said in a voice that was cold and resonant, the kind of


    tone that could take one¡¯s breath away.


    Daniel flinched but mustered the courage to ask, ¡°Sherman, you¡¯re still engaged to the true Morris


    heiress, and the Christensen and Morris families have been close for years. What if Adah and


    Karen insist you marry the Morris heiress?¡±


    ¡°Do you have someone else in mind? A crush in your heart?¡± Daniel prodded further.


    ¡°A crush?¡± Sherman¡¯s handsome brow furrowed slightly.


    Daniel exined, ¡°Yeah, I mean someone you¡¯re in love with, someone you adore so much that you


    can¡¯t imagine marrying anyone else.¡±


    Sherman shook his head slightly. ¡°There¡¯s no one now, and there won¡¯t be in the future.¡±


    Daniel didn¡¯t doubt Sherman¡¯s words.


    Daniel had known Sherman for over ten years, but he had never seen Sherman close to any


    woman.


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    Not only had he not seen it, but Sherman also led a life of asceticism, spending his days in the


    office or seeking inner peace in nearby chapels, immersed in churching and spiritual teachings.


    If Sherman ever decided to take holy orders, Daniel wouldn¡¯t find it surprising.


    Reba continued her pressure, ying the pitiful victim, swaying public opinion toward her side.


    Just on the matter of the true and false heiress, Reba had already won.


    Anthea knew her ce and said to Reba. ¡°Ms. Morris, I¡¯m sorry for taking over your life for


    eighteen years. I¡¯ll leave immediately and return to where I belong. From now on, the title of Ms.


    Morris returns to its rightful owner, and I shall go by Anthea Yeager.¡°.


    It had never been Anthea Yeager¡¯s home or Anthea Morris, the original host¡¯s home. Therefore, she


    had no intention of overstaying her wee.


    Reba was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected Anthea to volunteer to leave, a departure from the past


    she knew.


    In the previous life, Anthea had clung to the Morris family, only to be despised and eventually


    eliminated by them.


    Reba had nned to discredit this shameless woman thoroughly, but Anthea¡¯s sudden decision


    to leave thwarted her.


    Was the woman retreating as a tactic, feigning helplessness to gain sympathy?


    With that thought, a trace of disdain flickered in Reba¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Could a simpleton like Anthea y mind games with me? Dream on!¡± she thought, ¡°I¡¯m the phoenix


    soaring in the heavens. And Anthea? She wasn¡¯t even worthy of being called a sparrow!¡±


    With a lightugh and a mocking curve to her lips, Reba said, ¡°Anthea, you¡¯ve stolen my life for


    eighteen years, living in luxury, and now, you think a simple apology is enough for forgiveness?¡±


    Anthea¡¯s expression was as calm as a still pond. ¡°Let me set the record straight. The person


    responsible for the mix¨Cup that swapped our lives for thest eighteen years isn¡¯t me, you, or our


    parents. It¡¯s human nature to harbor resentment, and it¡¯s reasonable for you to be angry with me,


    but the one you should truly me is the hospital. Were it not for their negligence, our lives would


    never have been entangled this way! Ms. Morris, we were babes in arms back then. Neither of us


    wronged the other, and the question of forgiveness doesn¡¯t evene into y.¡±


    Despite the original Anthea¡¯s reputation being somewhat less than ster, she had never done


    anything to harm Reba.


    Still, Reba¡¯s bitterness toward her was understandable. After all, anyone in such a situation


    would struggle to cope.


    But Reba had no right to be so aggressive, especially when Anthea was ready to step back!


    The original Anthea had been nothing more than an infant, a baby without a choice in her fate.


    Reba let out a scornfulugh, her eyes filled with disdain. ¡°Do you think a hospital, a ce of


    supposed sanctity and precision, could make a mistake as grave as switching babies?¡±

 Chapter 3

    Reba¡¯s words hung in the air, neither too heavy nor too light, yet they stirred a wave of murmurs


    among the crowd.


    Indeed! How could a baby mix¨Cup happen in a hospital? Maybe it was an intentional switch, a real¨C


    life changeling story.-


    Anthea¡¯s biological mother was known as a home wrecker, and what lower act wouldn¡¯t she


    stoop to?


    Anyone else might have been scared by Reba¡¯s usation, but the woman standing before


    Reba was a soul¨Cchanged Anthea, a titan who had once stood at the pinnacle of the world.


    Anthea slightly lowered her gaze, looking at Reba with a calm voice. ¡°Ms. Morris, you seem so


    convinced, and one would assume you have ample evidence to prove it was a deliberate act. Our


    Luxphinia Country¡¯sws are fair and just. Justice serves everyone right. I¡¯ll await Ms. Morris at the


    courthouse, ready to face any ims with evidence!¡±


    Reba squinted her eyes, sensing an inexplicable unease. This woman was Anthea, so why did


    she feel threatened? Was she losing to Anthea?


    Reba managed to calm down, continuing, ¡°It¡¯s been eighteen years. Any evidence has been.


    buried by time. You¡¯re grasping at straws!¡±


    Anthea offered a slight smile. ¡°In the absence of evidence, your actions might be called spection


    at best and, at worst, false usation. To be more severe, here in Luxphinia, we have defamation


    of character!¡±


    The strange feeling inside Reba intensified. She knew she couldn¡¯t continue this argument. with


    Anthea. After all, it was the underdog who captured the gaze and sympathy of the crowd.


    She needed to recapture their attention. Reba¡¯s eyes welled up, her voice choked with emotion,


    ¡°You¡¯ve taken my ce in my family for eighteen years, living the good life, while I was stuck with


    your despicable mother in that dark, damp basement, unsure of my next meal! Anthea, what right


    do you have to stand there and judge me!¡±


    Sandra trembled with fury, holding Reba¡¯s hand tightly.


    They had lived in a high¨Crise vi while her darling daughternguished in a basement.


    Was a basement a fit ce for anyone to live?


    Sandra could have strangled Anthea right then and there.


    The others looked on with faces full of sympathy toward Reba.


    Anthea looked up slightly. ¡°We are both victims here. I¡¯m not ming you. I¡¯m just stating the facts.


    Moreover, I¡¯ve already said I would leave this ce. From now on, I¡¯ll be Anthea Yeager, with no


    ties to the Morris family. There¡¯s no need for you to cling to this.¡±


    Eyes red, Reba retorted, ¡°I¡¯m not clinging to anything! Why must you be so aggressive? I¡¯m just


    saying that something about the past seems suspicious! I know you don¡¯t want to leave my family.


    After all, you¡¯ve been my parents¡® daughter for so many years! I¡¯ll treat you like a sister from now


    on¡­


    ¡°My God, Sherman! Your fianc¨¦e is too kind! Even after all this, she¡¯s willing to forgive the impostor!¡±


    Daniel was moved beyond words, having never seen someone as benevolent as Reba. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    After hearing that, the surrounding crowd started praising Reba for her kindness.


    Anthea smiled. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, but this ce is not my home.¡±


    Reba was shocked. What was going on with Anthea?


    She had offered her a chance to stay, yet Anthea still chose to leave.


    Daly Morris immediately gestured for someone to bring a document. ¡°Since you¡¯ve decided to leave,


    please sign this ¡®Deed of Separation.¡°¡±


    In Luxphinia, an adopted daughter had inheritance rights. Since Anthea had decided to sever ties


    with the Morris family, Daly wouldn¡¯t intend to leave a legacy to someone essentially a stranger after


    a century.

 Chapter 4

    Anthea didn¡¯t hesitate for a second before scribbling her name on the bottom of the document.


    There were two copies of the deed.-


    Pocketing one, she turned to Daly and Sandra and said, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Morris, goodbye.¡±


    She had signed the deed, and there was no need to call them Mom and Dad anymore.


    Continuing to use those terms would only raise suspicions of ulterior motives.


    With those words, Anthea dropped to her knees, bowing her head solemnly to the ground before


    Daly and Sandra. ¡°Thank you for all the years of care and upbringing.¡±


    One should always be grateful. She was kneeling for the person her soul upied, not for herself.


    But Reba couldn¡¯t let Anthea walk away just like that! She still needed Anthea to pave the way


    for her ns!


    Who would marry that good¨Cfor¨Cnothing if Anthea left?


    An evil look shed across Reba¡¯s face before a mask of concern. ¡°Anthea, I truly wish you¡¯d


    reconsider. It¡¯s easy to go from frugality to luxury but hard the other way around. I¡¯m worried you


    won¡¯t adapt to basement living. Stay, and let¡¯s honor our parents together.¡±


    Reba¡¯s words were a masterpiece of maniption.


    First, she implied that Anthea was an ingrate, ready to abandon her family without repaying their


    kindness.


    Second, she was parading her generosity in front of everyone.


    Upon hearing this, the onlookers turned to Anthea with mixed expressions.


    Indeed, was Anthea so heartless? She was ready to leave without repaying her debt of gratitude!


    Anthea turned slightly and said coldly. ¡°Ms. Morris, if memory serves, my own mother has also


    raised you for eighteen years. Why don¡¯t you stay by her side and repay her kindness?¡±


    Reba was stunned.


    Anthea didn¡¯t give Reba a chance to retort, rising smoothly from her knees, chin tilted. slightly


    upward as the light cast a snowy glow on her face, ¡°Do not do unto others what you do not want


    done unto yourself.¡±


    Reba could hardly believe that this person before her was Anthea!


    What on earth was happening?


    How had Anthea, the durd, be so articte? Could this be the butterfly effect of her


    rebirth?


    Ready to leave, Anthea nced back, her gaze colliding with a pair of profound eyes.


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    Sherman narrowed his eyes slightly, an intimidating aura lurking within.


    She remained unfazed, casually indifferent.


    Sherman was dressed in a vintage frock coat, meticulously buttoned to the top, his chiseled jawline


    wless, his skin an icy shade of pale, with a nicely tall nose and an air of asceticism, exuding an


    aura of someone who looked down upon the world.


    Experienced in reading people, Anthea knew this man was no ordinary scion of power and certainly


    not someone to mess with. She didn¡¯t want to be targeted by someone like him.


    In an instant, Anthea shifted her gaze subtly and turned to leave.


    Sherman watched the direction in which Anthea disappeared, his face expressionless, his long.


    finger tapping the tabletop rhythmically.


    ¡°Sherman, what are you looking at?¡± Daniel asked curiously, peering into the darkness where.


    Anthea¡¯s figure had vanished.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Sherman stood up, stubbing the half¨Csmoked cigarette in the ashtray, ¡°Let¡¯s head.


    back.¡±


    ¡°Sherman, aren¡¯t you going to see your fianc¨¦e?¡±


    Daniel lifted his gaze, only to find Sherman¡¯s tall silhouette was already at the door.


    Daniel hurried to catch up, calling out. ¡°Sherman, wait for me!¡±

 Chapter 5

    Reba watched with a malicious gaze as Anthea disappeared into the distance.


    ¡°In this life, I¡¯m destined for greatness. I¡¯m the homing queen! I¡¯m the heiress to the Morris


    family! What right did Anthea, that lowly pauper, have to challenge me? Even if Anthea managed to


    break away from the Morris family, she could never escape her fate as a stepping stone for me.¡±


    That was what Reba thought.


    Rebirth had honed Reba¡¯s acting skills to perfection. Onlookers might even believe she was


    distraught over Anthea¡¯s departure.


    Sandra was beside herself with pity.


    In her eyes, Reba was such a good child, too kind¨Chearted.


    Anthea had stolen everything from her, yet Reba couldn¡¯t bear to see that waste of space go,


    even suggesting to treat Anthea like a sister.


    ¡°My sweet girl, I know you have a heart of gold and can¡¯t stand to see her leave, but she¡¯s not worth


    your kindness. Anthea is nothing but an ungrateful wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing!¡± Sandramented and


    added, ¡°By the way, Reba, how has your foster mother treated you all these years?¡±


    ¡°I almost dropped out of high school in my first year because my foster mother wouldn¡¯t pay my


    tuition. I was only saved because the principal waived the school fees due to my outstanding


    grades. When I was in elementary school, everyone called me an unwanted bastard¡­¡± By the end,


    Reba was sobbing uncontrobly.


    But the fact was that her foster mother had been nothing but kind, never letting Reba want for


    anything, cherishing her as if she were her darling girl.


    Even knowing Reba wasn¡¯t her birth child, she worried that returning to the Morris family would


    bring Reba scorn and bullying, so she gave Reba all her savings to help her stand


    tall.


    Reba dared to twist the truth brazenly because she knew no one there was ¡®privy to the reality.


    After all, evil exists to highlight the good in the world.


    Without the green leaves, the red flowers wouldn¡¯t stand out.


    The lesser folks were born only to serve as a backdrop to her brilliance.


    < SF SE


    When Reba finished her tale, the crowd looked on with righteous anger.


    From Reba¡¯s story, it wasn¡¯t hard to deduce that the foster mother had orchestrated the baby¨C


    switching.


    It was one heck of a well¨Cthought¨Cout pauper prince plot! Otherwise, why would the foster


    mother refuse to pay for Reba¡¯s education?


    She wanted Reba to grow up uneducated and worthless.


    That was utterly despicable!


    Sandra hugged Reba, crying. ¡°My poor child, how could she treat you like this? That bitch¡­¡±


    Reba patted Sandra¡¯s shoulder, her toneced with sorrow, ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯ve grown ustomed


    to it over the years. I¡¯m not her daughter, after all¡­¡±


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    ¡°My dear, you¡¯ve suffered so much¡­¡± Sandra clutched Reba with guilt and sympathy.


    In the corner, hidden from everyone¡¯s sight, Reba¡¯s lips curled into a smug smile.


    Her n had worked. Everything in this life was under her control.


    She bet that enigmatic tycoon was watching her from the shadows.


    Following the memories of the original host, Anthea went to the ce of her birth mother, Carole.


    Carole lived in the cheapest basement apartment in Cloudcrest.


    It was a den of filth and darkness, damp and musty, where daylight never ventured.


    It was dinner time, and families were eating by their doorways, tes in hand. They looked up


    curiously as Anthea approached.


    The slum had never seen anyone like Anthea before.


    The original Anthea had worn thick makeup that only amplified her brooding and paranoid aura,


    overshadowing her natural radiance.


    But Anthea was unlike her predecessor. She was a formidable tech mogul whomanded.


    respect, someone even the world leaders would treat with deference. Despite the heavy makeup,


    she exuded an aura of superiority that others couldn¡¯t replicate.


    Under the watchful gaze of the residents, Anthea knocked on the tightly shut door.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock.¡±


    After a long wait, the door finally creaked open.


    Anthea saw a pale, sickly middle¨Caged woman radiating a pathetic yet endearing air.


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re Anthea?¡± Carole gasped in astonishment as she beheld Anthea. She stood frozen


    with her eyes filled with disbelief.

 Chapter 6

    Anthea looked at Carole, her eyes softening. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m home.¡±


    ¡°What¡­ what did you just call me?¡± Tears welled up in Carole¡¯s eyes.


    Carole went to see Anthea just the day before, but Anthea refused to reunite with her. Worse still,


    Anthea hadshed out, shaming her, saying she could never have such a pathetic mother.


    Heartbroken and powerless, Carole had left. Anthea was unwilling to be her daughter, and the


    Morris family was happy to keep her, so Carole could only give up on her daughter.


    But Carole never expected that just one dayter, Anthea would return, even calling her ¡°Mom¡°!


    Was that a dream?


    Carole had quite a story. At the tender age of neen, Carole fell in love and got pregnant with


    twins. But during childbirth, she was told one was stillborn.


    After her daughter was born, her once¨Cdevoted lover vanished without a trace, not to be seen for


    the next eighteen years.


    It was only after reporting him missing at the police station that she discovered the truth. Everything


    about him had been a lie. His family, his address, and his name were all fake. He was a con artist, a


    smooth¨Ctalking Casanova.


    Back in those days, for a neen¨Cyear¨Cold girl, having a child out of wedlock was a scandal. After


    the birth, Carole¡¯s parents wanted to abandon the baby and arrange a marriage for


    Carole.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    But Carole couldn¡¯t bear to part with her infant daughter. Defying her parents, she took her child


    and left home.


    Over the years, Carole worked odd jobs while raising her daughter alone. Life as a single mother


    was tough, but she never gave up on her daughter and never remarried.


    Anthea embraced Carole gently, saying, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry for the way I acted before. Please forgive


    me. From now on, I¡¯ll stay by your side.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, as long as you¡¯re back,¡± Carole said, tears of joy streaming down her face as she led


    Anthea inside. ¡°Ann,e in. It¡¯s modest here. Don¡¯t mind the mess.¡±


    Compared to the Morris family¡¯s vi, the Yeager family¡¯s dim basement was more than modest. It


    was downright shabby.


    The living room was a tight ten square meters, with peeling, yellowed wallpaper and a concrete floor


    cracked and damp. A three¨Clegged table stood against the wall, its fourth leg reced by a broken


    stick.


    An old¨Cschool TV set was sitting on top of this ancient cab ¨C it was so outdated, Anthea


    was shocked it was still around in this modern era.


    Though the ce was old, it was clean, revealing Carole¡¯s tidiness.


    ¡°Here, Ann, have some water,¡± Carole said, handing her a ss.


    ¡°Thanks, Mom,¡± Anthea replied, taking a sip.


    Carole watched her with those same beautiful and bright eyes wide with amazement. Anthea had


    changed.


    She was different from before.


    A few days ago, Anthea had turned up her nose at the tap water that Carole offered, eximing, ¡°I


    use Evian for washing my face, and you give me this to drink? Are you trying to poison me?¡±


    Back then, Carole didn¡¯t even know what Evian meant. Later, she learned it was an expensive


    brand of mineral water.


    But there wasn¡¯t a hint of disdain in Anthea¡¯s eyes at the time.


    Despite her caution, Carole managed to ask, ¡°Ann, dinner will be ready shortly. What are you in the


    mood for? I can whip it up for you.¡±


    Anthea set down her ss, thinking earnestly, ¡°Mom, do we have a shower? I want to wash off this


    makeup and the smell of alcohol first. I want to feel normal again!¡±

 Chapter 7

    Upon hearing that, Carole immediately nodded with eagerness. ¡°Of course! Right this way, Ann.¡±


    The bathroom was at the far end of the house, a tiny little space that could barely fit one person. If


    you tried squeezing in another, you¡¯d be hard¨Cpressed to even turn around.


    Carole cast a nervous nce at Anthea. She was worried that Anthea might find the modest


    amodations unsatisfactory, especially since Anthea had lived a life of luxury before.


    Noticing no sign of displeasure on Anthea¡¯s face, Carole continued, ¡°You go ahead and take a


    shower, Ann. I¡¯ll go find you some fresh clothes.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. That would be great,¡± Anthea acknowledged with a nod.


    At home, there were a few garments that Reba had discarded, still brand new. Carole had


    bought them for Reba to wear at home, but Reba had turned her nose up at them. deeming


    them too shabby, and had never worn them¡­


    However, Reba was shorter and a bit fatter than Anthea, so her old clothes would hardly be


    suitable for Anthea to wear.


    Carole walked to the nearby thrift shop and spent ten dors on two new outfits for Anthea.


    To the average person, five bucks for an outfit might sound like bargain¨Cbin deals, but for Carole,


    that was a splurge. She usually wore hand¨Cme¨Cdowns that others had cast off.


    Ten dors was a sum she¡¯d have to save for ages to umte!


    After a quick shower, Anthea stood in front of the mirror, scrutinizing the reflection of the girl. before


    her. A wless oval face, skin so delicate and pale that it was nearly translucent, and eyes like


    precious onyx, their beauty enhanced by long, lushshes. Her lips, a muted red, held an aloofness


    that was distant and cool. The face in the mirror had a sense of refined elegance.


    Anthea¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile, and the beauty in the mirror reciprocated, her smile blooming


    like a rose, radiant and captivating. This face bore a resemnce to her past self, each with its


    unique charm.


    Relieved to see that her new body was quite attractive. After all, she had always been a sucker for


    good looks. Anthea¡¯s mood lifted.


    ¡°Not bad at all,¡± she mused, tying her hair into a messy bun that revealed the graceful curve of her


    neck. She whistled at her reflection, yfully saying, ¡°I¡¯m such a hottie!¡±


    After admiring herself for a bit longer, Anthea slipped into the clothes Carole had brought her.


    When the fabric touched her skin, Anthea frowned. Having been ustomed to designer wear, she


    felt a bit ufortable in these rougher garments. She must make some money quickly to lead her


    family to a morefortable life and reach new heights.


    Chapter 7.


    Anthea raised an eyebrow, fragments of memories starting to piece together in her mind.


    Dressed and ready, she stepped out of the bathroom.


    Carole emerged from the kitchen with a te of spaghetti, ¡°Ann,e and¡­¡±


    She stopped mid¨Csentence, caught off guard. She noticed Anthea in an unstained white shirt,


    casually tucked into her jeans, exuding a rebellious charm. Her long, straight legs and naturally


    pretty face were a sight to behold. Even in what was thrift shop attire, she had the elegance of high


    fashion, making even runway models seem in inparison.


    ¡°Mom.¡± It was only when Anthea called out to her that Carole snapped out of her daze.


    Was this Anthea?


    Carole¡¯s face registered total shock. She had never imagined that Anthea, once stripped of her


    makeup, would be so stunning. The phrase ¡®a beauty to behold¡® would be an understatement.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ¡°Ann, dinner¡¯s ready. I made you some spaghetti,¡± Carole said, setting aside her amazement as she


    ced the te on the table.


    ¡°Thanks, Mom, Anthea replied, picking up the fork and starting to eat with gusto.

 Chapter 8

    Anthea hadn¡¯t eaten much all day, and by then, she was starving. But even as she wolfed down her


    meal, there was a grace to her that made it somehow pleasant to watch.


    She polished off her spaghetti in no time.


    ¡°There¡¯s more in the kitchen. I¡¯ll get you another helping,¡± Carol offered.


    Anthea gave a content smile. ¡°No, Mom, I¡¯m full. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Well then, let me take you to your room so you can rest,¡± Carole suggested.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Anthea nodded in agreement.


    The bedroom was a cramped space carved out of another room, with Carole living just next door.


    The furnishings were sparse, including a bed, a desk for writing, and a wardrobe for clothes. There


    were no unnecessary items.


    It had been Reba¡¯s room before. When Reba left, she took all her belongings with her. There


    wasn¡¯t even a nket on the bed at this time.


    Carole mentioned, slightly embarrassed. ¡°Let me go and grab aforter to make the bed for you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine, Mom,¡± Anthea said with a smile.


    Then, as an afterthought, she added, ¡°By the way, where¡¯s my uncle?¡±


    o was ond


    of five siblings, and her youngest brother, Nanson Yeager, lived with her.


    The ¡°uncle¡± Anthea referred to was indeed Nanson.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Nanson had only finished middle school. He hadn¡¯t had a steady job all these years due to his


    limited education. He worked as a delivery guy and didn¡¯t smoke or drink, but his one vice was the


    casino. Almost every paycheck he earned ended up on the gambling tables.


    Carole nced at the clock on the wall and said, ¡°He should be back soon.¡±


    Just then, footsteps sounded at the door. ¡°Carole! Carole! Come out and see what I¡¯ve got you!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ming,¡± Carole called out as she moved toward the living room.


    It was none other than Nanson. He carried a roast chicken in his left hand and arge watermelon


    in his right.


    ¡°Nanson, did you strike it rich?¡± Carole asked in surprise.


    Even though it was the 21st century, meat was a luxury for the Yeager family, usually reserved for


    festive asions.


    Grinning from ear to ear, Nanson showed his pearly whites. ¡°Got it from a client who runs a


    rotisserie! He said the delivery folks deserve a break for working so hard in this heat!¡±


    As he finished speaking, he noticed Anthea emerging from the back and looked puzzled, ¡°Carole,


    who¡¯s this?¡±


    Carole introduced her with a smile. ¡°This is Anthea. Anthea, this is your Uncle Nanson.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Uncle Nanson,¡± Anthea said with a polite nod.


    Nanson stared at her as if he¡¯d seen a ghost, ¡°You, you! Are you Anthea?¡±


    She had changed so much from just a few days ago!


    ¡°Uncle Nanson, yeah, I am Anthea,¡± she said, enunciating each word.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you up to your old tricks again?¡± Nanson pulled Carole behind him, wary, ¡°Carole, don¡¯t let


    her fool you again!¡±


    His words brought back a flood of unpleasant memories for Anthea.


    In her past life, she had done many hurtful things to sever ties with Carole.


    Looking at Nanson sincerely, she said, ¡°Uncle Nanson, I did something wrong before. I did many


    things that upset Mom, and I¡¯m sorry. Please forgive me!¡±


    Nanson looked at her, perplexed, his eyes full of suspicion.


    How could Anthea have changed so suddenly?


    It was like the sun rising in the west.


    After a moment, he warned, ¡°Little bitch, if you dare to y any tricks on my sister, I, Nanson


    Yeager, won¡¯t let you off!¡±


    Carole intervened with a chuckle. ¡°Nanson, Anthea is my daughter. Why would she hurt me?¡±


    Nanson snorted, ¡°You can¡¯t be too sure. What if she turns out to be like Reba, that heartless


    ingrate!¡±

 Chapter 9

    Anthea¡¯s eyebrows arched slightly at the mention of Reba¡¯s name.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    It was clear from Nanson¡¯s tone that he had a bone to pick with Reba. Anthea mused there must


    be a story there.


    Carole Interjected, ¡°Whatever you say about her, I guarantee Ann¡¯s not that kind of girl. Hey, you


    might be hungry after delivering all day. There¡¯s some spaghetti in the kitchen. Help yourself. I¡¯m


    going to make Ann¡¯s bed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯lle with you, Mom,¡± Anthea said.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Anthea and Carole headed to the guest room, pulling out aforter and making the bed.


    Normally, a thin cotton sheet would suffice for summer, but the basement was a different story ¨C it


    was chilly all year round.


    Carole was still getting to know this daughter of hers, and that made her a bit reserved. The air was


    tinged with awkwardness as they spread the bedding, neither sure of what to say.


    Anthea sensed Carole¡¯s cautiousness and, with a smile, struck up a casual conversation to break


    the ice. She was determined not to let Carole down. Having been an orphan in her previous life, this


    time around, she was resolved to cherish the maternal love that she had so fortuitously found.


    After making the bed, Carole fetched a te of freshly sliced watermelon for Anthea.


    But Nanson blocked her path, a look of dissatisfaction on his face. ¡°Carole, the girl¡¯s used to living in


    thep of luxury, washing her face with Evian! She probably can¡¯t stomach this humble watermelon.


    Don¡¯t waste your warmth on someone so cold.¡±


    Nanson was also present during the infamous Evian incident. Had it not been for Carole¡¯s


    intervention, he might have lost his temper with Anthea.


    Carole frowned and whispered, ¡°Anthea has realized her mistake. Why bother holding it against


    her?¡±


    ¡°People can be deceiving, Carole. Your daughter turned out ungrateful. And she, she was raised by


    someone else! I¡¯m just looking out for you.¡±


    Despite his rough edges, Nanson genuinely cared for his sister, Carole. He dreaded seeing her get


    hurt again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Carole said with unwavering faith, ¡°I can see in her eyes that she has truly turned a


    new leaf.¡±


    With an exasperated sigh, Nanson gave way to Carole, muttering under his breath, ¡°You¡¯re always


    so damn hopeful, Carole.¡±


    With a smile, Carole carried the watermelon to Anthea¡¯s foom, reminding Nanson on her way out,


    ¡°Finish your meal and get some sleep early. No gambling tonight. Remember, the house always


    wins.¡±


    Nanson nodded in agreement.


    Carole entered Anthea¡¯s room with the watermelon. ¡°Ann, have some watermelon.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡±


    Anthea speared a piece of the juicy fruit with a fork, tasting its sweetness. It was from the heart of


    the melon.


    ¡°Mom, have some, too,¡± she offered Carole a piece.


    Carole smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not fond of watermelon, dear. You enjoy it.¡±


    Like all mothers, Carole wished to give her child nothing but the best the world could offer.


    Feeling a sudden pang of emotion, Anthea set down the watermelon and hugged Carole tightly.


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. I promise to look after you and Uncle Nanson to give you a better life.¡±


    As the night deepened, midnight arrived.


    The basement was silent.


    A shadowy figure carefully went to the door, sighing with relief upon closing it without a sound.


    Nanson was grateful that no one had noticed his departure.


    Suddenly, a handnded on his shoulder.


    ¡°Holy crap!¡± Startled out of his wits, Nanson jumped a foot in the air, his face ashen.


    ¡°Shh,¡± Anthea pressed her finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet. ¡°Uncle Nanson, keep it down.


    If Mom hears us, we can¡¯t get out.¡±


    Seeing it was Anthea, Nanson visibly rxed. ¡°Scram!¡± he said, ¡°What business does a broke guy


    like me have ying uncle to a rich heiress like you!¡±


    Anthea didn¡¯t take offense and just followed Nanson out into the night.

 Chapter 10

    As cool as a cucumber, Anthea trailed behind like she was out window shopping on a breezy


    afternoon.


    Nanson whirled around, his temper ring. ¡°Anthea Morris, are you out of your freaking mind? Why


    the heck are you following me?¡±


    Anthea grinned. ¡°Uncle Nanson, I¡¯m not a Morris anymore. You can call me Ann as Mom does, and


    last I checked, the sidewalk isn¡¯t your private property. If you can walk here, so can I.¡±


    Nanson choked on his retort, muttering as he strode on. Before long, they arrived at a ce aze


    with lights.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    It was Cloudcrest¡¯s biggest underground casino.


    Before entering, Nanson pressed his palms together and prayed earnestly. ¡°Oh, Lady Luck, watch


    over me! Spin the wheel of fortune my way! I¡¯ll light a candle in your honor when I hit the jackpot. I


    promise!¡±


    The casino was a hotbed of vice and variety.


    Those on a winning streak were head over heels in ecstasy.


    Losers wailed their sorrows away.


    hev


    Nanson was a familiar face there, and as he walked in, greetings flew his way. ¡°Hey, Nanson¡¯s


    here!¡±


    ¡°Good to see you, Nanson!¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s that with you, Nanson? Some kin of yours?¡±


    Only then did Nanson realize Anthea had followed him into the lion¡¯s den. He quickly stepped back,


    putting distance between them. ¡°I don¡¯t know her! She¡¯s nobody to me!¡±


    Anthea wasn¡¯t bothered and followed Nanson to a table deep inside.


    A crowd was shouting themselves hoarse. ¡°Big! It¡¯s got to be big!¡°.


    The dealer unveiled the dice with a smirk. ¡°Three, one, five. That¡¯s small!¡±


    ¡°Damn! How¡¯s it small?¡±


    ¡°Talk about lousy luck!¡±


    The dealer shook the dice again, and a betting area appeared on the table. Punters could also bet


    on specific numbers. The more you hit, the heftier the haul!


    Anthea listened intently to the dice ttering inside the shaker.


    Nanson bet on small in the game, picked his numbers cautiously, and then folded his hands,


    praying for divine intervention.


    ¡°Uncle Nanson, go for big. Bet on five, six, and one,¡± Anthea whispered.


    Nanson rolled his eyes, full of scorn.


    What did this kid think she was, a gambling prodigy? Ridiculous!


    After everyone ced their bets, the dealer revealed it, saying, ¡°Five, six, one, small!¡±


    Nanson shot a puzzled look at Anthea. ¡°She was just lucky!¡± he thought.


    He steadied his nerves and gambled on.


    ¡°Uncle Nanson, you got it wrong again. It¡¯s big this round. Six, six, one,¡± Anthea advised.


    When the dealer announced the results, Nanson was dumbfounded.


    It was the same as Anthea had said.


    Was she right again?


    Swallowing hard, Nanson went for small in the third round.


    There was no way he¡¯d believe this any longer. A kid¡¯s guesswork couldn¡¯t trump his years of


    experience, right?


    Anthea smiled, ¡°It¡¯s big again, Uncle Nanson. Six, four, one.¡±


    No, it couldn¡¯t be!


    How could Anthea keep guessing it right? How could it always be big?


    Nanson fixed his intense gaze on the dealer¡¯s hand over the dice shaker.


    It had to be small! It just had to!


    He couldn¡¯t lose to this runt! He had to regain his ground!


    As the dealer lifted the dice cup, Nanson¡¯s paleplexion turned ghostly.


    She¡¯d guessed right again.


    Despite Anthea¡¯s threat, Nanson still wouldn¡¯t buy it.


    His paycheck had dwindled to a mere $300. If he lost this round, he was doomed.


    Since it had been big every time, it must be big again. He would no longer bet on small.


    He was going big!


    Anthea¡¯s voice floated through the air while Nanson was about to ce his bet. ¡°Uncle Nanson, it¡¯s


    not big this time. Go small. Bet on three, one, and four.¡±

 Chapter 11

    Chapt


    Nanson had been on a losing streak, the dice rolling against him time after time at the craps table. It


    was his eleventh roll, and the murmurs around him in the crowded casino were all betting on big.


    ¡°Eleven times, man! It¡¯s got to be big this time!¡± the crowd buzzed, throwing their chips onto the ¡®big¡®


    side of the table.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Nanson¡¯s hands shook as he reached into his wallet, pulling out hisst three hundred bucks. His


    forehead was slick with cold sweat as he wrestled with the decision.


    ¡°Come on, Nanson! Go big! You¡¯ve been down on your luck for too long, buddy! Follow the crowd,


    and you can¡¯t go wrong this time!¡± a voice from the crowd encouraged him.


    It had to be big this time.


    As Nanson was about toy his money down, someone gently took the money from his grasp.


    Anthea¡¯s soft voice cut through the din. ¡°We¡¯re betting small. Let¡¯s go for a three, a one, and a four.¡±


    ¡°Are you messing with me?¡± Nanson turned to see Anthea, her eyes calm, giving nothing away.


    Someone from the crowd added fuel to the fire. ¡°Oh Nanson, you¡¯ll be stripped down to your


    boxers after this one!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not my bet! I wanted big!¡± Nanson protested.


    ¡°The bets are locked in, buddy,¡± the croupier said firmly, pressing Nanson¡¯s hand down. ¡°House


    rules.¡±


    Resigned, Nanson drew back his hand and shot Anthea a re. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this, kid!¡±


    As the croupier lifted the cover, the dice revealed their numbers. Three, one, and four. Small.


    A surge of disbelief washed over Nanson. He hadn¡¯t misheard, had he?


    ¡°We won, Uncle Nanson,¡± Anthea said, her tone even as before.


    They had won.


    ¡°Holy smokes! It¡¯s small!¡± The crowd was a mix of groans and curses.


    ¡°We won! We freaking won!¡± Nanson couldn¡¯t contain his excitement as he grabbed¨CAnthea¡¯s hand.


    ¡°What¡¯s the call for the next roll?¡±


    He finally believed Anthea had some magic touch.


    With a small smile, she whispered, ¡°Small again. Three, one, and four.¡±


    ¡°You got it!¡±


    Nanson rode a winning streak, and he felt he was king of the world for the first time in ages.


    Upstairs, leaning against the railing of the casino¡¯s mezzanine, Sherman watched the scene unfold.


    The dim light cast shadows over his chiseled features and his hands rested on the wooden rail,


    holding a cross chain.


    At that moment, Daniel emerged beside him, peering down at themotion below. ¡°Holy cow,


    she¡¯s got a golden arm! She¡¯s hitting the nail on the head every time!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t believe such a young woman possessed such incredible luck.


    ¡°Impressive, huh?¡± Sherman turned to look at him.


    ¡°Sherman, you know her?¡± Daniel squinted, trying to make out the figure below.


    She stood out in the bright casino lights, her wless skin almost glowing, her beauty effortless and


    outstanding amidst the chaotic surroundings.


    If Reba were considered pretty, the girl downstairs would be like Venus or a celestial nymph.


    She was breathtaking and stunning.


    Yet, she carried an air of winter¡¯s chill.


    Standing beside her, Reba would be overshadowed.


    Such a person was rare, even in the bustling Capital City.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe Cloudcrest has such a hidden gem,¡± Daniel said, amazed.


    ¡°That¡¯s Anthea,¡± the man revealed.


    ¡°Anthea?¡± Daniel paused, then said, ¡°The Morris family¡¯s ck sheep, Anthea?¡±


    Sherman merely nodded.


    ¡°No way!¡± Daniel¡¯s face was a picture of disbelief as he looked down at the girl, struggling to


    reconcile the elegant gambler with the garishly made¨Cup girl he¡¯d seen at the Morris family¡¯s social


    events.

 Chapter 12

    Daniel narrowed his eyes, a hint of suspicion cooling his previously heated demeanor. ¡°Sherman,


    don¡¯t you think she might be drawing your attention? I mean, how could a young woman like that


    have such incredible gambling skills? And Anthea¡¯s nothing but a trust fund princess with no real


    aplishments to her name.¡±


    Daniel had never been fond of Anthea, and his current thinking wasn¡¯t unusual, given his low


    opinion of her.


    ¡°Everything that happened tonight at the Morris Mansion is a setup.¡± Daniel continued, ¡°Everyone in


    Cloudcrest knows what Anthea¡¯s really like! But tonight, she¡¯s acting like a different person.


    Wherever we go, there she is. It must be her setup.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head back,¡± said Sherman, idly twirling his rosary beads, his expression unreadable.


    Daniel quickly fell into step behind him.


    Sherman Christensen¡¯s family hailed from Cloudcrest twenty¨Cfive years ago.


    Twenty¨Cfive years ago, the Christensen family moved from Cloudcrest to Capital City.


    Twelve years back, when the family patriarch, Latham Christensen, died unexpectedly, eighteen¨C


    year¨Cold Sherman took up the mantle. He had stirred up a storm in the Capital City with his


    remarkable business acumen, cultivating his power base and propelling the Christensen family to


    be the premier dynasty in Luxphinia.


    Even the most respected figures in the Capital City would tip their hats and respectfully address him


    as Mr. Christensen.


    Aged thirty, Sherman sat at the pinnacle of power, at the very top of the pyramid.


    As a reclusive character with entric habits, Sherman seldom showed interest in women and


    often frequented churches.


    Karen worried that her son might forsake worldly life for the church thing and threatened to take her


    own life. The act brought the family back to Cloudcrest to honor a marriage, arrangement with the


    Morris family.


    Sherman and Reba had engaged since childhood, but with the Christensen family residing in


    Capital City for many years, the two families had lost touch.


    Their return to Cloudcrest had been discreet, with no one the wiser.


    Downstairs, the gambling continued unabated.


    ¡°Sweetheart, which number should we bet on next?¡± Nanson asked, and his term of endearment for


    Anthea had changed without him even realizing it.


    He thought, ¡°My niece is really something!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s call it a night. It¡¯s time to go home,¡± Anthea dered. There was a time for everything,


    11:18


    and a gambling house was no ce to push one¡¯s luck too far.


    Nanson was riding high and didn¡¯t want to leave, but seeing Anthea turn to go, he hurried after her.


    ¡°Wait up, sweetheart!¡±


    As they exited the casino, a sleazy middle¨Caged man, nked by a group of thugs, blocked.


    Anthea¡¯s path.


    ¡°Hey, gorgeous, our boss Bob would love to treat you to somete¨Cnight grub.¡±


    Anthea lifted her eyelidszily, ready to flex her muscles, when a figure dashed toward them at


    breakneck speed. Kicking the leader in the chest, he positioned himself protectively in front of


    Anthea, hands on hips. ¡°How dare you mess with my niece! You looking to get run out of town or


    what?¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Bob, the man who got kicked, winced in pain and was about to curse when he realized who his


    assant was. ¡°Nanson, you just said you didn¡¯t know her, right? If I¡¯d known she was your niece, I


    wouldn¡¯t dare to¡­¡±


    Just moments ago, he¡¯d imed not to know her, but suddenly, out of the blue, they were family!


    Men could lie as effortlessly as they breathed!


    Nanson stood tall, hands still on his hips. ¡°Cut the crap! She¡¯s my niece, Anthea, and you¡¯ll


    apologize to her. Now!¡±

 Chapter 13

    Bob scrambled to apologize with a few of his buddies.


    Anthea didn¡¯t hold a grudge and turned to Nanson. ¡°Uncle Nanson, let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Nanson promptly followed Anthea¡¯s lead.


    Bob and his crew were left scratching their heads as they watched the pair stride away.


    Anthea had called Nanson ¡®Uncle¡®. But why did Nanson seem more like Anthea¡¯s loyal sidekick than


    her uncle?


    As they walked, Anthea nced at Nanson. ¡°How much did we rake in tonight?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all here.¡± Nanson immediately pulled out his wallet and handed all the cash to Anthea.


    After Nanson handed over the money, it dawned on him. Why was he so obedient to Anthea?


    It was a strange feeling, almost instinctive.


    Anthea counted quickly, a blur of fingers revealing over fifteen thousand bucks..


    She was so fast that Nanson barely had time to process before she finished counting.


    ¡°Here¡¯s your cut, Uncle Nanson,¡± Anthea handed Nanson a portion of the bucks.


    Nanson was puzzled. Wasn¡¯t all that money his?


    Anthea read his thoughts and said, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Uncle Nanson, I won this cash. Without me, you¡¯d


    be so broke that you couldn¡¯t even keep your pants on.¡±


    The implication was clear that five grand was more than generous.


    Nanson gave a yfulugh, ¡°What¡¯s a kiddo like you doing loaded with so much cash? Maybe you


    should let me handle it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m saving for Mom¡¯s medical bills,¡± Anthea replied, referring to Carole¡¯s health.


    Upon hearing it was for Carole¡¯s treatment, Nanson didn¡¯t press further.


    Carole¡¯s health had failed these years, and Anthea seemed a caring soul!


    Just then, a piercing white light shot toward them from a distance, causing Nanson to instinctively


    shield his eyes!


    On the other hand, Anthea didn¡¯t even blink, walking forward as if the re meant nothing to her, as


    cool as a cucumber.


    Inside the back seat of a nearby car sat a figure with a sleek silhouette.


    He had a silver cross in hand, eyes closed in meditation.


    The eyes under the gently furrowed brows opened, revealing deep eyes as they passed the spot.


    11:18 m


    A faint smile yed upon the lips.


    Holy smokes! Was that a smile?


    Peering into the rearview mirror, Daniel was agape with surprise.


    Having been with Sherman for so long, he¡¯d never seen him smile.


    He must have seen wrong.


    Daniel gripped the steering wheel with one hand and rubbed his eyes with the other. When he


    looked again, everything was back to normal.


    So, it had been a mistake. He knew it. The ¡®Ice King¡® couldn¡¯t possibly smile.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Sherman pinched his nose andzily ordered, ¡°Spread the word that my family is on the brink of


    financial ruin and about to hit rock bottom.¡±


    Daniel was confused.


    Since when was the Christensen family in financial trouble or facing bankruptcy?


    Then it clicked. Under the threat of bankruptcy, all the hidden monsters would reveal themselves.


    Daniel grinned. ¡°Copy that!¡±


    As Daniel was about to continue, he asked, ¡°Sherman, you know what? Adah and Karen are visiting


    the Morris family to discuss your engagement with Reba tomorrow morning. Are you tagging


    along?¡±


    ¡°Engagement?¡± Sherman¡¯s eyebrow quirked a hint of mockery in his gaze.


    Daniel got the message. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sherman. Reba is very kind¨Chearted. She¡¯d even forgive


    an imposter trying to take her ce. She¡¯ll stand by you through thick and thin!¡±


    Daniel admired Reba and trusted her character.


    Reba wouldn¡¯t be ungrateful. Even if she heard about the Christensen family going under,


    Reba wouldn¡¯t call off the engagement!


    Sherman stayed silent, his fingers ying with the silver cross.


    The casino was a twenty¨Cminute walk from the basement apartment where the Yeager family


    resided. Anthea and Nanson strolled through the night, finally reaching the ce they called


    home.

 Chapter 14

    By the time they got home, it was well past three.


    ¡°Sweetie, get a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± Nanson sald warmly.


    ¡°You too, Uncle Nanson,¡± Anthea replied with a soft smile.


    Carole woke up early in the morning, her mind racing with the day¡¯s tasks. She decided to make


    some oatmeal for breakfast. She fried some eggs as well.


    A little whileter, Nanson strolled in from outside, his voice booming through the house. ¡°Carole,


    you up yet? I got some donuts and breakfast burritos. Come on out, and let¡¯s have breakfast!¡±


    Carole cleaned her hands on her apron and stepped out of the kitchen,ining, ¡°Why¡¯d you go


    wasting money? I¡¯ve already made oatmeal!¡±


    Nanson chuckled. ¡°I got a bonus this month! Besides, my dear niece is growing up. She needs to


    eat something nutritious.¡±


    Then he added. ¡°Oh right, has my dear niecee out yet? I¡¯ll wake her up for breakfast!¡±


    My dear niece?


    Carole was stunned. Who was Nanson referring to as his dear niece? Could it be Anthea?


    But the night before. Nanson kept calling her a little troublemaker, so why the sudden change to a


    dear niece?


    Was she dreaming?


    Just then. Anthea walked in from outside. ¡°Mom, Uncle Nanson, good morning.¡±


    Carole asked Anthea with a puzzled look, ¡°Ann, where have you been?¡±


    ¡°I went for a run.¡± Anthea replied. ¡°I need to improve my fitness. I only managed a fewps before


    getting winded, but I¡¯ll take it slow and steady.¡±


    Nanson pulled Anthea to sit down. ¡°My dear niece, I got you some burritos, donuts, and milk! You


    need it for growing strong bones!¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Uncle Nanson.¡±


    They shared a tender family moment.


    Carole rubbed her eyes in disbelief. ¡°Nanson, you sure you¡¯re okay or something?¡±


    Nansonughed. ¡°Carole, you¡¯re overreacting! Why wouldn¡¯t I treat my dear niece well?¡±


    Carole was speechless. She suspected Nanson was putting on an act, but she had no proof.


    Breakfast was a confusing affair for Carole.


    After the meal, Anthea put down her fork and turned to Carote, ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t look so well How


    about I go with you to the clinicter?¡±


    Carole smiled and replied, ¡°No need, darling. I¡¯m as fit as a fiddle!¡±


    Go to the clinic and spend money? Carole was the type to tough out any sickness,


    The family was already hard¨Cpressed financially, She couldn¡¯t be a burden,


    Anthea persisted, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go to the clinic, let me take a look. I know a bit about medical


    knowledge.¡±


    ¡°Ann, you know medical knowledge?¡±


    Anthea made a modest gesture. ¡°Just a tiny bit.¡±


    In another world, Anthea was a renowned healer. Besides, the original owner of her body had been


    trained in various skills typical of elite households, so knowing some medical knowledge wasn¡¯t


    surprising.


    ¡°Well then, have a look,¡± Carole consented.


    Anthea nodded and checked on Carole.


    Carole¡¯s health was far from good. She had signs of energy and blood deficiency, coupled with


    malnutrition and a persistent cough.


    After a moment, Anthea released her mother¡¯s wrist and said, ¡°Mom, have you donated blood


    before?¡±


    Carole was shocked, then nodded.


    Nanson interjected from the side. ¡°Donated blood? She sold blood, and that¡¯s what! Which hospital


    would let her donate with her health?¡±


    Blood donation would require a health check. Hospitals would refuse if one¡¯s health were not up to


    standard.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Anthea asked.


    Nanson exined angrily, ¡°All for Reba¡¯s fancy smartphone! She ckmailed Carole with a


    hunger strike until she gave in.¡±


    Reba fancied a high¨Cend smartphone that wasrgely unaffordable for the average person.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    A year ago, Reba had demanded thetest model, and blinded by her excessive love for her


    daughter, Carole found a shady clinic and sold her blood to afford the phone.


    That act had taken a toll on Carole¡¯s already fragile health, leaving her weaker than before.

 Chapter 15

    Carole was the epitome of a devoted mother. Unfortunately, Reba was far from a grateful


    daughter.


    Beyond forcing Carole to sell her blood, Rebamitted a series of selfish acts.


    Not too long ago, she¡¯d even gone as far as suggesting that Carole sell a kidney to cover a house


    down payment.


    If the Morris family hadn¡¯t shown up out of the blue, Carole might have gone through with it.


    Reba¡¯s behavior worsened afterward.


    She spread nasty rumors that Carole was a home¨Cwrecker who skulked in the shadows and even


    had the gall to use her of a child¨Cswap conspiracy, disregarding the years of love and care


    Carole had provided.


    Nanson couldn¡¯t fathom how the kind¨Chearted Carole could have given birth to someone as self¨C


    centered as Reba until the Morris family came to their door. It was only then that he had his


    epiphany.


    Reba wasn¡¯t Carole¡¯s biological daughter.


    The revtion that the child she¡¯d raised was not her hit Carole like a ton of bricks. She was


    devastated to learn that her daughter, whom she had loved and nurtured for eighteen years. did not


    share her blood.


    The daughter she¡¯d raised turned her back on her to reunite with her biological family, and her birth


    daughter wanted nothing to do with her, even refusing to acknowledge her.


    Carole felt like her steadfast dedication all the years had turned into a cruel joke. She had even


    contemted suicide, but thankfully, Anthea returned.


    While scribbling down a prescription, Anthea said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯lle with you to quit from the


    rotisserie.¡±


    To make ends meet, Carole had been working at a rotisserie.


    ¡°Quit?¡± Carole was stunned. ¡°How can that be an option?¡±


    The rotisserie didn¡¯t pay much, but it helped put food on the table!


    Without a job, how could they make a living?


    Anthea put down her pen after finishing the prescription. ¡°Mom, you can¡¯t keep working with your


    health like this! Otherwise, the consequences could be dire, even life¨Cthreatening.¡±


    Hearing that, Nanson jumped in, rmed, ¡°Carole, you¡¯ve got to listen to Ann! Nothing is more


    important than your health!¡±


    Since Anthea had urately determined that Carole sold her blood, Nanson had faith in her


    medical judgment.


    ¡°You guys are making a fuss. I¡¯ve always been like this. What could go wrong?¡± Carole said.


    feigning indifference.


    Anthea continued, ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t have to worry if the money kept you from quitting. I


    borrowed a thousand dors from a ssmate yesterday and n to invest it in mutual funds and


    financial products.¡±


    The fact was that she had earned the money on the gambling table, but she didn¡¯t dare tell Carole,


    who disapproved of gambling, so she lied.


    Nanson quickly took out all the money from his wallet, ¡°Carole, this is my paycheck and bonus from


    yesterday. I¡¯ll give you my wages every month from now on.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t take your money,¡± Carole refused.


    Nanson insisted, ¡°Carole, we¡¯re family. I only want you to be fine.¡±


    Carole smiled. ¡°My health is fine.¡±


    Being a sister and a mother, Carole couldn¡¯t bear the thought of doing nothing and living off her


    child and brother while feeling under the weather.


    Anthea looked at her mother. ¡°Mom, we¡¯ve just found each other. I don¡¯t want to lose you over


    money matters. It¡¯s better to face a painful truth momentarily than suffer for a long time. If you insist


    on working, I¡¯ll leave this house right now and act as if I never had a mother to spare myself the


    painter.¡±


    With that, Anthea turned and walked away without hesitation.


    ¡°Ann, wait!¡± Nanson quickly grabbed Anthea and turned to Carole. ¡°Carole, say something. please!¡±


    Carole hesitated, then said, ¡°Ann, I promise you, I, I¡¯ll quit my job.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Anthea smiled faintly, taking Carole¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go then, Mom.¡±


    As the mother¨Cdaughter duo walked through the long corridor of the basement, many greeted


    Carole. ¡°Carole, heading out?¡±


    Carole introduced them to Anthea, ¡°Ann, this is Mrs. Green, and this is Mary.¡±


    Anthea greeted everyone politely.


    ¡°Carole, is this youngdy your niece?¡±


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Carole replied with a smile. ¡°Mary, this is my daughter, Anthea.¡±


    ¡°Well, bless you! She¡¯s stunning. Carole, you¡¯ve got a fortune of happiness ahead of you!¡±


    After they left, whispers filled the air, a mixture of taunt and curiosity.

 Chapter 16

    ¡°Carole¡¯s daughter is a real beauty, just like her!¡± one of the neighbors remarked.


    ¡°Pretty, sure, but it¡¯s a shame she¡¯s born on the wrong side of the nket,¡± another chimed in,


    shaking disapprovingly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll never understand Carole. With her looks, she could¡¯ve married anyone. Why be the ¡°other


    woman¡®? Atst, she got nothing out of it and ended up living in a basement.¡±


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Well if you y with fire, you¡¯ll end up in the cer, right? Nobody forced her to wreck someone


    else¡¯s home.¡±


    *Karma!¡±


    Before long. Carole arrived at the rotisserie, where she worked, with Anthea in tow.


    The owner was a robust woman in her forties named Harriet.


    Upon hearing Carole wanted to quit, Harriet was none too pleased. ¡°It¡¯s our busiest season, and


    you¡¯re quitting out of the blue. Where can I find someone on such short notice?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am. I just¡­.¡± Carole stammered, feeling guilty.


    ¡°I run a business, not a charity. I¡¯d have to shut down if all my staff up and left like you. If your want


    to quit, you¡¯ve got to give me a month¡¯s notice. You leave now, and I¡¯m docking a month¡¯s pay!¡±


    After hearing that, Carole quickly backtracked, ¡°Then I won¡¯t quit.¡±


    A month¡¯s wages, over one thousand dors, was a lot for her to lose.


    Anthea stepped forward, addressing Harriet. ¡°Ma¡¯am, my mom¡¯s not well and needs some rest. How


    about I take over her shifts for a month? Give you time to find someone else?¡±


    ¡°You?¡± Harriet sized Anthea up. ¡°No offense, darling, but this isn¡¯t a job for someone like you.¡±


    Anthea¡¯s mother tugged at her hand. ¡°Ann, maybe we should just let the wages go¡­¡±


    But Anthea smiled and insisted, ¡°Please, ma¡¯am, let me try! If it doesn¡¯t work out, you can fire


    me.¡±


    Amused by the girl¡¯s determination, Harriet relented. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll give you a chance for your guts and


    devotion. But let me be clear. If you can¡¯t handle it, you¡¯re out. No second chance.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Be here by 6:30 pm for your shift,¡± Harriet added before they left.


    After leaving the rotisserie, Anthea took her mother to a local pharmacy.


    ¡°What are we doing at a pharmacy?¡± Carole asked, puzzled.


    ¡°We¡¯re getting some meds, Mom. Rest alone won¡¯t do it. Your body needs proper care.¡±


    11:19


    At the Morris Mansion, the butler rushed into the living room urgently. ¡°Sir, ma¡¯am, the Christensens


    will be here any minute!¡±


    ¡°So soon?¡± Daly was shocked.


    He had only heard in the morning that the Christensen family was back in town and facing


    bankruptcy. But he hadn¡¯t expected them toe knocking so quickly.


    Sandra frowned slightly. ¡°The Christensen family returned at this critical time. Could it be about their


    youngest son¡¯s engagement to our Reba?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s obvious, isn¡¯t it?¡± Daly replied tersely. ¡°They¡¯re in a financial mess, on the verge of ruin. They¡¯re


    just looking to plug their funding gap with a marriage alliance!¡±


    ¡°No way, Daly!¡± Sandra spat out, ¡°Our sweet Reba tying the knot with a family that¡¯s barely


    hanging on? I don¡¯t think so!¡±


    To Sandra, Reba was the moon among stars, a celestial beauty:


    She couldn¡¯t possibly tie the knot with a practically destitute family. No way!


    ¡°As if I needed you to tell me that. I know Reba can¡¯t marry into that mess!¡± Daly¡¯s face was


    stormy with anger.


    The engagement between the Christensen and the Morris families was no secret in their circles.


    The Morris family had a legacy of centuries. Canceling the engagement at this point would be


    scandalous.


    They needed a solution that would save face for everyone involved.

 Chapter 17

    The Morris family was on an upswing while the Christensen family was sinking like a ship. Wouldn¡¯t


    it be a raw deal if Reba still decided to marry into the Christensens?


    How could their precious daughter marry a poor guy?


    But calling off the engagement would be a gossip feast for the town.


    While Daly and Sandra were fretting over it, Reba strolled by. ¡°Mom, Dad, why the long


    faces?¡±


    Sandra sighed and recounted the situation to Reba.


    With memories from a past life, Reba knew the Christensen family had also been on the verge


    of ruin when they returned to Cloudcrest.


    It was understandable for the Christensen family to return at this time.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Reba frowned slightly. ¡°Shame on the Christensen family, coveting what they can¡¯t have.¡±


    She was a dazzling phoenix. There was no way she was tying the knot with a nobody this time


    around!


    A nearly broke family, and they still wanted to marry her off? As if!


    That was a pipe dream!


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Sandra interrupted. ¡°After all these years, they still hold onto that old pledge without


    weighing their worth. They have the nerve to set their sights on my darling girl! The


    shamelessness!¡±


    Reba continued, ¡°Mom, Dad, leave it to me. It¡¯s the 21st century, and we value freedom in


    marriage and love. Whatever happens, it¡¯s not on you.¡±


    Reborn with her past memory, she wouldn¡¯t settle for just anyone.


    Her match would be someone at the very top, the preeminent Mr. Christensen.


    Cloudcrest was too small a pond for her.


    What did the fifth child of the Christensen family matter?


    ad Zero tic


    Despite sharing the Christensen surname, that Christensen boy to the real bigwig, Mr. Christensen.


    If the fifth Christensen were Mr. Christensen, the family wouldn¡¯t be facing bankruptcy or seeking a


    marriage alliance to save themselves!


    Moreover, ording to Reba¡¯s memory, the man at the Morris family g the night before was,


    undoubtedly, Mr. Christensen.


    She had to secure him and prevent the past from repeating itself.


    11:19:


    Just then, a servant entered. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Morris, good day. Lady Karen and Lady Adah have


    arrived.¡±


    ¡°Show them in.¡± Daly said with a weing smile.


    Shortly after, two figures appeared in the living room.


    Leading was Karen, with snowy white hair and a face etched with time.


    Following her was a radiant woman, her age hard to pin down.


    These were the Christensen family matriarch, Karen, and Sherman¡¯s mother, Adah.


    Daly hurried to greet them.


    ¡°Ladies, when did you arrive in Cloudcrest? A heads¨Cup would have been nice, and we could have


    rolled out the red carpet for you.¡± Despite his internal disdain for the Christensen family, Daly


    maintained the facade of hospitality.


    Sandra promptly had the servants make the coffee.


    Karen said with a smile. ¡°Daly, you and your wife are too kind! Oh, this must be Reba. What a


    beauty!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, but she¡¯s just a diamond in the rough,¡± Sandra replied modestly.


    Her daughter was exceptional, of course!


    The fifth son of the Christensen family was no match for her!


    Inwardly, Sandra scoffed at Karen¡¯s ignorance.


    Karen was out of touch! Couldn¡¯t she see the gulf between their families?


    The Christensen family was on the brink of ruin but bold enough toe knocking.


    After some small talk, Karen got to the point. ¡°Daly, let¡¯s not beat around the bush. We¡¯re here to


    discuss the


    children¡¯s engagement.¡±


    Sandra feigned confusion. ¡°What?¡±


    Karen continued, ¡°Yes, about our Sherman and your Reba¡¯s engagement.¡±


    Years ago, when the Morris family was close to copse, the Christensen patriarch, Latham, had


    bailed them out. In gratitude, the Morris family promised that if they had a daughter, she would be


    married to Sherman, the fifth child of the Christensen family.


    At that time, Sherman was only four years old.

 Chapter 18

    Eight years passed, and the Morris family had a little princess.


    Latham made the long journey from Capital City to attend the baby¡¯s christening party, where he


    and the family exchanged keepsakes, forging a bond between the two families.


    Amid the celebration, Reba interrupted with a smile, ¡°Mrs. Christensen, I just turned eighteen,


    and I¡¯m not ready to settle down yet. Besides, the Christensen family is royal and prestigious, and


    I¡¯m just in Jane. How could I ever match up to Mr. Christensen?¡±


    Not reading too much into it, Karen beamed at Reba. ¡°Nonsense, my dear! You¡¯re as lovely as a


    summer¡¯s day. Of course, you¡¯re a match for us. Don¡¯t worry. Now that the engagement is set, we¡¯ll


    keep our word. Sherman will be over the moon to have you.¡±


    Reba¡¯s expression soured at Karen¡¯s obliviousness.


    Couldn¡¯t the old bat see she was being sarcastic? It was evident that the fifth Christensen wasn¡¯t


    worthy of her!


    But Karen made it sound like Reba was reaching for the stars.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Bah! That was disgusting!


    Daly and Sandra also looked uneasy. What was Karen implying? Didn¡¯t she have any


    self¨Cawareness?


    Sensing the tension, Adah nced at Karen, and their eyes locked, both expressions shifting


    subtly.


    Adah stood up with a gracious smile. ¡°Daly, Sandra, listen. Karen means we¡¯vee this long way


    to settle the youngsters¡® future. They¡¯re grown, and an early agreement gives us all peace of


    mind.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Christensen, this is about my future, and my parents can¡¯t decide it for me.¡± Reba


    interjected firmly. ¡°Please don¡¯t put them in an awkward position. Since you¡¯re here, let¡¯s be clear. I


    want to focus on my studies and careers, not on distractions tike this. So, let¡¯s call off the


    engagement. It¡¯s not like we live in the times of arranged marriages anymore.¡±


    Adah and Karen were stunned at Reba¡¯s deration.


    Reba continued, ¡°I¡¯m sure Mr. Christensen will find someone who is truly his equal.¡±


    She was no prize for some no¨Cname to aspire to!


    Slightly embarrassed, Daly stood up, ¡°Karen, Adah, my apology. My daughter sometimes speaks


    out of turn. If she has offended you, please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡±


    ¡°Dad, I¡¯m an adult now! I have the right to choose!¡± Reba looked at Daly with determination..


    Daly continued, ¡°Reba¡¯s my only girl, and I¡¯ve probably spoiled her rotten. You see, even though


    I¡¯m her father, I can¡¯t make decisions for her! If she doesn¡¯t want to, we can¡¯t force her.


    As the old saying goes, you can¡¯t make a silk purse out of a sow¡¯s ear. Let¡¯s call off the


    engagement.¡±


    Adah maintained a polite smile. ¡°Daly, breaking an engagement is no small matter. Our families


    have been friends for years, and on his deathbed, Latham emphasized that we must honor this


    Latham was a man of his word, as close as a brother to Daly.


    Even though the Christensen family had risen far above the humble Morris family, they still valued


    honor despite all.


    ½´


    But the Morris family wanted to break the engagement, insinuating that the Christensen family was


    out of their league.


    Was this some mistake?


    The situation was not unfolding as Daly had expected. Even afterying it all out, Adah seemed


    reluctant to cancel the engagement.


    The nerve!


    1


    ¡°Adah,¡± Daly said, looking up at Adah, ¡°one must have self¨Cawareness. We¡¯ve made ourselves


    quite clear, and you¡¯re a smart woman. Why y dumb?¡±

 Chapter 19

    As the words settled in the air, Daly continued earnestly, ¡°I know your family is in a financial crisis,


    and I remember you gave us a leg up when our family hit rock bottom. But that doesn¡¯t give you the


    right to hold it over our heads, expecting payback with strings attached. That¡¯s not decent!¡±


    Confused, Adah pondered, ¡°Financial crisis for the Christensen family? When did the


    Christensen family fall into hard times? So, was that why the Morris family wanted to call off the


    engagement?¡±


    Adah narrowed her eyes in thought.


    With a wave, Daly beckoned a servant to bring over a suitcase. ¡°Adah, when our family was in a


    tight spot, Latham gave us a hundred grand. Now, we¡¯re giving it back to you, doubled, with a


    keepsake.¡±


    Back then, it was a hundred grand from Latham.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    And they were returning two hundred grand, a gesture of exceeding fairness!


    As he spoke, Daly opened the suitcase.


    Inside, you could see piles of crisp, new banknotes and a pendant resting atop.


    Adah looked up at Daly as if she was seeing him for the first time.


    If she hadn¡¯t witnessed it with her own eyes, she would never believe that this man before her was


    Daly!


    Time and money really could change a person.


    The Christensen family hadn¡¯t pushed for the engagement between the two families from the get¨C


    go. But Daly had made the promise.


    But at this point, because of some rumors about the Christensen family¡¯s financial crisis, he was


    ready to sever ties and break the engagement, all while parading around like he was on some moral


    high ground.


    Such a quick change of tune was straight¨Cup hypocrisy!


    Seeing Adah was silent, Daly frowned. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Not enough? We¡¯re talking about two


    hundred grand here! Adah, greed can swallow you whole.¡±


    Was two hundred grand not enough? That was pushing it.


    Adah red at Daly, snapping. ¡°Daly! You¡¯re nothing but an ungrateful worm!¡±


    The Morris family would have copsed long ago without that hundred grand twenty¨Cfive years


    ago.


    And they had the nerve to offer two hundred grand as an insult? Ridiculous!


    ¡°How much do you want? Name your price!¡± Daly gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing. ¡°But try not


    to make a total ass of yourself. Everyone¡¯s patience has its limits!¡±


    Adah pulled another same pendant from her pocket and smashed it on the ground. ¡°Fine, if you¡¯ve


    decided to call off this engagement, I¡¯ll oblige. From today on, let our families* agreement be null


    and void. Bonds broken, and ties severed! We¡¯ll never cross paths again! Just don¡¯te to regret


    this!¡±


    Regrets? Did Adah think the Christensen family was something special? Daly sneered inwardly. On


    the other hand, Reba had a mocking glint in her eyes. ¡°Mrs. Christensen, you¡¯d do well to


    remember your actions today. Don¡¯te to regret them, especially if you end up doing


    something desperate and embarrassing.¡±


    Reba had no desire to associate with a fallen power like the Christensen family.


    If it was over, it had to be clean and final.


    There was no sense in leaving loose ends that might return to bite them.


    Daly then took a few more bills from his wallet and added them to the tray. ¡± Adah, our families go


    way back, after all. Consider this extra cash a small token of my goodwill. It can¡¯t be easy for you,


    all alone with your children. If you can¡¯t get by, remember you can always turn to our family before


    you¡¯re out on the streets. We¡¯ve got a few spare rooms in the servants¡® quarters. It¡¯s the least we


    can do.¡±


    Since the facade was shattered, there was no point in keeping up appearances. The Christensen


    family was nothing more than nobody then.


    Seizing the remaining pendant, Adah turned, supporting Karen, her face flush with anger. ¡°Karen,


    let¡¯s go!¡±


    Experienced in high society, Karen was furious but kept herposure.

 Chapter 20

    ¡°Adah, you forgot your cash!¡± Daly instructed the maid to deliver the money.


    Adah nced back with defiance, swearing for the first time. ¡°We don¡¯t need your stinking. money!


    Consider this cash as a head start on your funeral expenses!¡±


    Daly couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter, pping his hands. ¡°Well said! That¡¯s some spine!¡±


    If the Christensens had swallowed their pride and shown a bit of humility, Daly might have been


    moved to mercy when they found themselves homeless, wandering the streets with no ce to call


    their own.


    But it seemed unnecessary!


    They were a bunch of ingrates! From here on out, whatever happened to the Christensen family


    was of no concern to him.


    Supporting Karen, Adah stepped outside.


    A discreet minivan was parked at the curb, its license te conspicuously absent.


    Seeing Adah and Karen, the driver quickly got off and opened the door. ¡°Lady Karen, Lady Adah.¡±


    Adah showed no emotion, stating, ¡°Back to the mansion. And tell Laird there¡¯s no need to


    ¡°Laird and the guys are nearly here,¡± the assistant in the front seat turned to inform.


    The Christensen family had prepared many expensive gifts for this family alliance, dispatched


    directly from Capital City by the estate manager, Laird.


    Judging by the timing, they were due to arrive today.


    ¡°Tell them to turn back.¡±


    The assistant was taken back for a moment before replying. ¡°Got it.¡°.


    Karen and Adah sat in the back, silent, the tension in the car thick enough to cut with a knife.


    Not until they reached the mansion did Adah, helping Karen inside, vent her fury. ¡°How dare he! I


    cannot believe Daly would stoop so low!¡±


    Karen patted Adah¡¯s hand reassuringly. ¡°Now, now, don¡¯t get worked up. What kind ofdy can¡¯t


    Sherman snag if he wanted to? That little upstart Reba is not even in the same league as our


    family, let alone a match for our Sherman! Blessing in disguise, I say. It¡¯s good to see their true


    colors through this ordeal.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Though Reba was attractive, she was no match for the polished debutantes of Capital City.


    Scores of women would kill to be in Sherman¡¯s favor, yet Reba couldn¡¯t see the diamond she


    had in front of her.


    11:19


    Adah regretted not standing her ground. ¡°Karen, I should¡¯ve thrown that money in Daly¡¯s face to see


    if it knocked some sense into him!¡±


    As a high societydy, Adah was always treated with the utmost respect.


    She was unustomed to such Indignity!


    ¡°Why bother with such people? Forget about it!¡± Karen said with a smile,forting her. ¡°They


    missed out on a gem today. They¡¯ll live to regret it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡± Adah nodded, her anger subsiding at the thought.


    With that, she continued, ¡°Now that this engagement is off, Karen, should we head back to Capital


    City?¡±


    They were in town for this marriage proposal, after all.


    With the engagement broken, there was little reason to stay.


    ¡°No, we can¡¯t go back,¡± Karen shook her head, ¡°Cloudcrest is a ce of exceptional people and


    beauty. There must be countless outstanding young women here. I¡¯ll get Sherman one beautiful


    bride. Then we¡¯ll return to Capital City in style to show the Morris family that our Christensen


    grandson¡¯s wife is a hundred, a thousand, no, a million times better than that Reba!¡±

 Chapter 21

    Karen was born and raised in Cloudcrest, her roots as deep as the ancient oak trees that lined its


    quaint streets. Her heart belonged to the town¡¯s warm, familiar, and tight¨Cknitmunity.


    The socialites of Capital City, with their impable style and grace, always seemed tock a


    certain warmth that Karen found indispensable.


    ¡°Marrying into the family should feel like home. We¡¯ll get a local girl from Cloudcrest for Sherman,


    someone genuine,¡± Karen dered with a nod of conviction.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Karen! Let¡¯s find Sherman a sweetheart here in Cloudcrest. We¡¯ll have a lot of time


    introducing her to Capital City!¡± Adah agreed, herughter echoing her support.


    A thought struck Karen. ¡°Oh, by the way, about that rumor about the Christensen Group facing a


    financial crisis, did you start that?¡±


    ¡°Not me,¡± Adah shook her head, puzzled. ¡°I thought you were behind it, Karen, ying a strategic


    game with the Morris family!¡±


    Without that false rumor, they would have never seen the true colors of the Morris family.


    Karen frowned. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, either.¡±


    Adah¡¯s brows knit together in confusion. ¡°If it weren¡¯t you and me, then who?¡±


    ¡°It was me.¡± A dapper figure entered the rooms as these words settled in the air. The young man


    was dressed in a decent suit, fingers ying with a silver cross, and a small, striking mole adorned


    the corner of his eye.


    ¡°Sherman, you¡¯re back!¡± Adah smiled at her son, noting how much he resembled her. With her


    excellent self¨Ccare routine, the pair looked more like siblings than mother and son.


    ¡°Wait, Sherman. Are you saying you¡¯re the one who spread the news about the financial crisis?¡±


    Karen¡¯s gaze shifted to her grandson.


    Sherman nodded, ying with the cross in hand.


    ¡°What was the Morris family¡¯s reaction?¡±


    Adah replied with a scowl, ¡°They looked down their noses at us! The minute they heard the


    Christensen family was in trouble, they washed their hands of us. They even had the nerve to throw


    a measly $200,000 at us as an insult!¡±


    Sherman remained unfazed, his expression serene.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you say something. Sherman? Your grandmother and I were so offended, all for your


    sake!¡±


    Sherman nced back at Adah, his voice calm. ¡°Getting worked up over such people only


    diminishes us. Besides, I¡¯ve always said the Morris heiress wasn¡¯t a good match. But you and


    Grandma were insistent.¡±


    ¡°We were insistent for you, you ungrateful rascal!¡± Adah was livid.


    11:19:


    Sherman¡¯s lips tightened with a hint of helplessness. His mature reaction made Adah seem like a


    petnt teenager. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Sherman,¡± Karen turned to her grandson, ¡°tell me honestly, is there someone in your heart? If you


    have someone in mind, I can be relieved. I can¡¯t bear the thought of our family line ending with


    you.¡±


    Karen¡¯s concern was genuine. The Christensen family had been carried on by men. And Sherman,


    the fifth and only male child in the line, had a lot of expectations on his shoulders, especially with his


    ascetic lifestyle.


    Fiddling with the silver cross, Sherman replied, ¡°No, there¡¯s no one.¡±


    ¡°Is that the truth, or are you just saying that?¡±


    ¡°The truth.¡±


    Karen continued, ¡°Your mother and I are open¨Cminded. With our family¡¯s status in Luxphinia, we


    don¡¯t need a marriage alliance to shore up our position. So, Sherman, if there is someone, please


    tell me. I don¡¯t ask for much!¡±


    Even if Sherman brought back someone less than perfect, Karen would wee her with open.


    arms. Wasn¡¯t that expectation humble enough?


    Yet Sherman remained silent on the matter. What was he thinking?

 Chapter 22

    Sherman was already thirty; how many more years could he afford to waste?


    Adah nodded in agreement. ¡°Give us a name, and Karen and I will be right there to y.


    matchmaker! We won¡¯t have a single word of protest!¡±


    Sherman countered with a question of his own, ¡°Mom, Grandma, do you think the meaning of life is


    to get married, have kids, and then have those kids do the same, cycling on until we reach the


    end?¡±


    What was the purpose of such a predictable life?


    Instead of believing in love, it was better to believe in oneself.


    At the very least, he could build his business empire.


    Sherman was ustomed to standing on top, controlling everything below.


    A man¡¯s life wasn¡¯t defined by marriage and having children.


    Karen choked and then continued. ¡°Sherman, if you don¡¯t want to get someone yourself, I will find


    someone for you! Before I die, I must see you settled with a wife and children, or I¡¯ll never rest in


    peace.¡±


    Sherman frowned slightly.


    Seeing Sherman¡¯s displeasure, Karen immediately clutched her chest. ¡°I can¡¯t breathe! It¡¯s so


    suffocating! I can¡¯t take it¡­¡±


    Adah rushed over, supporting Karen with one hand and helping her catch her breath with the other.


    ¡°Karen, Karen! What¡¯s wrong? Are you okay? Don¡¯t scare me!¡±


    Then, turning to Sherman, Adah said, ¡°Look what you¡¯ve done to your grandma! Karen, don¡¯t be


    upset. Rest assured. Sherman is a sensible boy, and he¡¯ll listen to you. I¡¯ll help you upstairs to rest


    now.¡±


    Together, they didn¡¯t give Sherman a chance to argue.


    Meanwhile, Anthea handed the prescription to the store owner at the pharmacy.


    After taking a look, the pharmacist asked, ¡°This prescription is for anemia and mria, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Anthea nodded.


    The pharmacist mulled it over, then asked, ¡°Could I trouble you for the contact information of the


    doctor who made this?¡±


    The pharmacist thought the prescription was from a seasoned doctor. The handwriting alone was


    full of character.


    Anthea smiled gently. ¡°I wrote the prescription.¡±


    The pharmacist chuckled. ¡°No kidding, youngdy. The medical knowledge are profound and take


    decades to master. You look no more than seventeen or eighteen.¡±


    ¡°The youth today sure know how to spin tales,¡± the pharmacist thought.


    Standing aside, Carole spoke up. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m the sick one here. She is my daughter. She did write this


    prescription.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± The pharmacist squinted inquisitively.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± Carole nodded earnestly.


    The pharmacist hesitated, then said, ¡°Well then, youngdy, could you leave your contact with


    us?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Anthea agreed and wrote down the details. ¡°My name is Anthea. I don¡¯t have a cell phone.


    This number is my uncle¡¯s. If you need anything, you can call my uncle. He¡¯s Nanson.¡±


    It was evident that Anthea didn¡¯t take anything from her previous association with the Morris family.


    After passing the note, the pharmacist was stunned. The handwriting on the note matched the one


    on the prescription exactly.


    The name ¡®Anthea¡® flowed across the paper, followed by a series of numbers.


    Could this young girl have an innate gift of understanding the esoteric aspects of medicat


    knowledge and ancient healing arts at such a young age?


    Pushing his curiosity aside, the pharmacist prepared the medicine and said, ¡°Youngdy, that will


    be five hundred dors.¡±


    ¡°Why is it so expensive?¡± Carole eximed in surprise.

 Chapter 23

    Five hundred dors? That was so expensive!


    The pharmacist chuckled, ¡°Madam, there are a couple of high¨Cend supplements in this prescription.


    Your cost is already a discounted rate.¡±


    Discounted? That still seemed like highway robbery!


    Carole was taken aback and quickly tugged at Anthea¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Ann, let¡¯s bail on this. I¡¯m doing.


    alright and don¡¯t need this stuff. With a couple of days of rest, I¡¯ll be as good as new.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re not interested, no skin off my nose,¡± the pharmacist said, taking back the medicine.


    Anthea patted Carole¡¯s hand with a reassuring smile and faced the pharmacist, ¡°We¡¯ll take them.


    Here¡¯s the cash.¡± As she spoke, Anthea pulled out the exact amount from her pocket and handed it


    over.


    The pharmacist fed the bills into the cash counter, exactly five hundred dors.


    Carole was heartbroken, ¡°Ann, I¡¯m really fine!¡±


    ¡°Mom, moneyes and goes, but you only live once,¡± Anthea said earnestly.


    ¡°Your daughter is right. How could five hundred dorspared to your health?¡± the


    pharmacist handed the supplements over to Carole. ¡°Madam, you¡¯ve raised a fine daughter!¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Carole said, epting the bag.


    Leaving the pharmacy, Anthea then headed to the market.


    She nned to buy some fresh fish and meat. Carole needed to build her strength.


    At the Morris family.


    Reba had been a heiress in her past life, so she adapted to thevish lifestyle of the wealthy


    quite easily.


    What she couldn¡¯t get used to was the absence of Anthea, that infuriating bitch, from the Morris


    family.


    In her previous life, Reba found some perverse pleasure in tormenting Anthea when boredom


    struck. Now, something felt amiss.


    Lost in thought, a system notification beep echoed in her mind.


    Reba quickly essed the invisible control panel.


    A profile appeared on the screen.


    Daniel Robinson: a 28¨Cyear¨Cold male, and the eldest son and heir to one of Capital City¡¯s top ten


    families, the Robinson family, with a worth in the billions.


    ¡°Got a photo of Daniel?¡± Reba squinted her eyes.


    The screen shifted, revealing the image of a young man with striking features and an air of


    distinction.


    Narrowing her eyes, Rebamanded, ¡°Pull up Daniel¡¯s recent schedule.¡±


    The system obliged, disying a detailed itinerary.


    After scrutinizing the schedule, Reba sat at her vanity to get dolled up.


    Though Daniel was prestigious, he wasn¡¯t Reba¡¯s ultimate goal but Mr. Christensen was.


    ording to the information, Daniel and Mr. Christensen were close friends.


    Getting cozy with Daniel was a stepping stone to getting closer to Mr. Christensen.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Unfortul the system couldn¡¯t ess Mr. Christensen¡¯s details. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t


    have to go through the trouble of wooing Daniel.


    Outside a bustling shopping mall.


    A group of suit¨Cd men surrounded a young figure, escorting him out.


    Leading the pack was none other than Daniel.


    As Daniel stepped out of the mall, he spotted a girl in a pristine white dress squatting nearby.


    beaming with a gentle smile, ¡°Hey there, kiddo, how old are you?¡±


    The girl was beautiful, the white dress immacte, making her look like a flower in bloom.


    Before her stood a scruffy little boy with a snot bubble at his nose. The girl in the white dress. didn¡¯t


    seem to mind at all. She carefully cleaned his face with a tissue, her expression full of tenderness.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± the boy said politely with a grateful nod.

 Chapter 24

    ¡°Not a big deal, I¡¯ve got some snacks for you. Take these. By the way, where¡¯s your family?¡± said


    the girl gently.


    The little boy shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I came out by myself.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be out here alone. It¡¯s not safe. How about I walk you back home?¡±


    He nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Watching this heartwarming scene unfold, Daniel couldn¡¯t help but slow his pace.


    The man in charge noticed Daniel¡¯s interest and quickly whispered to his assistant with a savvy eye,


    ¡°Check out that youngdy.¡±


    ¡°Right away, sir,¡± the assistant replied respectfully.


    Soon the girl in the white summer dress vanished into the crowd with the little boy in tow, and


    Daniel continued on his way.


    ¡°Mr. Robinson, your car is here,¡± said the man beside Daniel, holding the door open with deference.


    Once inside the vehicle, the man nced at the message the assistant had forwarded to him. and,


    with a sycophantic smile, said, ¡°Mr. Robinson, that youngdy we just saw at the entrance. is


    Reba Morris, the newly weed daughter of the Morris family.¡±


    Daniel was taken aback.


    So it was her! No wonder she looked so familiar.


    His opinion of Reba had plummeted after the broken engagement fiasco, but it seemed he had


    been mistaken about the whole situation.


    A woman who showed such kindness to a begging child couldn¡¯t be the type to call off an


    engagement over wealth.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Daniel¡¯s thoughts were racing.


    Returning from the market, Carole was already bustling about in the kitchen.


    Anthea took the spat from her hands, ¡°Mom, go rest. I¡¯ve got this covered.¡±


    ¡°But this isn¡¯t your job,¡± Carole protested. Knowing full well that the Morris family had cooks and


    maids, she doubted Anthea had ever stepped foot in a kitchen.


    Anthea chuckled, ¡°I picked up a few things while with the Morris family. Don¡¯t underestimate me.


    You should take care of your health and avoid the kitchen fumes.¡±


    In truth, the original Anthea couldn¡¯t cook at all.


    Anthea¡¯s culinary skills had been honed in another world. Anthea could really cook. Not only


    were her dishes delicious, but they were also beneficial in other ways.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll help by washing the veggies,¡± Carole said, reaching for the produce Anthea had brought.


    Anthea got to work efficiently. In no time, the kitchen was filled with enticing aromas.


    Carole was surprised and hadn¡¯t expected Anthea to be so capable.


    At five¨Cthirty in the evening, Anthea arrived at the rotisserie for her shift.


    A young man in white sat at the counter, engrossed in his writing, unaware of Anthea¡¯s arrival.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Anthea greeted him.


    He looked up, meeting her bright eyes, blushing slightly. ¡°We¡¯re not open yet.¡±


    For the first time in his life, he saw a girl as beautiful as her. She could easily outshine the campus


    belle.


    Just then, Harriet emerged and greeted Anthea with a smile, bring your ID?¡±


    ¡°Yes, here it is.¡± Anthea handed over her ID to Harriet.


    ¡°You¡¯re just eighteen?¡±


    Anthea nodded.


    ¡°Oh, there you are, dear! Did yo


    Harriet smiled, ¡°Same age as my son. But he¡¯s still in his senior year of high school.¡±


    Anthea smiled, not adding anything to the conversation.


    Harriet went on to exin the job details to Anthea, ¡°In this line of work, you need to keep your eyes


    and ears open. Be quick on your feet¡­¡±


    The work was varied. Anthea would be carrying tes, cleaning, and tidying up after


    customers.


    The young man watched Anthea¡¯s figure as she worked, frowning slightly. Was, she here to


    work?


    Was it a summer job or was she full¨Ctime?


    If she was full¨Ctime, did that mean she hadn¡¯t finished high school?


    That would mean her education was quite limited¡­

 Chapter 25

    Harriet led Anthea around the quaint little rotisserie, which was cozy rather than cramped, spanning


    just shy of ny square feet including the kitchen. The dining space amodated over twenty


    tables, neatly arranged to maximize the seating without feeling crowded.


    ¡°You see, Anthea, right now it¡¯s fairly quiet, but we get a steady stream of customers from the


    moment we open our doors,¡± Harriet exined as she guided her new charge through the


    establishment. ¡°The job is a bit of a juggling act. I won¡¯t have you cking off on me, you hear?¡±


    Anthea nodded, her eyes taking in every detail of her new workce.


    Next, Harriet steered Anthea towards a middle¨Caged woman with honey¨Cblonde hair, whose fingers


    were adorned with a shy ring and a matching chunky bracelet. ¡°Lauren, this is Carole¡¯s daughter,


    Anthea. She¡¯ll be filling in for Carole for the next month. Could you run her through the ropes?¡±


    Lauren looked at Anthea, her eyes widening in surprise. ¡°Well, blow me down! Carole has a


    daughter as pretty as a picture!¡±


    Carole, while working at the rotisserie for over two years, was a woman who didn¡¯t talk much. She


    rarely chatted with her colleagues, leaving her personal life a mystery to most.


    Harriet then turned back to Anthea. ¡°If you run into any trouble.or have questions, Lauren is your


    go¨Cto, alright?¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Anthea replied, nodding again.


    After a bit more chit¨Cchat, Harriet walked back to the front, where she found her son at the counter


    sipping a soda. ¡°Baldie, my boy, you¡¯ve got to hit those books hard. Aim for an Ivy League spot next


    year with that fighting spirit! Don¡¯t end up like that chick, working jobs instead of getting an


    education.¡±


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Baldie, Harriet¡¯s only son and the apple of her eye, was eighteen and on the cusp of his senior year


    in high school, a pivotal time that would set the course for his future.


    ¡°Sure, Mom,¡± he responded with a nod. He was a bright student. Getting into a top¨Ctier university


    was well within his reach.


    ¡°That¡¯s my star!¡± Harriet beamed with pride. ¡°If you get tired of studying, take a break. There¡¯s


    watermelon in the fridge. I¡¯ll get you some.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡± Harriet was always attentive to her son, making sure to remove every seed from


    the watermelon slice with meticulous care.


    As the evening wore on, the rotisserie began to fill with patrons looking for a hearty meal.


    Anthea didn¡¯t shirk from any task, clearing tables and sweeping floors with diligence that left no


    room for criticism.


    Lauren nudged Harriet and whispered with a hint of respect, ¡°Anthea¡¯s a good girl, don¡¯t you think?


    She¡¯s full of surprises!¡±


    Harriet responded with a nonchnt shrug. ¡°Children from humble backgrounds learn responsibility


    early. When I was her age, I did everything, even herded cows!¡±


    ¡°Times have changed,¡± Lauren mused. ¡°Nowadays, every girl is treated like a princess.¡±


    Harriet nodded in agreement. ¡°True, but what good is being hardworking if youck education?


    Pretty as she is, she dropped out of school to work. What kind of future can she expect?¡±


    Despite Anthea stepping in for Carole, Harriet had her reservations. She figured that a beautiful. girl


    like Anthea would be too preupied with boys to focus on her studies.


    Given her attractiveness, Harriet suspected that Anthea must have had a string of boyfriends. by


    now.


    Lauren chimed in with a different angle. ¡°A girl isn¡¯t tied to her schooling. As long as she marries


    well, she will have a rosy future. With her looks, Anthea is bound tond herself a wealthy husband


    and live the high life as ady of leisure!¡±

 Chapter 26

    Lauren was born in the 1960s and clung to old-fashioned ideas. She believed that as long as a girl


    was pretty, she was set for life.


    After all, we live in an era where everything is judged by appearances.


    "Lauren, do you think the rich are blind and stupid? These days, a wealthy guy wants a wife who''s


    not only a looker but also has a top-notch education!" Harriet nced over at Anthea, then lowered


    her voice to a whisper, "And Anthea''s so gorgeous, I bet she''s had a string of boyfriends. Surely


    she''s not a virgin anymore. Why would a rich guy want damaged goods?"


    Rich folks weren¡¯t fools!


    Forget about the rich. Even Harriet wouldn''t want her son bringing home a bride with no smarts.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Lauren frowned, "You can''t just say things like that! Anthea doesn''t seem like that sort of person."


    What was the most important thing for a person? The reputation, of course!


    "Some people are two-faced. Sweet as pie to your face and a whole other story behind your back."


    Harriet said, then quickly added, "I''m only saying this to you. It¡¯s not proper to talk this way in front


    of others."


    Anthea was so beautiful that Harriet felt uneasy just looking at her, sensing she wasn''t the type to


    stay in line. And there was a tinge of envy, too.


    Why should Anthea be blessed with such beauty while others weren''t?


    When envy couldn¡¯t be spoken aloud, it turned into nder. A nder was often subconscious.


    But thankfully, the universe was fair. It gave Anthea a stunning facade but not the smarts or the


    degrees to match.


    Lauren felt Harriet''sments were out of line, "What if Anthea is still studying? Aren''t a lot of kids


    working summer jobs these days?"


    "No way," Harriet stated confidently. "Just look at her. She''s not the studious type. If she''s just filling


    in for Carole for a month, why work so hard? It''s clear she''s aiming to stick around."


    In Harriet''s eyes, Anthea''s diligence was her way of brown-nosing, hoping for a permanent spot on


    the payroll.


    Lauren watched Anthea''s busy figure and said, "I don''t think it''s like that... Harriet, maybe you''re


    overthinking this."


    "Overthinking? This is the real deal! Lauren, if you don''t believe me, just wait and see what happens


    in a month." Harriet was confident.


    Anthea, busy as ever, was oblivious to the fact that Harriet had been sizing her up.


    Anthea was a hard worker, barely taking a break all evening. Lauren handed her an ice-cold Coke,


    "Here, Anthea, take a break and have a drink."


    "Thank you, Lauren," Anthea said, taking the cup with both hands.


    Lauren warmed her eyes with approval at the gesture.


    These little things revealed a lot about a person''s upbringing and character.


    Anthea had good manners, which was evident.


    epting something from an elder with both hands was a sign of respect, which was a tradition


    Anthea followed without fail.


    It was well past midnight when Anthea finally finished her shift.


    Lauren cautioned her, "Anthea, be careful on your way home. It''ste and you''re a single young


    woman."


    "Thanks, Lauren. I will be," Anthea assured her.


    As Anthea stepped out of the rotisserie, she saw Nanson waving from across the street, "Hey!


    Anthea! Over here!"

 Chapter 27

    Anthea jogged over, her sneakers thumping softly on the pavement. "Uncle Nanson, what are you


    doing here?"


    "Your mom''s worried about you walking home alone at night," Nanson said with a protective glint in


    his eye. "She sent me to make sure you get back safe."


    Anthea nodded, an unfamiliar feeling bubbling up inside her. She was used to being the protector,


    not the protected. This was a new sensation, odd but not unwee.


    "So are we still hitting up the spot tonight?" Nanson asked, his voice tinged with excitement.


    Anthea knew exactly what ''the spot'' referred to. "Absolutely!" she replied.


    Money was tight and her wishlist was long, including a new smartphone,ptop, gaming gear... She


    was desperate to move out of her dingy basement apartment. Those gadgets weren''t just luxuries


    but her ticket to greater sess.


    And right now, the quickest way to cash was the casino.


    "Let''s roll!" Nanson said with a grin. "Tonight we''ll give them a lesson!"


    They strutted toward the casino, a fortress of sin and chance.


    Inside, the ce was buzzing, a hive of hopeful souls.


    But luck wasn''t on Anthea''s side tonight. There were six losses in a row before a single win.


    Nanson looked Anthea over with concern. "What''s going on with you tonight? You''re off your game."


    Anthea shrugged it off. "Whoever wins all the time is a legend. I''m just human."


    Human or not, her winning streak the previous night had been nothing short of miraculous. Nanson


    scratched his head, not quite buying it.


    "Rough night, huh? I thought she had the magic touch," Daniel remarked from across the room, his


    gaze lingering on Anthea with a mix of curiosity and distaste.


    Ever since the debacle in the Morris family, he''d seen her here two nights in a row. Coincidence?


    He doubted it.


    Beside Daniel stood Sherman, a figure shrouded in mystery, his presencemanding attention


    yet also demanding distance.


    "She''s doing it on purpose," Sherman said, his fingers pausing on the silver cross. Under his hat,


    his jawline hinted at a stoic beauty.


    "On purpose?" Daniel echoed, puzzled.


    "She lost six times, but the money she lost isn''t even half of what she won that one time," Sherman


    observed with a nod.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Daniel widened his eyes with realization. "She''s ying it low-key to avoid drawing the casino''s


    attention?"


    Sherman affirmed with a tilt of his head.


    Daniel stroked his chin, continuing, "She''s setting you up, Sherman. Don''t fall for her tricks."


    In Daniel¡¯s mind, Anthea had no real gambling skills. It was Nanson¡¯s discreet guidance from the


    shadows that gave her the edge. He kept his skills under wraps, letting Anthea take the spotlight to


    divert attention from them both.


    "Do you think I''m like you?" Sherman replied, his voice cool, his eyes briefly meeting Daniel''s.


    Daniel was known for his carefree escapades, adies'' man through and through, in stark contrast


    to Sherman''s reserved nature.


    "Sherman, not every woman is like Anthea. Don''t let one bad woman give you a phobia," Daniel


    said thoughtfully. "Take Reba for instance. She''s genuinely kind-hearted. I bet the engagement


    fell through because of some misunderstanding..."


    Daniel admired Reba. Despite her childhood marred by poverty, she maintained her grace.


    Faced with a conniving sister who had usurped her life, Reba chose forgiveness.


    Herpassion for astray kids was unparalleled, her soul seemingly untouched by the mundane


    grime.


    Compared to Reba, Anthea was leagues apart.


    "Reba''s true nature will prove itself," Sherman said, his tone unwavering.


    Daniel frowned, sensing Sherman''s skepticism. "I guarantee you that Reba is not like that.


    Sometimes it''s not just our ears that deceive us, but our eyes too. You should get to know her


    better. You can''t dismiss everyone because of one misunderstanding. You might miss out on


    someone like Reba."

 Chapter 28

    To Daniel, Reba was the epitome of grace and elegance, and Sherman, on the other hand, was


    the cool cucumber in any crisis.


    Together, they were a match made in heaven.


    "Why waste time on women when there are more productive things to do?" Sherman strode into the


    room, his mind already on business. "How''s the CIS data blueprinting along? Has anyone


    taken the job yet?"


    Daniel paled, hurrying to match Sherman. "Not yet..."


    Meanwhile, Anthea and Nanson had left the casino early after a string of losses dampened their


    spirits.


    Nanson heaved a sigh. "Why is luck eluding us tonight..."


    "Uncle Nanson, count this." Anthea handed over the wad of cash she held.


    Nanson shifted his expression from gloom to shock as he counted. "Holy smokes! Six grand! Did


    you win all this tonight?"


    With a subtle nod, Anthea was softened by the moonlight with an ethereal glow.


    "Weren''t you on a losing streak? How''d you win so much?" Nanson was puzzled.


    Anthea smirked, "Because I win big. The losses were just small change."


    It was a strategy to avoid drawing attention if there was a constant win.


    Nanson got the picture and shed her a thumbs-up. "Smart cookie!"


    He couldn''t be prouder of his brilliant niece!


    The next morning, Anthea was up at the crack of dawn, heading to the farmers'' market to pick up


    some veggies and meat to make a nourishing soup.


    It wasn''t just any soup but a tonic for Carole, designed to rejuvenate both physical health and


    beauty.


    Anthea had a knack for ancient healing arts, after all.


    Carole woke to find Anthea bustling in the kitchen, a bittersweet feeling washing over her. Carole


    felt guilty for Anthea¡¯s sacrifices.


    "Mom, you''re awake. The soup''s ready," Anthea announced, "Better have it while it''s still hot."


    Carole epted the bowl. "Ann, you shouldn''t have to wake up early to cook for me after working


    late. I should be the one cooking for you."


    With a smile, Anthea replied, "Don''t worry about it. I''m not tired. You can cook for me once you''re


    feeling better!"


    That afternoon, Anthea headed to work, but as soon as she walked in, Baldie called out, "Hold up."


    "Me?" Anthea looked back, slightly surprised.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yeah," Baldie nodded, trying to keep his nervousness at bay. "I''m Baldie. Are you Anthea, right?"


    "That''s me."


    Baldie blushed as he got closer to Anthea, stammering out, "Are you still in school?"


    She nodded. "Yes, I am."


    Baldie hesitated. Hadn''t Harriet mentioned Anthea had dropped out?


    Trying to recover, Baldie added, "I''m at MapleGrove High School. Which one do you go to?"


    MapleGrove High School was a well-regarded school, and Baldie couldn''t help but puff up a bit as


    he mentioned it.


    "I''m at Northbridge High School," Anthea replied.


    Baldie paused. While MapleGrove High School was good, Northbridge High School was the best


    one in Cloudcrest known for its exceptional faculty and education. He had almost made it into


    Northbridge High School himself but had fallen just short.


    Could Anthea, as lovely as she was, be a student at the Northbridge High School?


    Baldie fished out his phone. "What''s your WhatsApp ount? Let''s connect on social media."


    Anthea shook her head. "Sorry, I don''t have a phone."


    Baldie was taken aback, then it dawned on him.


    No phone? Impossible. There must be something in her social media he wasn''t meant to see.


    Perhaps, she wasn''t attending Northbridge High School after all.


    Was Anthea hiding something?

 Chapter 29

    Just then, Lauren beckoned Anthea over.


    Anthea nced at Baldie, saying, ¡°Sorry, I gotta run over there.¡±


    With those words, she jogged away.


    ¡°Baldie, what were you chatting about with her?¡± Harriet approached with a frown, ¡°Be careful she


    doesn''t lead you astray!¡±


    From the get-go, Harriet never considered Anthea a good influence, fearful that she might corrupt


    her precious son.


    Baldie chuckled, ¡°Mom, I was just hearing that Anthea goes to Northbridge High School. I think you


    might be misunderstanding her.¡±


    ¡°Northbridge High School?¡± Harriet scoffed, ¡°Why doesn¡¯t she just im she''s at Apex Ascent


    College?¡±


    Apex Ascent College was the top one university in Capital City, a dream school for many students.


    But with sky-high entrance requirements, only a handful of students from out-of-town got admitted


    each year.


    Harriet dreamed of Baldie getting into Apex Ascent College.


    She said earnestly, ¡°Baldie, let me tell you, the prettier the girl, the bigger the lies. Do you think


    she¡¯d be working here if she was good enough for Northbridge High School? Spend less time with


    her. I bet she¡¯s just jealous of your wealth and wants to...¡± The rest went unsaid as Harriet


    continued, ¡°Baldie, you''re not from the same world.¡±


    Anthea could only ever work for someone else, but Baldie was going to college and marry a well-


    educated and city-bred girl!


    What was Anthea inparison?


    Baldie felt there was some sense in Harriet''s words.


    If Anthea went to Northbridge High School, shouldn''t she be at home studying instead of working?


    Didn¡¯t she want to get into a good university?


    She must be lying.


    Truth be told, Baldie didn¡¯t much want to talk to Anthea either.


    Yet every time he saw Anthea, his heart raced uncontrobly. It was weird.


    That night, Anthea still hit the casino with Nanson.


    Just like the night before, she kept a low profile.


    Day after day, Anthea and Nanson made their nightly visits to the casino, winning a tidy sum.


    Daniel and Sherman were also there nightly.


    Daniel, leaning against the railing, said with a smile, ¡°Sherman, see? I told you, shees every


    night! Is she still ying these coy games? Ridiculous!¡±


    Sherman nced over, arching an eyebrow, ¡°So what do you think she''ll do next?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯ll keep showing up, rain or shine, until you take notice,¡± Daniel replied.


    Sherman betrayed no emotion.


    Would things unfold as Daniel predicted? It seemed interesting.


    The rotisserie had been surprisingly bustling these past few days, with a constant stream of


    customers. At peak times, there was even a line.


    Anthea, busy as she was, preferred to work silently. But being so attractive, everything she did


    seemed like art, a pleasure to the eye.


    ¡°Miss, can we take a picture together?¡± During service, a sunny and handsome young man


    mustered the courage to ask.


    He''d beening to this rotisserie for days, observing Anthea just as long. Her beauty and natural


    look were irresistible.


    In fact, there were many like him, drawn by Anthea¡¯s looks.


    Anthea declined, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t like taking pictures.¡±


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Then, could we maybe follow your Instagram?¡± the guy persisted, ¡°I¡¯m Weston, a junior at


    Cloudcrest University. Here¡¯s my student ID. I promise I¡¯m not a bad guy!¡±

 Chapter 30

    "I don''t have a cellphone," Anthea admitted with unaffected honesty.


    A flicker of embarrassment crossed Weston, "Oh, sorry about that."


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "It''s no big deal."


    Harriet had noticed the uptick in customers over the past few days too. Their little rotisserie had


    always done alright, but this was the first time they''d seen a line out the door.


    Could Anthea be the reason? Ever since she started here, the number of diners had surged day by


    day.


    So, beauty wasn''t entirely useless after all.


    With this thought, Harriet softened her gaze as she looked at Anthea, "Hey, if you''re feeling wiped,


    take a break, no sweat. I''m not one of those ve-driver bosses."


    "Thanks," Anthea replied, her relief evident.


    "Don''t mention it," Harriet said, giving Anthea''s hand an encouraging pat.


    Just then, a young woman dressed to the nines in designer gear strolled by and caught sight of


    Anthea clearing a nearby table. She nudged her pixie-cutpanion with an elbow, a puzzled look


    on her face, "Hey, Mae, who is that?"


    Mae pped a hand over her mouth, shocked. "Holy cow! Is that Anthea?"


    "Let''s go check it out."


    Both women could hardly believe the transformation in Anthea. It had only been a few weeks, but


    the change was dramatic.


    "Anthea?"


    Anthea looked up, her longshes fluttering like butterfly wings, leaving the two women


    dumbfounded. Was this Anthea?


    shes of information about the two women surfaced in Anthea''s mind.


    They were Mae and Alicia.


    The original host had been known for her heavy makeup and revealing outfits, a stylergely


    influenced by her so-called friends.


    Mae and Alicia were from decently wealthy families in Cloudcrest, but they couldn''t hold a candle to


    the Morris family. They''d always been green with envy over previous Anthea''s good looks and


    privileged background. They''d cozied up to her, using her status to boost their own and taking


    advantage while they could.


    The original Anthea had been an easy mark, swayed by just a few ttering words.


    They said heavy makeup suited her, so she caked it on. They told her she looked good in skimpy


    outfits, and she''d bare more skin.


    "Is there anything I can help you with?" Anthea asked with indifference.


    "Oh, nothing, just wanted to chat for a second," Mae forced a smile, "Ann, we''ve missed you since


    you left! What''s with the makeover? Ditching the m, huh? You''ve gone too in!"


    Once Alicia caught on to Mae''s insinuation, she quickly chimed in, "Exactly! Ann, you look


    downright dowdy now! We barely recognized you!"


    A sardonic glint shed in Anthea''s eyes before she looked up at them with a touch of feigned


    helplessness, "Truth is I''d love to look nice and wear makeup! But you both know the life I''m living


    now. Guess I''ll just have to keep on being in."


    That just wouldn''t do! Mae, rmed, hastily pulled a wad of cash from her purse and pushed it into


    Anthea''s hands, "Ann, if it''s money you need, use this to get yourself some makeup!"


    Anthea demurred, "I can''t take your money."


    "Just take it," Alicia insisted, stuffing the cash into Anthea''s hand, her tone brooking no argument,


    "We''re all besties, aren''t we? Mae and I want you to shine like you used to, all dolled up and turning


    heads."


    With seemingly no choice but to ept, Anthea took the money with a show of reluctance, "Thanks!


    You''re the best friends I could have!"


    As Anthea capitted, Mae and Alicia exchanged looks brimming with scorn.


    Anthea was a fool, forever and ever.

 Chapter 31

    In Alicia and Mae''s eyes, Anthea was aplete fool who was totally at their mercy.


    Otherwise, why would she have always been in their shadow?


    Mae couldn''t even be bothered to pretend anymore, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Ann,


    remember to stock up on more makeup tomorrow! Alicia and I have some other errands, goodbye."


    "Sure," Anthea nodded slightly.


    Watching Mae and Alicia walk away, a hint of a smile yed upon Anthea.


    Anthea once didn''t believe in the windfall. But now, she did.


    Alicia and Mae had just visited the Morris'' manor. They couldn''t wait to share Anthea''stest


    misfortune with Reba.


    "Guess who Mae and I bumped into?" Alicia said with a smirk.


    "Who?" Reba lifted an eyelid indifferently.


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    "It was Anthea! Can you believe what that shameless bitch was doing? She was actually cleaning


    up at a food stall! You should''ve seen how pitiful she looked!" Alicia said with delight.


    Reba, previously disinterested, perked up at this, a sneer forming on her face, "Really?"


    "Yes, really!" Alicia continued, "She was wearing the uniform and we even said hi to her! Same old


    dummy as always!"


    Mae chimed in, "She''s always been a fool to usurp others¡¯ belongings and can''t hold a candle to


    Reba! Reba is like a princess, while Anthea is not even worth the mud under our shoes."


    "Anthea is, after all, my sister. Maybe we should pay her a visit," Reba suggested, her eyes


    glinting with calction.


    Anthea''s downfall would make her grateful for any help just like in the past, leaving her at


    Reba''s mercy.


    "Let''s make it tomorrow night?" Mae suggested.


    Reba nodded, "Sounds good."


    The next morning, Anthea was up early for her run as usual, dressed in a simple white blouse, her


    hair flowing, her wless face expressionless but radiant with a hint of chill.


    Passersby turned to look, admiration sparking in their eyes.


    After her run, Anthea stopped by the farmers'' market before returning home to cook.


    Cooking was her forte, and Nanson couldn''t praise her enough, "Anthea, you''re amazing! This


    century pancake is much better than what you''d find at the diner!"


    As he spoke, something seemed to ur to Nanson, "Oh, someone called for you this morning."


    "Who?" Anthea asked, slightly puzzled.


    "He said he was the owner of the Vitality Haven Pharmacy."


    Anthea suddenly remembered herst visit to the pharmacy, "What did he say?"


    "He said to swing by his pharmacy at noon, if you''re free," Nanson ryed.


    "Alright, got it," Anthea nodded.


    After breakfast, Anthea cleaned up and prepared to head out. She first bought a new phone with a


    n, then made her way to the pharmacy.


    "Hello, were you looking for me?"


    "Ah, youngdy, you''re here," the pharmacy owner brightened up upon seeing Anthea and hurried


    over.


    "Do you need something from me?"


    The pharmacy owner said, "Let me introduce myself first. I¡¯m Wird Smith..."


    The situation was as follows.


    The husband of Wird¡¯s niece had a nephew by marriage who had fallen seriously ill a year ago.


    The symptoms were so strange that no diagnosis could be reached. After seeing countless


    specialists without improvement, or even getting worse, the family was running out of time.


    After witnessing how urately Anthea''s prescription had workedst time, Wird wanted her to


    have a look at the patient.


    "Time is of the essence, take me to him," Anthea said.


    "Of course," Wird nodded.

 Chapter 32

    Wird ushered Anthea through the streets towards his niece''s ce.


    Wird¡¯s niece was no average Jane. She lived in a mansion nestled within an affluent suburb


    where help was in no short supply.


    "Uncle Wird, you''re here," Paulina greeted, her beauty evident despite the pronounced dark


    circles under her eyes, hinting at her age around thete twenties.


    Wird introduced them, "Paulina, this is Anthea Yeager, the doctor I mentioned. This is my niece,


    Paulina Smith."


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Paulina widened her eyes in surprise as she noticed Anthea standing beside the owner of Wird.


    Could such a young girl really cure the illness?


    Anthea stepped forward with a friendly smile, "Hello, just Anthea is fine."


    "Please, take a seat, Anthea," Paulina said, signaling to a servant to get some coffee.


    Anthea took a sip of her coffee and then said, "Shall we go see the patient?"


    Paulina hesitated but finally agreed. She couldn''t disappoint Wird after all.


    They approached the bedroom, which was vast but filled with the sterile scent of disinfectant, not


    the most pleasant aroma.


    The man on the bed was gaunt, barely showing signs of life.


    Anthea sat by the bed, touching his wrist with concentration. After a moment, she let go and looked


    up at Paulina, "Ms. Smith, did your husband travel to any tropical regions before he fell ill?"


    Paulina nodded, somewhat taken aback, "Yes, we were in Bolivia."


    Anthea nodded, "That makes sense. Your husband has a rare condition called Anos Syndrome. It''s


    typically not contagious and spreads through consuming undercooked meat, prevalent only in


    tropical areas."


    "Anos Syndrome?"


    Anthea exined, "Simply put, it''s a parasitic infection. There are fewer than three known cases


    worldwide!"


    "Why couldn''t the hospitals detect it?" Paulina pressed.


    "Because the Anos parasite is fmentous and transparent, which is quite cunning. Once it infests a


    human, it blends into the flesh, making it hard to detect with current medical technology."


    This illness was asmonce as the flu in Anthea''s original world.


    But what baffled Anthea was how someone in this world had managed to catch it, too.


    "If you''re skeptical, I can prove it to you." Anthea lifted the covers and pressed on several points on


    the man''s chest.


    Suddenly, the man sat up, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and then passed out again.


    Paulina gasped in shock, "Tammie!"


    "Look at the floor, Ms. Smith," Anthea said calmly.


    Paulina turned pale as she saw several transparent worm-like creatures wriggling in the pool of


    blood.


    "That''s the Anos parasite." replied Anthea.


    While the others panicked, Anthea was the epitome ofposure.


    "Ms. Yeager, please save my husband!" Paulina switched to a more formal address to show her


    trust in Anthea.


    "Don''t worry, Ms. Smith. I''ll do everything I can."


    "Do you have any paper and a pen?" Anthea asked next.


    "Yes, right away!" Paulina quickly had someone bring the items.


    Anthea scribbled down a prescription and handed it to Paulina, "Follow this treatment prescription


    and I''lle back for a follow-up in a week."


    "Thank you!" Paulina nearly bowed with gratitude, "Ms. Yeager, if you cure my husband, you''ll be


    my family''s savior!"


    Anthea gently stopped her, "Let''s wait until your husband is fully recovered before you thank me."

 Chapter 33

    After Anthea departed, Paulina immediately instructed the maid to purchase the medicine listed on


    the prescription.


    She then phoned her mother-inw Wilma to share the exciting news.


    Upon hearing the update, Wilma rushed over in a flurry, "Paulina, is there hope for my son? Where¡¯s


    the doctor? I must meet her!"


    Apanying Wilma was her niece, Luna.


    Luna, orphaned at a young age, had grown up under Wilma''s care.


    Since Wilma and her husband Baily never had a daughter, Luna had been cherished as their own


    over the years.


    Paulina said, ¡°Ms. Yeager has already left, but she¡¯ll be back in a week.¡±


    Wilma asked, ¡°Can this Ms. Yeager really cure Tammie?¡± After seeing countless doctors without


    hope, she wondered incredulously, ¡°Does that woman possess such skill?¡± Wilma was fraught with


    anxiety.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Paulina had the maid bring forth a ss jar, saying, ¡°Take a look at this.¡±


    Inside the ss jar was a blood-red substance with thread-like translucent creatures wriggling


    within.


    At the sight of it, Luna frowned, a flicker of malice passing swiftly through her eyes before she


    clutched Paulina''s hand in feigned fear, ¡°Paulina, what on earth is that? It¡¯s terrifying!¡±


    Wilma, too, got the shivers at the sight.


    Paulina exined, ¡°This is the parasite that¡¯s been inside Tammie. We¡¯ve been mistaken all along,


    thinking Tammie was sick, but he was infected with this parasite. Ms. Yeager says it¡¯s quite cunning


    and usually undetectable by ordinary medical equipment.¡±


    Luna narrowed her eyes, her gaze growing intense as she pondered the true identity of Ms. Yeager.


    Wilma, incredulous, asked, ¡°Are you saying these creatures were living inside Tammie?¡±


    Paulina nodded.


    Fear was apparent in Wilma¡¯s eyes. The thought of these parasites filled her with horror, and she


    couldn''t bear to imagine the torment her son had endured.


    At the sight of Wilma¡¯s distress, Paulina quickly reassured, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry too much. Now that


    we¡¯ve found the cause, Ms. Yeager will be able to cure Tammie.¡±


    Luna addedfortingly, ¡°Paulina is right. Don¡¯t be overly concerned. Tammie will definitely get


    better.¡±


    Back at home, Anthea turned on her phone and proceeded to delete her WhatsApp ount and


    other ounts of social media, opting to start anew.


    In the evening, she went to work.


    Baldie, ever the usual, was sitting at the bar doing his homework when he saw Anthea arrive and


    greeted her enthusiastically, ¡°Hey, you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Anthea nodded in acknowledgment.


    Noticing Anthea''s phone, Baldie continued, ¡°Got a new phone?¡±


    ¡°Bought it today.¡±


    ¡°How about we connect on social media? I''ll send you a request.¡±


    Hesitating briefly, Anthea handed over her phone, ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°Done.¡±


    Soon after, Baldie received a notification that his friend request had been epted.


    Anthea¡¯s profile picture was an unassuming little flower and her s was a poetic line, ¡°Shall I


    compare thee to a summer¡¯s day.¡±


    Baldie frowned slightly.


    Dropping out of middle school, did Anthea evenprehend the meaning of those words? What


    was this if not pretentiousness?


    No wonder Harriet wasn¡¯t fond of her.


    Baldie frowned deeper, closed his phone, and returned to his homework, pushing the thought aside.


    Around seven in the evening, a beggarly old woman entered the rotisserie.


    Dressed in ragged clothes with a head full of silver hair, she hobbled among the tables with the aid


    of a walking stick, her back bent with age.


    In these times, with so many scammers around, most people chose to ignore such beggars.


    But when Anthea saw this elderly woman, her heart ached.


    In this stranger, she saw the shadow of her nanny from her original world.


    In her original world, with her parents gone, it was an olddy with no kinship to her who had raised


    her. If not for that olddy, Anthea would not have survived.

 Chapter 34

    When a sudden illness took the olddy away when Anthea was ten, Anthea was left with a lifelong


    regret. Even after Anthea rose to be a world-renowned tech mogul, she couldn''t share her


    sess with her beloved nanny.


    ...


    Anthea approached the beggar with a warm smile, "Madam, why don''t youe over here and


    take a seat? What would you like to eat?"


    The beggar looked at Anthea with a bit of apprehension, "Youngdy, I..."


    Just then, Harriet stormed out from the back, her face twisted in annoyance, "Anthea, what are you


    doing? Why are you bringing just anyone into the diner? This isn''t a charity house!"


    Did Anthea think she owned the rotisserie? Was Anthea about to let a beggar dine here on the


    house? What a nerve!


    Anthea lifted her gaze, "Don''t worry, I''ll pick up the tab."


    Harriet furrowed her brow, then it dawned on her that Anthea was putting on a show.


    Anthea must be trying to impress Baldie with her kindness and bait him into falling for her!


    Shameless!


    Harriet had to warn Baldie before he fell for this scheming trick!


    With that thought, Harriet hastened back inside.


    Anthea handed the menu to the elderlydy, "Take a look and see what you''d like."


    "Are you sure to treat me?" the beggar said with a hint of surprise.


    Anthea nodded.


    "Well then, I won''t hold back!" The beggar ordered several dishes in one go, including a bowl of


    lobster bisque. "Is it alright to have these?"


    "Of course," Anthea replied, "Just sit tight for a moment."


    Soon, Anthea brought over the dishes the beggar had ordered.


    As the beggar ate, she observed Anthea working out of the corner of her eye, her expression filled


    with satisfaction.


    What a nice youngdy! She was beautiful with such a pleasant voice.


    After finishing her meal, the beggar dabbed her mouth and called Anthea over, "Youngdy! Come


    here a moment!"


    Anthea trotted over, "Is there something you need, madam?"


    The beggar pushed her empty bowl forward, "Dear, I''m a bit thirsty now. Could you pour me a ss


    of water?"


    "Of course." Anthea fetched a ss of water.


    After quenching her thirst, the beggar burped contentedly and then said, "I... I''d like a soda, if that''s


    alright?"


    She thought asking for more might upset Anthea, but Anthea still nodded with a smile, "Sure."


    Anthea bought a cup of soda and cautioned, "The soda is a bit chilly, take it slow."


    Nodding, the beggar drank and then asked, "What''s your name, youngdy?"


    "I''m Anthea Yeager, you can just call me Anthea."


    "That sounds too formal! How about I call you Annie, and you can call me Mrs. Christensen?"


    "That sounds great, Mrs. Christensen!"


    "Ah, what a good child!" Karen, the fake beggar, beamed with joy, "It''s gettingte. I should head


    home. Annie, I''ll see you tomorrow."


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "See you tomorrow."


    After seeing Mrs. Christensen off, Anthea went to help out in the kitchen.


    No sooner had she left than Reba and Alicia, decked out in finery, arrived with theirpanion.


    Seeing their posh attire, Harriet hurried to greet them, "Right this way, please."


    It was Reba''s first visit to a roadside diner since returning to her life of luxury, and she frowned in


    distaste.


    In her mind, only the lower sses would frequent such a distasteful establishment.


    Settling at an empty table, Reba inquired, "Do you have a waitress named Anthea here?"


    "Yes," Harriet nodded.


    Alicia chimed in, "We''d like Anthea to serve us."


    Harriet replied, "I apologize, but Anthea is tied up with other tasks right now."


    Reba casually pulled out a stack of cash from her wallet, "This is for the service."


    Harriet gleamed her eyes as she pocketed the money, "Wait a moment. I''ll fetch Anthea for you."

 Chapter 35

    Harriet jogged over to find Anthea, herughter cutting through the morning bustle. "Hey Anthea,


    get some help, will you? You''re needed inside for table service."


    "What?" Anthea blinked in confusion.


    "We''ve got some big shots inside specifically asking for you," Harriet said, a grin ying on her lips.


    "Are they pals of yours or something?" She paused for a second, considering Anthea''s humble


    beginnings, it seemed quite improbable.


    But Harriet had seen them clearly. The most attractive among them was decked out in luxury brands


    that most people only ever saw on TV.


    A single T-shirt that they wore was worth a grand. If Anthea knew these types, she wouldn''t be


    waiting tables at this joint.


    Anthea furrowed her brow slightly as she followed Harriet inside.


    With a nod of her chin, Harriet pointed out the table. "That one with the three girls sitting at it. Make


    sure you give them the VIP treatment."


    Anthea, her expression unreadable, approached with the menu in hand. "What can I get for you


    ladies today?"


    She needed to fulfill her duty in any way. If these three were here to stir trouble, she''d just have to


    roll with the punches.


    Anthea wasn''t about to back down.


    The familiar voice caught Reba off guard as she looked up with a sneer.


    But then, she froze, her smirk paralyzed on her lips.


    Was this Anthea? How had the so-called ugly duckling transformed like this?


    Reba had expected to see a pitiful mess, someone down on their luck.


    Instead, Anthea was positively radiant!


    ¡°What was happening? How could this bitch be so attractive? Had she gone under the surgery?


    How dare she look better than me!¡± Reba cursed inwardly.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Reba shifted her face through shades of envy, herposure shattered. She couldn''t bear


    anyone outshining her.


    Mae and Alicia were equally stunned. Didn''t Anthea just take money yesterday for makeup and


    beauty products? Why wasn''t she wearing any makeup?


    "Anthea, why aren''t you dolled up today? Don''t you know your in face could scare someone?"


    Mae frowned, her voice usatory.


    "Makeup?" Anthea creased her brow slightly with a look of genuine confusion on her face. "Why


    would I need makeup? And do I know you two?"


    As they observed Anthea¡¯s innocent demeanor, Alicia and Mae started doubting their encounter the


    previous day.


    Had Anthea gone mad?


    Mae, fuming, stood up abruptly, pointing at Anthea. "Cut the act, Anthea! You definitely took our


    money!"


    Anthea¡¯s smile was subtle yet firm. "If you''re not ready to order, I have other tables to attend to."


    Alicia struggled to maintain her cool and addressed Anthea, "Bring us one of everything on the


    menu!"


    "That''s quite a lot for just three of you. Are you sure you can manage?" Anthea couldn''t help but


    caution them.


    Alicia narrowed her eyes, "We''re the customers here. Haven''t you heard that the customer is


    always right? What kind of waitress questions the customer?"


    Reba had been silent until now. She knew she had to suppress her rage and jealousy. She


    couldn''t allow things to spiral out of her control.


    "Alright, your order will be right up," Anthea replied and headed toward the kitchen.


    As Anthea disappeared from view, Reba finally turned to Mae and Alicia, "What''s your deal with


    her?"


    Mae recounted the previous night''s events, "Anthea went back on her word! She said she''d buy


    makeup and pretty up today, and now she''s denying it!"


    "Are you two idiots?" Reba slit eyes, "You got yed by Anthea. Don¡¯t you even realize? You


    knew she was strapped for cash, and you just threw your money at her?"

 Chapter 36

    It finally dawned on Mae and Alicia that they had been outwitted by Anthea they had always


    dismissed as a loser!


    "Mae, how much cash did you give herst night?" Alicia asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.


    Mae frowned and replied, ¡°Around a hundred bucks, I think. What about you?¡±


    Alicia went pale with anger, ¡°I gave her all the cash in my wallet.¡± She had at least three to four


    hundred dors in there! Thinking back, Alicia wished she could p her foolish past self.


    A little whileter, Anthea and Lauren came over with the dishes Reba and her friends had


    supposedly ordered. ¡°Careful, folks, here¡¯s your order,¡± they announced.


    Mae was livid. As she nced at the lobsters and kebabs brought to the table, her lips curled into a


    sly smile, and she suddenly challenged, ¡°Hold up! We didn¡¯t order any of this. Are you sure you


    haven¡¯t made a mistake?¡±


    Lauren checked the order sheet and responded, ¡°These are indeed the dishes you ordered.¡±


    Alicia caught on to Mae¡¯s scheme and quickly chimed in, ¡°There are only three of us. How could we


    eat all this? Clearly, your waitress messed up our order! This isn¡¯t what we wanted!¡±


    Despite its modest size, the rotisserie boasted a full array of seafood, including luxurious items like


    lobsters and crabs, usually reserved for the asional splurge. Now, with Mae and Alicia insisting


    that Anthea had ordered wrong, it was implied that Anthea should foot the bill.


    Before making a scene, Mae had made sure they were in a blind spot, out of reach from any


    surveince cameras.


    Alicia stood up abruptly, fury etched across her face, ¡°Where¡¯s your manager? Call them over! I


    want to see how they train their staff, serving customers the wrong dishes! This is no service. It¡¯s


    coercion! I¡¯m calling the cops!¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Lauren, who had never encountered such a situation before in her time at the rotisserie, quickly


    tried to appease them with a nervous smile, ¡°Please, don¡¯t be upset. The waitress is new here. I¡¯ll


    get our manager right away.¡±


    Reba stood up, trying to diffuse the tension with a smile. ¡°Mae and Alicia, don¡¯t be so upset. I¡¯m


    sure Anthea didn¡¯t do it on purpose. She¡¯s just trying to make a living. It¡¯s not easy. Let¡¯s just let it


    go, okay? Do it for me.¡±


    Mae''s voice oozed with sarcasm as she said, "Well, since you''re pitching in, Reba, I suppose I


    can let it slide just this once. But I have a catch! We''re talking about food worth a couple hundred


    bucks here. I can''t just write that off."


    With that, Mae turned to Anthea, ¡°Bend down to apologize, and we¡¯ll call it even.¡±


    Anthea set the tray down on the table firmly and looked at Reba and Mae, a faint smile ying


    on her lips, her eyes reflecting the warm glow of the lights. ¡°Do you want to y? I''m all in.¡±


    There was something extraordinary about Anthea in that moment, a radiance that was blinding.


    Standing next to her, Reba and Mae, in their designer outfits, seemed to pale inparison.


    That strange feeling settled once again. Reba clenched her hand hidden in her sleeve.


    Mae narrowed her eyes, ¡°If you¡¯re so ungrateful, then we have no choice but to involve your


    manager!¡±


    At this point, Anthea was nothing but a lowlife in their eyes!


    Without power or influence, what could she do?


    ¡°Anthea, maybe you should just apologize and let this go?¡± Lauren whispered, tugging at Anthea¡¯s


    sleeve to advise her.


    Without any evidence to prove that they were the ones who had ordered the food, Anthea was at a


    disadvantage.


    Anthea looked down at Lauren and said calmly, ¡°Lauren, would you please call Harriet over?¡±

 Chapter 37

    Lauren furrowed her brow slightly, murmuring, ¡°Anthea, just bite the bullet and apologize, will you?¡±


    If they called Harriet over, this whole mess would just spiral out of control. Then, Anthea would not


    only have to cough up some cash but also offered an apology.


    These three were clearly gunning for Anthea.


    Alicia let out a soft chuckle, ¡°Totally clueless about reading the room, no wonder you¡¯re just a


    waitress. Listen up, I might let it slide if you apologize. But once your manager shows up, you¡¯ll be


    footing the bill.¡±


    This sum of money meant nothing to a heiress like her, not even a drop in the bucket.


    But to Anthea, a penny pincher, it was a small fortune!


    ¡°Anthea,¡± Lauren tugged at Anthea¡¯s sleeve once more, ¡°Don¡¯t be so stubborn. It¡¯s just an apology.


    What¡¯s the big deal?¡±


    Lauren was genuinely looking out for Anthea.


    If Anthea kept up her defiance, she¡¯d have worked for peanuts this month.


    Just an apology could stop the bleeding. Wasn¡¯t it good?


    Anthea nced down at Lauren, ¡°Lauren, don¡¯t worry about me, please go fetch the boss.¡±


    Seeing Anthea so obstinate, Lauren sighed in resignation.


    Reba pulled out a card from her purse and offered it to Anthea with a gentle voice, ¡°Anthea, this


    is my card, the PIN is six sixes. Take it and settle the bill, so you don''t get in trouble when your


    manageres.¡±


    Anthea was like a struggling ant on itsst legs.


    Offering a helping hand like this, Anthea would be indebted.


    ¡°Thanks, but I won¡¯t ept it,¡± Anthea said with a slight smile.


    Reba hadn¡¯t expected Anthea to be so ungrateful, her smile freezing for a moment before


    returning to normal.


    Anthea had changed. In the past, she would have gratefully epted any help offered.


    Before long, Harriet arrived, ¡°Anthea! I hear about you messing up an order! Apologize to the


    customers, now!¡±


    As the boss, Harriet wasn¡¯t about to alienate her clientele. In the service business, the customer


    was king.


    After speaking, Harriet turned and apologized to Mae, ¡°I am so sorry for the inconvenience!¡±


    Mae sipped her soda with an air of indifference,pletely ignoring Harriet.


    Harriet then addressed Anthea, ¡°Anthea, apologize!¡±


    ¡°Hold your horses, boss,¡± Anthea said calmly, pulling out her phone from her pocket.


    Soon, voices began to emanate from the device.


    ¡°Bring us one of everything on the menu.¡±


    "That''s quite a lot for just three of you. Are you sure you can manage?"


    No one had anticipated that Anthea would have a recording.


    The atmosphere turned awkward.


    Even Reba was finding it hard to sit still. She had intended to teach Anthea a lesson, not to be


    outyed by her.


    How infuriating!


    What a despicable bitch!


    Mae and Alicia looked at each other, seeing the resentment in their eyes.


    Anthea continued, ¡°Were you perhaps intentionally stirring up trouble? Boss, maybe we should call


    the cops.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Call the cops?


    Mae and Alicia cared about their reputation. If they made a big scene and it got out, how would they


    show their faces in high society?


    Mae stood up abruptly, ¡°Who said we were doing it on purpose? We were just joking around with


    you!¡±


    Anthea smiled faintly, ¡°In that case, please settle your bill. The totales to $617. Will that be


    credit or debit?¡±


    ¡°Charge it!¡± Mae said through gritted teeth.


    Anthea, all smiles, took the card.


    After the transaction, Anthea handed the card back to Mae, ¡°I hope you enjoy your meal.¡±


    Mae, seething, took the card and turned to Reba and Alicia, ¡°Reba and Alicia, let¡¯s get out of


    here.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Reba nodded, leading the way out.


    Anthea, in high spirits, followed them to the door, ¡°Take care,dies. If you ever want to cause


    trouble again, I¡¯m always here. But just remember...¡±

 Chapter 38

    At that point, she paused and tapped her temple with her pale index finger. "But just remember,


    behave yourself. I''m not allowed to hang out with idiots."


    "You!" Mae, fuming, raised her left hand and swung at Anthea''s face.


    With a slight lean, Anthea dodged Mae''s hand effortlessly.


    Due to the excessive force, Mae''s hand ended up pping the oak tree behind Anthea!


    "Mae, are you okay?" Alicia jumped, startled by the sound.


    "Ouch..." Tears welled up in Mae''s eyes from the pain.


    Looking at the scene, Anthea couldn''t help but remark with a sigh, "What a bunch of morons!"


    With that, she turned and walked back into the rotisserie.


    Mae watched Anthea''s retreating figure, grinding her teeth in anger. "You bitch, just you wait!"


    A sinister glint flickered in the depths of Mae''s eyes. She was determined to make Anthea pay!


    Inside, Lauren saw Anthea enter and quickly came over. "Anthea, you sure showed her!" Originally


    thinking Anthea would just take the loss, Lauren was surprised to see Anthea had an ace up her


    sleeve!


    Anthea casually rolled up her sleeves, revealing a sliver of her delicate and fair wrist. "It was


    nothing."


    Lauren followed up, "Hey, did you know those three girls?"


    Anthea shook her head, "Nope."


    "So why were they picking on you?" Lauren asked.


    Anthea raised an eyebrow, "Probably jealous of my looks?"


    After all, she knew she was quite the looker!


    Lauren burst intoughter at Anthea''s joke.


    But as much as it was said in jest, it was also the truth. Anthea was truly beautiful, with a radiance


    that couldn''t be imitated.


    When it was time to clock out, Nanson came to pick Anthea up.


    Having been hitting the casinos every night, Nanson automatically started heading in that direction.


    "Uncle Nanson, let''s skip the casino tonight," Anthea said.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Why?" Nanson asked.


    Anthea replied, "Relying on gambling to win money isn''t a long-term n."


    Nanson scratched his head, "Anthea, you''ve got such a knack for gambling. It''s a waste not to go!


    It''s like burying your talent!"


    "Uncle Nanson, you''re also forbidden from going to the casinos from now on," Anthea turned to look


    at Nanson.


    "Why?" Nanson was a picture of confusion.


    It was usually the elders who looked after the young. Why did Anthea dictate terms to her Nanson


    and so confidently at that? Yet, for some reason, Nanson trusted Anthea from all aspects.


    Anthea stated with conviction, "Because the casino is no good ce. One should aspire to better


    things, not just gamble! Besides, how could a pretty young girl like me be seen in such a ce? It''d


    give the wrong impression!"


    Nanson was speechless. It sounded as if the person who was sashaying through the casino a few


    nights ago wasn''t her.


    He hadn''t realized Anthea was sophisticated.


    "There¡¯s a food stall. Let''s have some food," Anthea suddenly suggested, spotting a hamburger stall


    by the roadside.


    Nanson could only agree, "Alright..."


    They sat down at the stall.


    The friendly stall owner immediately asked, "What can I get for you two?"


    "I''ll have a hamburger. What about you?" Anthea wasn''t fussy. She sat down and got herself a ss


    of water.


    Nanson said, "Same for me and throw in a beer."


    "I''ll have a beer too," Anthea chimed in.


    Nanson reprimanded, "What''s a kid like you doing drinking beer? Hey boss, make that a cold c!"


    Anthea had lived two lifetimes and had never been protected like a child before.


    She dissolved into a smile, her gaze brightening with a rare warmth.


    In the underground casino.


    Two figures appeared on time at the second-floor railing.


    Sherman leaned against the ornate balustrade, a silver cross dangling from his fingers, exuding an


    aura of austere detachment.


    "I thought the n was to y hard to get but she''s not here tonight," he said, his voice casual but


    edged with an icy coolness.

 Chapter 39

    Daniel glinted with scornful amusement as he said, "It''s a ssic case of ying hard to get, my


    friend. She baits you with some fancy trick, piques your interest, and then vanishes into thin air,


    leaving you itching with curiosity. Just when you''re about to burst with anticipation, she''ll make her


    grand re-entrance!"


    In Daniel¡¯s mind, a poser couldn¡¯t make it to the big leagues.


    Compared to the sweet Reba, she''d never stoop to such tricks.


    Too bad, Sherman''s misunderstanding about Reba ran too deep.


    "Really?" Sherman squinted, a yful mole near his eye bing more charming as he smirked.


    "Bet on it," Daniel continued. "Sherman, just you wait. She''s bound to show up after tomorrow!"


    "And if she doesn''t after three days?" Sherman arched an eyebrow.


    "If not, I''ll livestream myself eating dirt!" Daniel dered, thumping his chest with resolve, thinking,


    "If she''s following the ybook, Anthea will show up for sure."


    "Is that a promise?"


    "Of course!" Daniel asserted with confidence.


    Sherman curved his lips into a knowing smile, casually observing the scene below as usual.


    Daniel, smirking, added, "I''ve seen these games yed a hundred times over. We''re all old foxes


    here. Does she think she can pull one over on me with some amateur tricks?"


    The Robinson family was a high society in Capital City. Known for his love of the game and ying


    it with a wild streak, Daniel had charmed an endless list of women.


    With so much experience, he knew all the moves and all the strategies.


    After polishing off a hamburger, Anthea didn''t head straight for a shower and bed. Instead, she sat


    at her desk, head bowed as she diligently worked on something.


    Her phone was right beside her.


    The screen was lit up, not with a game or a novel, but filled with foreign text.


    Momentster, Anthea set down her pen, picked up her phone and the paper she had been writing


    on, and used the form she calcted to ess another website.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    After several redirects, she finallynded on the site she''d been aiming for.


    "Got it!" Anthea shed a triumphant smile andid the notebook on the desk.


    This was GlobalGigaNet, a tform where tech moguls and famous tech corporations from all


    around the world posted bounty tasks.


    If youpleted a task, you''d earn a hefty reward.


    Such tech hubs also existed in Anthea''s original world, but this was a different dimension altogether.


    Luckily, the essence of technology shared amon thread, and it didn''t take her long to track


    down thiswork and sessfully bypass the barriers.


    Anthea opened the registration page and created a new ount.


    On the username field, she carefully typed: Phoenix¡¤YC.


    The site was a melting pot of tech giants from across the globe. Anthea was fresh and unknown


    without any reputation, so no one was knocking on her door with big-ticket tasks.


    She then navigated to the forum.


    Pinned at the top was a high-stakes bounty task with the highest difficulty.


    It was an ultra-rare task. No wonder no one had taken it up.


    The tform had rules. If you failed toplete a task, you''d lose credibility. With ten points lost,


    you''d be barred from future tasks.


    Such tasks not only offered hefty rewards but also came with steep penalties.


    Neers typically started with a 20-point bonus.


    That meant first-timers had to choose their tasks wisely. If they lose points, they''d be out of the


    running for the next opportunity.


    Anthea clicked through, a subtle smile ying on her lips, and then imed the task, even adding


    the poster as a friend.


    After sending the friend request, she logged off.


    It was gettingte, and this young beauty needed her beauty sleep.

 Chapter 40

    On the other side of town, a scream tore through the tranquility of the vi.


    "Damn! Someone took the gig!" Daniel nearly popped his eyes out of his head when he saw the


    notification that someone had epted the mission. He eagerly epted the friend request and


    sent a message, "Hello, sir?"


    There was no immediate reply, which only amped up Daniel''s anxiety. He clicked over to the


    stranger''s profile, which was sparse at best.


    The profile was the default one.


    The ID read: Phoenix¡¤YC, a stupid name.


    But the name wasn''t the real kicker. The real shocker was that this person was a newbie!


    A freaking newbie without a single notch of experience...?


    What the actual heck? Were rookies really this ballsy nowadays to take on an ultra-rare mission


    with extreme difficulty!


    The guy probably didn''t even know what it meant and just went for it...


    At that thought, the excitement on Daniel fizzled out like a dud firecracker.


    He''d been hoping for a professional, and instead, he got a total noob. What a letdown!


    Daniel ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, his annoyance so intense it was ruining his


    whole morning.


    The next day, Anthea, after epting his friend request, replied while brushing her teeth, "Hello,


    any other specifics I need to know about this task?"


    Silence from the other end.


    She pocketed her phone and continued her morning routine.


    Once done with her teeth, she headed to the farmers'' market to pick up some groceries for


    breakfast. Carole had been downing sleep-inducing medicines every night, so breakfast duty had


    fallen to Anthea.


    In another vi.


    Sherman sat by the window, flipping through a book.


    "Sherman," Daniel stepped inside, "You needed something?"


    Sherman turned another page, not bothering to look up. "Someone took the mission?"


    At the mention of the mission, Daniel clouded his face over. "Yeah, but it''s a rookie. I think he''s


    mistaken."


    Daniel had his suspicions that this rookie was a kid. After all, who else would choose such a tricky


    task for their first gig?


    Just then, Daniel''s phone buzzed.


    He checked it, which was a message from Phoenix YC. "Yeah, I''m here. Any other specifics I need


    to know about this CIS data design diagram?"


    Daniel couldn''t be bothered to waste more time, replying dismissively, "Everything you need to know


    is on the task page. You''ve got three days."


    The reply came back quickly, "Got it."


    At the sight of this, Daniel deepened mockery in his eyes.


    He really wanted to know what kind of fool he was dealing with.


    What an audacity!


    Daniel didn''t bother replying further and he promptly deleted the rookie from his contacts.


    Sherman then said, "If it''s a rookie, we should repost the mission."


    Daniel shook his head, "The tform rules say the shortest duration for a task is three days."


    Until those three days were up, they couldn''t cancel or repost the mission.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Wasting three days would piss off anyone. Sherman frowned slightly and changed the subject, "Any


    news on that shipment?"


    "I''ve got that one sorted."


    At that, Sherman softened his expression, "Keep a close eye on the CIS. We can''t afford to waste


    any more sets of three days. There must be solutions after all."

 Chapter 41

    Daniel nodded, his mind racing faster than Sherman''s about the CIS.


    But there was nothing to be done at present. No international big shot had emerged to solve the


    problem instantly.


    "Alright, you can head out," Sherman said, massaging his temples with long and slender fingers.


    As Daniel turned to leave, just before he reached the door, Sherman''s voice followed him, "Turn the


    lights off on your way out, would you?"


    Daniel paused, a frown flickering across his face. He suspected that Sherman had summoned him


    in the middle of the night just to have him switch off the lights.


    The next morning.


    Anthea munched on a bagel while scrolling through her phone, her expression serene. Her delicate


    fingertips tapped the screen, then suddenly stopped on a page.


    It was a listing for an apartment rental.


    A house with three bedrooms and one living room cost five hundred bucks a month, which seemed


    fair.


    She tapped into the listing and started chatting with thendlord to set up a time to view the


    apartment.


    After breakfast, Anthea made her way to the address.


    The neighborhood was a mix of retirees and blue-cor workers, a far cry from luxurious but


    leagues better than a basement t.


    The apartment she was interested in was on the ground floor with a small garden out front.


    Thendlord, a kindly olddy with spectacles perched on her nose, greeted her in the


    unmistakable Cloudcrest dialect.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Through their conversation, Anthea learned that the olddy was a retired professor from


    Cloudcrest University.


    "How many of you are nning to live here, Anthea?" she inquired.


    "Just me, my mom, and my uncle," Anthea replied.


    The olddy nodded, "I don''t have many rules, just keep the ce clean. Myst tenants seemed


    nice enough but left the ce a mess!"


    Despite the time that had passed, thendlord was visibly upset recounting the ordeal.


    "Don''t worry, madam. We are very tidy," Anthea assured her. "If you like, you can drop by from time


    to time to check."


    This seemed to reassure the olddy, who then asked, "How old are you, dear?"


    "I''m eighteen." replied Anthea.


    "Got a boyfriend?"


    Anthea smiled softly, "I''m still in school."


    The olddy chuckled, "These days, kids start dating so young. As long as it doesn''t affect their


    studies, I guess it''s not a big problem."


    After signing the lease, Anthea didn''t go straight home. She headed to the tech district, considering


    buying aptop.


    She had just epted an ultra-rare mission the night before and aptop was essential.


    A desktop would have been ideal for her work, but considering portability, she opted for aptop to


    upgrade it herself.


    Though it would be a hassle to customize, it would be worth it.


    As she shopped, Anthea found herself missing her world and her personalputer.


    Picking out aptop, Anthea wasn''t picky about the brand. She just grabbed the cheapest one,


    knowing she''d be upgrading it anyway.


    She also bought several hardwareponents.


    The shop owner seemed impressed, "Didn''t take you for aputer geek."


    She gave a modest smile, "I just tinker around a bit."


    The owner could tell she was being humble. Her selection was too precise for ayman.


    Back at home, Anthea set to work assembling herputer.


    She rolled up her sleeves, revealing her slender arms. In no time at all, a standardptop was


    dismantled into pieces, unrecognizable from its original form.

 Chapter 42

    "Ann, what are you up to?" Carole called out as she rapped on the door and peeked inside with a


    mix of curiosity and concern. "What in the world is this?"


    Anthea replied without looking up from the disassembled pieces that surrounded her. "Just got a


    newputer, but it seems to be on the fritz. I''m checking it out."


    "Do you think you can put it back together?" Carole widened her eyes in disbelief.


    Wiping the sweat from her brow, Anthea confidently assured her, "Of course, Mom."


    As they chatted, Anthea casually dropped the news, "Oh, by the way, we''re moving tomorrow."


    "Moving?" Carole was taken aback.


    Living in a basement t was no good for their health, but the rent in Cloudcrest wasn''t pocket-


    friendly. How could they afford to move?


    With a reassuring smile, Anthea said, "Don''t worry about the money. I made a decent sum from


    some stocks and mutual funds I dabbled in. After paying back what I owed to a friend, we''ve got


    enough left over to cover rent for a year."


    Truth be told, the cash was all from a lucky streak at the casino.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Anthea wasn''t yet familiar with the rules of this world to risk the stock market. She stuck to what she


    knew best.


    For now, the winnings were enough to secure a new ce.


    Once shepleted her first mission, the paycheck would be substantial.


    After all, an ultra-rare mission promised a hefty bounty.


    "Alright then, I''ll start packing," Carole said, getting to her feet.


    Grinning, Anthea suggested, "Mom, let''s ditch the old junk. The new ce is fully furnished. Just


    pack some clothes for you and Uncle Nanson."


    Carole hesitated, reluctant to part with their belongings. "Well, maybe I can sell some stuff to the


    flea market."


    "That works," Anthea nodded in agreement.


    If Anthea had logged onto the tech forums at that moment, she would''ve seen the buzz all about


    her.


    "Did you guys catch that? Some hotshot just swooped in and nabbed that insanely hard, rare


    mission that''s been up for grabs for weeks! @Phoenix¡¤YC"


    "Holy smokes! What a boss! Take me under your wing @Phoenix¡¤YC"


    "Did no one notice that Phoenix¡¤YC is a total newbie?"


    "Whoa! A fresh ount!"


    "I''m freaking out, guys!"


    "I¡¯ve been waiting for days. Why couldn''t a real pro take this mission?"


    "If anyone can pull this off, I''ll follow him!"


    "Agreed!"


    "Screenshot taken!"


    Nobody believed Phoenix¡¤YC couldplete this mission. Before long, everyone''s attention had


    shifted elsewhere.


    Learning about the move, Uncle Nanson was thrilled. "I''ll bring over thepany truck tomorrow to


    haul all our stuff in one go."


    Antheaughed lightly, "A truck is an overkill. We hardly have anything. A van will do."


    "A van it is," Uncle Nanson agreed with a nod.


    That evening, Carole had packed everything up, a modest pile of their life''s possessions.


    "Ann, are we tossing the TV too?"


    Anthea nced at it. "Yeah, it''s kaput, isn''t it?"


    "Suppose so."


    Though these items were worn, they were all Carole had acquired over the years. Selling them was


    not easy. Her eyes reddened at the thought.


    But some things, no matter how hard, had to be let go.


    She needed to keep pace with the times. With a daughter as capable as Anthea, she couldn''t afford


    tog behind.


    After over a decade in the basement, they were finally moving on, and the neighbors couldn''t help


    but express their envy. "Carole, congrats! You''re finally moving out of this ce."

 Chapter 43

    Beh, a fat woman, stepped out onto the porch, confusion knitting her brows. "Carole, did you


    guys hit it big or something? Why the sudden move?" she asked.


    Carole was already notorious as the neighborhood gossip. Everyone pegged her as the mistress.


    Was Carole back to her old tricks? Where else would the moneye from?


    Beh was racing her mind with possibilities.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Carole chuckled as she looked at Anthea, "It''s all thanks to Ann here. She got a real knack for the


    stock market and made a nice sum."


    Beh gleamed her eyes with envy. "Carole, you sure have raised a golden girl! If only my Molly


    had half her brains, we''d have moved out of this dump ages ago!"


    Beh turned to Anthea, continuing, "So Ann, how does this whole stock market work? Maybe you


    could give Molly a few tips? Help her make some money so we can get out of this hellhole sooner!"


    The other neighbors quickly chimed in, "Yeah, teach our kids too!"


    Anthea smiled slightly, "Trading stocks is a lot like gambling with win and lose. There are plenty


    who''ve lost everything. I can''t teach that, nor can I guarantee anyone will make money."


    Beh faltered her smile instantly.


    How stingy! This little bitch wouldn¡¯t even share a little advice.


    It was just making some money. What was the big deal?


    She was just a love child, after all. If it wasn''t for her knack for earning, who would even bother with


    her? Did Anthea think she''s some kind of heiress?


    With a stered smile, Beh pressed on, "They say close neighbors are better than distant


    rtives. We''ve been living side by side for years. Surely you won¡¯t refuse to help us out! Come on,


    Ann, let''s all make some money together!"


    If it weren''t for Anthea''s talents, she wouldn''t even give the time of day to some mistress'' love child!


    What a joke!


    Anthea remained calm, "Beh, it''s not about whether I want to teach or not. I just can¡¯t ensure that


    even if I taught Molly, she''d make money..."


    "Why can''t Molly make money if you can? My girl is not an idiot!" Beh wasced with sarcasm. "If


    you don''t want to teach, then just say it! No need for the song and dance - I can see right through it!


    And all that dough you''ve been shing around? I''ll bet it didn''te from ying the stock market.


    Smells a lot like dirty money, doesn''t it? Everyone in the neighborhood knows the score with your


    mom..."


    Anthea couldn''t help butugh.


    In her two lifetimes, she had never met someone so shameless.


    Anthea was never one to take things lying down.


    Raising an eyebrow, she retorted with deliberate rity, cutting Beh off, "Beh, you hit the nail


    on the head. I can make money! But I''d rather teach a stray cat or dog than waste my breath on


    your Molly!"


    Anthea reveled in the difort of those who envied her yet couldn''t touch her.


    Beh darkened her face, speechless with rage.


    After getting everything off her chest, Anthea felt utterly refreshed.


    How clear-headed and invigorated!


    Carole was stunned. She''d always thought of Anthea as a quiet and demure girl, never expecting


    her to be so fierce.


    Even Beh, notorious for her sharp tongue, was left without aeback.


    No one in the neighborhood could out-argue Beh.


    Next door, Nanson was momentarily taken aback but quickly recovered, opening the car door.


    "Carole and Ann, let''s hit the road. Why waste breath on someone who can''t stand to see others do


    well?"


    Anthea nodded, taking Carole''s arm and getting into the car.


    As the minivan vanished down the road, Beh spat in disgust, "What a piece of work! Disgusting


    bitch!"

 Chapter 44

    On the truck.


    Carole nced over at Anthea, saying softly, "We''ve been neighbors for years, always running into


    each other. I think you were a bit harsh just now..."


    "What''s so bad about it?" Nanson chimed in while maneuvering the steering wheel, "You really want


    to y nice with someone like Beh? She''s nothing but a backstabber. I''ve been wanting to give


    her a piece of my mind! Carole, you''re just too soft! If it wasn''t for that, back in the day..."


    At that point, Nanson seemed to realize something and quickly changed the subject, "Oh hey Ann,


    we''re taking a left at the next intersection, right?"


    "Yeah, that''s right," Anthea nodded.


    Before long, they arrived at the entrance to their apartmentplex.


    Moving from a dingy basement to a sunny three-bedroom apartment was a bit of a transition for


    Carole. She marveled at the brand-new furniture, "Ann, the rent here must be steep, huh?"


    "It''s not too bad, really. Anyway, let me show you around. This is the dining room, over there is the


    living room, and here''s the kitchen..."


    "Ann, which room am I staying in?" Nanson''s voice echoed from inside.


    "Pick any room you like," Anthea replied.


    Nanson chose the second bedroom, "I''ll take this one then."


    Anthea continued, "If you take the second bedroom, Mom, you should have the master bedroom."


    "No, Ann, you¡¯d better take the master bedroom." Carole protested.


    Anthea carried Carole''s suitcase into the master bedroom, "Just do as I said, or I''ll be upset!"


    "Well, then," Carole chuckled, shaking her head in resignation before adding, "What do you fancy


    for lunch? I''ll cook."


    Carole''s condition was improving day by day. She was particrly spry save for some morning


    fatigue.


    "I love anything you make," Anthea said with a smile.


    They had picked up some groceries on the way, and the kitchen was well stocked, making cooking


    a breeze.


    Anthea retreated to her room, booted up herptop, donned her headphones, and logged onto


    GlobalGigaNet to work on her CIS research project.


    Back in her world, she could have cracked this CIS case in under three hours.


    But here,cking many resources and despite the simplicity of the task for Anthea, it would still take


    a couple of days.


    The AI technology here was rather primitive. Many processes had to be done manually.


    Afterpleting half of the design and inputting some code, Carole called out from beyond the


    door, "Ann, lunch is ready."


    "Be right there," Anthea replied, saving her work before heading to the living room.


    To celebrate the move, Carole had not only prepared steak but also simmered a nutritious soup.


    After lunch, Anthea returned to her room to continue working on the designs.


    In the evening, Anthea went to work at the rotisserie.


    Karen was there again. Upon seeing Anthea, she greeted her enthusiastically, "Annie!"


    "Mrs. Christensen, good to see you," Anthea said with a smile, taking Karen''s hand.


    Karen nced at Anthea.


    There was no hint of difort in Anthea''s eyes. This young girl truly didn''t mind thepany of


    an old beggar like her.


    "I''ve been waiting for you for so long, Annie! Without you here, they wouldn''t let me have a seat!"


    said Karen.


    Anthea led Karen to a quiet seat in the corner, "You must be starving after waiting for so long. What


    would you like to eat? I''ll get it for you."


    Karen patted her stomach, saying, "I am indeed. Annie. Could I have some lobster and shrimp?"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 45

    Karen tapped a picture on the menu and dered, "This one, please."


    Anthea nced over and realized that lobsters were tricky to fish, making them a tad pricey.


    "I''ll have a lot!" Karen announced.


    "Sure," Anthea nodded, not the least bit perturbed by the cost.


    "Don''t forget the shrimp," Karen added.


    "Don''t you worry. It''s on my mind," Anthea replied with a reassuring smile. "Just give me a moment."


    Karen nodded in approval.


    As Anthea turned to fetch the order, Lauren asked curiously, "Anthea, is thatdy a rtive of


    yours?"


    "We just met yesterday. It''s not easy for her to be alone," Anthea exined.


    "You''re buying her food and you barely know her? Are you a bit too naive?" Lauren cautioned.


    "There are plenty of con artists out there preying on sweet girls like you!"


    Lauren wasn''t exaggerating. Scammers were indeed rampant, leaving many people penniless.


    Anthea smiled, "If everyone just stands by and does nothing, where would the kindness be in this


    world?" As she spoke, Anthea found herself thinking of her nanny back in her original world.


    "Well, you do have a point," Lauren conceded. "But be careful, Anthea. Don''t let her swindle you out


    of your money."


    Anthea nodded gently, "I''ll be careful."


    Soon, Anthea returned with a steaming lobster and shrimp.


    Karen stood up excitedly, nearly drooling, "My lobster and shrimps!"


    "Take your time eating. The lobster is fresh from the oven. It''s hot."


    Karen nodded.


    A luxury car was parked by the roadside, with Reba seated in the back.


    The change in Anthea was significant, which gave Reba an inexplicable sense of unease.


    But at the sight of Anthea now, engaging in such menial tasks, Reba heaved a sigh of relief.


    She was probably just being paranoid. How could someone as lowly as Anthea ever rise above her


    station?


    Still, Reba couldn''t afford to let her guard down. She needed to ensure Anthea remained an


    underling forever.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Reba recalled past events and determined to avoid meeting that person and all the triggers for


    tragedy, making Anthea''s fate mirror her past.


    Narrowing her eyes, Reba fell her gaze on Anthea and then flickered to the elderlydy talking


    to her. "Isn''t that the olddy of the Christensen family?" she asked.


    "Yes," her assistant confirmed from the front seat.


    "The Christensen family has fallen," Reba mused with a smirk, "In just a few days, she''s turned


    into a beggar! Birds of a feather flock together, indeed!"


    She knew that Karen could never have a rosy future.


    The assistant quickly agreed, "You''re absolutely right. That old nagger from the Christensen family


    and that imposter Anthea are cut from the same cloth! She had the nerve to propose a marriage


    alliancest time. If I were her, I''d bury myself in shame!"


    Reba shifted her attention away, "Let''s head back."


    Pausing, she added, "What''s thetest with Mae and Alicia? They must be up to something after


    the setback Anthea caused them."


    The assistant leaned in and whispered a few words to Reba.


    A sly smile crossed Reba, "Then let''s give them a little push."


    Reba was astute and knew she couldn''t get her hands dirty, so she would have to manipte


    Mae and Alicia to do her bidding.

 Chapter 46

    In this way, Reba could maintain a sterling reputation while achieving her goals.


    ...


    With a CIS task in her queue, Anthea''s first move after clocking out and getting home was to fire up


    herptop and log into GlobalGigaNet.


    With her hunkering down in front of the screen, her fingers danced across the keyboard. The room


    filled with the stato rhythm of keystrokes while theputer''s glow cast a cool sheen on her


    face.


    In a moment, she pressed the Enter key and the screen shed with the triumphant message,


    "Setup sessful!"


    Mission aplished!


    After double-checking her work, Anthea logged onto GlobalGigaNet and messaged the client, "All


    set here. Shall I send it over?"


    Daniel, who just happened to be online, furrowed his brow upon receiving her message.


    A newbie nailing a CIS project? It seemed far-fetched. Not taking it too seriously, he casually


    replied, "Send it on over."


    Once Anthea transferred the file and Daniel glimpsed the content on his screen, he was utterly


    gobsmacked, his hands trembling with excitement.


    Holy smokes! Was this for real? An ace in the hole?


    Swallowing hard, Daniel pped himself.


    Ouch! That hurt! So, no dream, then?


    Just then, another message popped up from Anthea, "If everything looks good, please mark the


    task asplete."


    The job wasn¡¯t officially done until the client gave the green light, which triggered the payout and


    points for the tasker.


    Without hesitation, Daniel confirmed the task and gushed in his next message, "You¡¯re a genius!"


    He had stumbled upon a true maestro!


    Without waiting for Anthea to reply, Daniel then sent a message, "Master, please add me to your


    contact!"


    Anthea here was stunned. Hadn¡¯t they been in each other¡¯s contact since thest time?


    She checked and found there was no one in her friend list.


    Maybe it was not sessfulst time?


    Anthea didn''t care about these details and clicked to agree to Daniel¡¯s friend¡¯s invitation.


    Daniel rejected Anthea as a newbie and didn''t deserve to stay in his friend list, so he deleted her.


    Daniel felt the pain in his face for the first time.


    "What is your name?" Daniel then typed, "Is it convenient to have a call online?"


    "Just call me Phoenix. It is inconvenient to call me now."


    Before he could say more, Anthea was already offline.


    Majesty had its cool! Daniel thought.


    Meanwhile, Anthea had hardly logged off when the site sted a global announcement.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡®Congrattions to user Phoenix¡¤YC for nailing an ultra-rare mission with extreme difficulty!¡¯


    A subdued announcement electrified the techmunity.


    ¡°Holy cow! This a real genius!¡±


    ¡°Some folksughed at the newbie yesterday. How''s that pie taste now?¡±


    ¡°I bow to the master!¡±


    Before long, many users donned the Phoenix surname to show their respect.


    ¡°From today on, we''re the Phoenix family!¡±


    ¡°From now on, Phoenix¡¤YC is our boss!¡±


    After logging off, Anthea''s phone chimed with a payment notification. 8 million dors solidified her


    financial peace of mind.


    On the flip side, Daniel, clutching hisptop like a lifeline, bolted to Sherman''s room, shouting,


    "Sherman! You gotta see this!"

 Chapter 47

    "What''s the rush? Man, you look like you''ve seen a ghost." Sherman seemed to have just woken


    up, d in a ck silk pajama set, the belt loosely tied at his waist, revealing a hint of sculpted abs


    and that enviable V-line.


    Even Daniel, a guy who thought he''d seen it all, couldn''t help but marvel at the sight.


    But it wasn''t the time for admiring. Daniel blurted out, "Sherman, the CIS project is ready."


    At that, even the usuallyposed Sherman showed a flicker of surprise. "Let me see."


    Daniel handed theptop to Sherman.


    Sherman opened it and squinted at the screen. "Who did this?"


    "That newbie, Phoenix," Daniel replied. "Honestly, I had no idea Phoenix was such a wizard. "


    And a wizard indeed!


    The Christensen Group, despite the efforts of their hundreds of staff, failed to crack the code.


    However, it took Phoenix less than three days to do it.


    That was an absolute legend!


    Holding theptop in one hand and controlling the mouse with the other, Shermanmanded,


    "Notify everyone. Video conference in ten minutes."


    "Got it." Daniel, usually theid-back type, took it seriously for a change and took theptop from


    Sherman, heading toward the office.


    Sherman strode into his dressing room and slipped into a suit.


    Though a modern suit, it carried a touch of old-school elegance with clean, muted colors.


    Ten minutester, the video conference started punctually.


    Sherman¡¯s piercing gaze on the other side was enough to send chills down one''s spine even


    through the screen.


    Two hours went by.


    The video conference finally ended.


    Sherman picked up his coffee mug and took a casual sip, his fingers idly ying with a pen,


    seemingly lost in thought. "Check out this Phoenix for me."


    Daniel blinked, momentarily confused. "Phoenix? Who?"


    Then it clicked. "Right away, I''ll have someone on it."


    The Christensen Group, brimming with talent, was home to some of the industry''s finest cyber


    experts.


    They even brought the infamous hacker W into their fold three years ago.


    Usually, W could dig up dirt on anyone in ten minutes t.


    But today, hours had passed, and there was still no word from W.


    Daniel shot him a message.


    After a long wait, W replied, "The firewall''s a beast. Need more time."


    Daniel was stunned and typed, "Is this W?"


    As he sent the message, a video call came through.


    Daniel answered it, and W''s face appeared on the screen.


    "Holy cow! It''s you! I thought someone was pulling my leg!"


    It was unheard of for the legendary W to stumble. This Phoenix must be something special!


    Looking frustrated, W said, "Man, who did you have me look into? I''ve burnt through twoputers


    already!" I have never met such a formidable opponent. Not only had he failed to breach their


    defenses, he''d been counter-hacked twice.


    That was wild!


    The hacker, W, almost thought it was all a dream. He''d been a top-tier name in the hacking world for


    years and had never met his match until that moment.


    Daniel replied, "A real heavyweight. Give me a shout when you''ve got something."


    "Will do." W ended the call, his interest piqued by this so-called wizard, and got back to his


    investigation.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    As Daniel turned off his phone, a knock came at the door. "Mr. Robinson, Mr. Christensen requests


    your presence."


    "On my way." Daniel answered and went to Sherman''s office.


    "Any news?" Sherman sat in his executive chair, a fine coffee set in front of him, his hands


    gracefully moving through the motions of making a cup of coffee, the steam rising and adding a soft


    haze to his striking features.


    Daniel shook his head, a touch of schadenfreude in his voice. "Nothing yet. W has met his match.


    You should''ve seen his face. It was priceless and made my day..."


    Sherman''s brow furrowed slightly. He knew W''s capabilities, and when he learned that Phoenix had


    completed the CIS project, he sensed something extraordinary about him.

 Chapter 48

    Daniel had been talking non-stop, and his throat felt dry. ncing around the room, he asked, ¡°Hey


    Sherman, got any bottled water in this joint?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that he had anything against sipping a cup of coffee.


    It¡¯s just that Sherman was particr about his stuff, especially his coffee gear.


    And it wasn''t just the coffee gear. Sherman didn''t like anyone touching his things, not even his


    mother.


    Sherman was an odd duck. He was a loose cannon in his younger days, but his temper had


    mellowed out a bit since he took to that unworldly lifestyle and went vegan.


    But the quirk about his stuff stayed put.


    Sherman fished out a bottle of water from a drawer and tossed it to Daniel, who caught it with a


    thankful nod.


    ¡°Look, if those detectives downtown can¡¯t dig anything up, hand it to the International Department,¡±


    Sherman said, leaning back in his chair.


    ¡°Got it,¡± Daniel replied, his mind already churning with ns.


    After leaving Sherman¡¯s office, Daniel booted up hisptop and shot Phoenix a message on


    GlobalGigaNet, ¡°Hey Ace, fancy bing mates? How about we swap digits?¡±


    Though Phoenix was online, he was giving Daniel the silent treatment, a move that caused a


    sinking feeling in Daniel''s heart.


    Could he have offended Phoenix? Was he still sore about being unfriendedst time?


    Anxiety knotted Daniel¡¯s stomach as he frantically typed out apologies, ¡°Ace, I''m so sorry, mate. I


    didn''t mean to unfriend youst time. It was a slip of the thumb. I swear it. Let bygones be bygones,


    yeah? I¡¯m waiting for your mercy here!¡±


    ¡°Ace...¡±


    Message after message Daniel sent, but Ace remained as responsive as a brick wall.


    In desperation, Daniel flipped over to the forum page, only to see that it was all about Phoenix¡¤YC.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Some fans were so starstruck they¡¯d even prefixed their handles with Phoenix.


    Anthea had just showered quickly, not expecting to return to a barrage of messages.


    She skimmed through them and realized thatst time wasn¡¯t a fluke. The bloke had unfriended her.


    But Anthea wasn¡¯t one to sweat the small stuff. With a flick of her finger, she replied casually, ¡°No


    worries.¡±


    Seeing her response, Daniel thought his eyes were ying tricks. After rubbing them vigorously and


    realizing it wasn¡¯t a mirage, he hurriedly replied, ¡°You¡¯re a saint, Ace! Say, can we be friends on


    social media?¡±


    Preferring to keep her online life separate, Anthea replied, ¡°We can chat here if necessary.¡±


    That was a typical Ace, cool as a cucumber.


    Just then, voices filtered through Anthea''s room. Visitors?


    Raising an eyebrow, she snapped herptop shut, slipped into something more presentable, and


    headed to the living room.


    Anthea found Carole deep in conversation with two strangers - a woman appearing somewhat older


    than Carole and a young girl.


    As Anthea appeared, Carole stood up and introduced them, ¡°Ann,e meet Latonia and Sarah.¡±


    Latonia had been Carole¡¯s confidante since childhood. Although not blood rtives, they might as


    well have been like sisters, considering how much Carole owed to Latonia''s goodwill over the years.


    The girl, Sarah Allen, Latonia''s daughter, was twenty and quite the looker with her flowing curls and


    warm smile.


    Anthea greeted them politely, ¡°Latonia, Sarah, nice to meet you.¡±


    Latonia stood up, taking Anthea''s hands in hers, her eyes scanning the young woman with open


    admiration. After a moment, she said with a tearful smile. ¡°Carole, she looks just like you! It¡¯s


    uncanny, Ann¡¯s got your face!¡±


    In Anthea''s features, one could see traces of Carole and Anthea¡¯s own father. But that was a topic


    Latonia wouldn¡¯t dare touch in the open.

 Chapter 49

    Bringing up the man who had already shattered Carole''s heart in the past would only serve to


    deepen her existing wound.


    Sarah was quite fond of Anthea. It didn''t take long for the two young women to hit it off, even though


    Anthea was a few years Sarah''s junior. Sarah didn''t feel any sense of distance between them.


    They chatted like they were old friends, regretting not having met sooner.


    Initially, Sarah had been a bit uneasy. In her mind, beautiful girls were like unattainable stars.


    Take Reba, for example.


    Reba was gorgeous and top of her ss, which meant she never gave Sarah the time of day.


    After Sarah flunked her middle school exams and didn''t get into high school, she started working.


    Reba looked down on her even more after that.


    She ridiculed Sarah countless times in the open and behind her back, mocking her that she was an


    illiterate who''d never amount to anything, taunting her that she¡¯d always be poor.


    Linking arms with Anthea, Sarah said, "I thought all you pretty types would be hard to get along


    with! But Ann, you''re the exception."


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Anthea responded, "You''re pretty, too, Sarah." And she meant it. Sarah was genuinely attractive.


    A bit embarrassed, Sarah replied, "Oh, stop it. But seriously, Ann, you''re not what I expected. You


    are not like Reba at all. She was so icy. I never dared to talk to her..."


    Anthea stroked her chin thoughtfully and dered, "Maybe she''s cold because... she''s not as pretty


    as me."


    Such vanity might have been off-putting from others, but when Anthea imed her beauty, it felt


    rightfully hers.


    Sarah couldn''t help butugh. What a magical gem she was!


    "Do you have Twitter, Sarah? Let''s connect!"


    "Sure thing!" Sarah pulled out her phone.


    They added each other.


    Then, Sarah asked, "Ann, why is your Twitter so empty?"


    "Oh, I just set up this new ount."


    "How about we take a selfie?" Sarah switched her phone to selfie mode.


    "Love to." Anthea wrapped an arm around Sarah''s shoulder.


    With a click, they captured a selfie together.


    "Sarah, send me that photo, will you? I want to share it on my Twitter."


    "Done and done," Sarah replied, sending the photo to Anthea.


    "I''ll post it, too." Having a friend as stunning as Anthea was something to show off.


    In the living room, Latonia was d that Carole had reconciled with her daughter. "Carole, Ann is a


    thoughtful and good kid, not like Reba. Your hardship times areing to an end."


    One could judge a person''s character by their actions. Reba had always looked down on


    everyone as if she were above them all.


    However, Anthea was different; shecked that air of arrogance.


    Latonia had a pretty good first impression of Anthea.


    Carole smiled. "Ann is a wonderful child. We owe our move from the basement to her."


    Latonia patted Carole''s hand with a meaningful expression. "Carole, life isn''t easy for a single


    mother. Stop being stubborn, find someone to share your life with, and lighten your load."


    Carole shook her head. "I''m fine."


    Carole, bearing the deep scars of a past love, found herself unable to believe in love once more.


    After all, hadn¡¯t she and that man sworn eternal devotion to each other?


    What had she gotten in return? Betrayal was what she got.


    Latonia sighed. "Carole, is he worth all this?"

 Chapter 50

    Latonia had been there, a silent witness to the whole saga.


    She watched helplessly as Carole naively stumbled into a love that was nothing but a beautifully


    adorned trap.


    No one knew better than Latonia the bitter years Carole had endured since then.


    "It''s not for him," Carole said, her face calm as she sped Latonia''s hands. "I genuinely enjoy


    being on my own."


    Latonia sighed with concern and warmth. "Carole, you''re only thirty-eight, still so young. You can''t


    let one bad rtionship color your view of the entire world. There are good men out there. Let go of


    the past and be open to new experiences."


    "Latonia, I know you mean well," Carole replied, her voice tinged with tired honesty. "But right now, I


    don''t want to think about all that. I only want to focus on raising Ann."


    After so much turmoil, Carole had no appetite for new romances. Her sole ambition was to watch


    her daughter, Anthea, grow up and find her slice of happiness. Even the bitterness had faded from


    her heart. What was there to hate when everything seemed to have shifted so irrevocably? Fate


    had dealt its hand, and there was little point in fighting it.


    "I just worry about you being all alone," Latonia said, leaning in for aforting hug.


    As a woman herself, Latonia understood the struggles of single motherhood well.


    Carole patted Latonia''s back reassuringly. "I''m okay, Latonia."


    She had weathered many storms and didn''t consider her life particrly hard.


    Seeing Carole so resolute, Latonia dropped the subject.


    As the clock struck ten, thoughts of preparing lunch began to cross Carole''s mind.


    Anthea emerged from her room and announced, "Mom, no need to cook today. I''ve ordered


    delivery."


    "Alright," Carole nodded in agreement.


    Latonia yfully scolded, "Why spend money on food delivery, kiddo? We''re like family. A simple


    meal would''ve been just fine."


    Antheaughed. "As long as Latonia doesn''t mind, it''s all good." She had just received a hefty


    commission and wanted to celebrate the arrival of a guest in style.


    At half past eleven, the delivery arrived punctually.


    The logo on the packaging made Latonia''s eyes widen. This restaurant was renowned for its


    exquisite taste, and the prices were steep, not an everyday choice for most folks.


    Anthea''s generosity was on full disy, and the meal was delightful for everyone.


    **


    Baldie caught sight of Anthea''stest Twitter post immediately.


    She looked stunning in the photo, her features sharp and clear.


    Baldie''s attention then drifted to the girl beside her, then his expression shifted subtly.


    If his memory served him right, this girl was Sarah, his cousin''s middle school ssmate.


    He had often heard his cousin talk about Sarah, the girl who had struggled academically, failed to


    make it to high school, and went straight into the workforce. She was the cautionary tale his cousin


    always cited.


    ¡°Birds of a feather flock together,¡± he thought. Anthea wouldn''t associate with someone like Sarah if


    she had any sense.


    To Baldie, it seemed like a clear case of Anthea choosing to lower herself.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    In the evening, when Anthea arrived for her shift at the rotisserie where Baldie worked, he was


    sitting at the bar, doing his homework. For the first time, he didn''t greet her.


    Unexpectedly, his silence had met with indifference. Anthea didn''t acknowledge him either, which


    stung more than he''d anticipated.


    Eventually, he couldn''t bear it and approached her. "Ann?"


    She looked up, "What''s up?"


    "Do you know Sarah?" he asked.


    "Yeah," Anthea nodded. "She''s a good friend of mine. You know her?"


    Baldie shook his head, his face neutral but his eyes betraying disdain. "I don''t, but my cousin does.


    They were ssmates in middle school. I''ve heard that Sarah started working right after middle


    school. Is that true?"

 Chapter 51

    Out of the blue, Baldie brought up Sarah''s education.


    Anthea furrowed her brow slightly. "What are you trying to ask?"


    "Don''t get me wrong. I''ve got nothing against Sarah," Baldie hurried to rify. "I just think we should


    prioritize learning at this time. After all, knowledge can change your destiny. For someone with just a


    junior high diploma like Sarah, you''d do well to keep your distance."


    Baldie had a soft spot for Anthea and hoped she''d strive for excellence. He didn¡¯t need her to


    outshine everyone, but at least to keep pace with him.


    "What''s wrong with a junior high diploma? A higher education only means you''ve got more


    knowledge than the average Joe, but it doesn''t define your character. True characteres from


    within. What''s that got to do with a diploma? Some folks think they''re high and mighty with their


    fancy degrees, oblivious that they''re just big fish in a small pond!"


    Anthea''s words were measured and deliberate. "Are you using your education to gossip behind


    people''s backs?"


    Baldie was dumbstruck, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Anthea had implied that all the


    wise quotes he had read over the years were for naught.


    His schrly pride was no match for a middle schooler.


    He was only talking about Sarah, but why was Anthea getting so worked up?


    Baldie squinted, and it suddenly dawned on him that Anthea was also a middle school graduate.


    Anthea''s lofty speech was a defense triggered by his slight to Sarah and her pride.


    She feared being looked down upon.


    Realizing this, Baldie felt a bit better. "Anthea, don''t be upset. I didn''t mean it like that. I was


    speaking off the cuff. That¡¯s all."


    Anthea shot Baldie a look. "Sarah is my friend. She''s kind and good-hearted. Your ''off-the-cuff''


    remarks have already hurt her."


    Baldie quickly apologized, "I''m sorry."


    "Watch your tongue next time." Anthea''s voice was cold as she finished speaking and walked away.


    For some reason, when Anthea warned him to watch his tongue, Baldie felt a strange sensation. It


    was as if a teacher was reprimanding a student who had erred.


    Otherwise, why would he have instinctively apologized?


    Was it all just a misunderstanding?


    Mrs. Christensen rounded the corner.


    She watched Anthea''s retreating figure and nodded in approval.


    ¡°Very good, very good!¡± she praised.


    She liked this youngdy more and more.


    She wasn¡¯t like some, who was one way to your face and another behind your back.


    ...


    At the casino, Anthea hadn''t stepped foot inside for three days.


    Sherman leaned on the railing of the second floor, his tone indifferent. "It''s been three days. You''ve


    lost."


    Daniel frowned deeply. "She''lle! Trust me, Sherman. It''s not over yet!"


    Daniel prided himself on understanding women!


    How could he be wrong?


    Anthea was sure toe tonight.


    But as time passed, Anthea was nowhere to be seen.


    Was she ying hard to get?


    "Start nning your live stream," Sherman nced over at Daniel.


    Despite his polished appearance, the crude suggestion didn''t seem out of ce.


    Live stream to eat that thing?


    He would have forgotten about that bet if Sherman hadn''t mentioned it.


    Sherman began to walk away. "After you get home, don''t forget to send me the link to your stream."


    "Sherman,e on..." Daniel reached out to grab Sherman''s sleeve.


    "People have to answer for what they say and do." Sherman looked back, "But eating that would


    be... indecent."


    Relief washed over Daniel.


    He knew Sherman wouldn''t make him do something like that.


    Who could eat that?


    But then, Sherman continued, "Let''s substitute with canned herring instead. I''ll have someone send


    you two cans of it when we head back."


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    What?


    Canned herring?


    Was he expected to eat canned herring on a live stream?


    It would be unbearable. That was worse than the original bet!


    As if reading Daniel''s mind, Sherman suggested, "Or you could stick to the original n."


    Daniel was at a loss for words.


    Damn!


    Sherman was so ruthless!


    Daniel immediately caved. "It was my fault, Sherman! I''ll eat it, okay?"


    "Let''s go." Sherman turned away, his gaze sweeping over the casino floor below.


    Daniel hurried after him, trying onest plea. "Sherman, can we rethink the canned herring thing?


    Look, Anthea is ying hard to get. Maybe she wants to drag it out a few more days. She didn''t


    show up today, but she woulde tomorrow! I swear. I guarantee it!"

 Chapter 52

    Sherman''s tone was casual as he asked. "What if she doesn¡¯t show up tomorrow?"


    Daniel gritted his teeth and replied, "Then it''s a four-canned herring bet!" Daniel was so bold


    because he was sure Anthea woulde.


    After all, Anthea had already caught Sherman''s eye early on, and it made no sense for her to bail at


    such a critical moment.


    Sherman nodded slightly. "Alright, let''s bet on it once more."


    "Don''t worry, Sherman. I won''t let you down this time," Daniel said with a grin, keeping pace with


    Sherman.


    ...


    Elsewhere, Anthea and Nanson were walking home in the moonlight.


    The moon''s gentle glow cast a silvery sheen on them.


    "Uncle Nanson, you get up for work at dawn every day. There''s no need for you to pick me up


    anymore. I can make it home on my own," Anthea said.


    Nanson frowned. "How can I let that happen? A youngdy walking home alone at night is


    dangerous! What if you run into trouble? Who''s going to protect you?"


    "I can protect myself," Anthea replied with a smile.


    Nanson nced at her and said speechlessly, "With those skinny arms and legs of yours, someone


    could lift you with one hand. You protecting yourself is..."


    Although Anthea was tall, she was slender. Nanson often thought that on a windy day, he should


    put a few stones in Anthea''s pockets to prevent her from being blown away by the gusts.


    "We''ll see it," Anthea said, raising an eyebrow slightly.


    Nanson shook his head helplessly, "You''re all talk, kiddo."


    A short distance away, a group of guys huddled together, their flickering cigarettes illuminating their


    faces as they shared crude jokes.


    Under the moonlight and streemps, they noticed Anthea and Nanson approaching. One of them


    quickly tossed his cigarette, "Jack! Jack! Look over there!"


    Jack, a muscr youth with tattoos, straightened up and looked in their direction. "Heads up,


    everyone! Got the camera ready?"


    "Don''t worry, Jack. We''re all set!" another young man waved the camera in hand.


    The others quickly pulled out hidden metal pipes, which reflected a chilling gleam under the


    moonlight.


    Nanson noticed the group ahead, and unease crept over him.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Thankfully, he''d been diligent about picking up Anthea from work. Otherwise, she might be in real


    trouble tonight.


    "Ann, something''s off up ahead. Stay behind me," he said, instinctively positioning himself in front of


    Anthea.


    "Hold it right there!" A metal pipe barred Nanson''s path.


    He looked up to see several menacing faces. "You''ve got some nerve, acting tough on Nanson''s


    turf!"


    The tattooed youth grabbed Nanson''s cor and hoisted him up. "Feisty, aren''t you, kid?"


    At that moment, Nanson saw the tattoo on the young man''s neck.


    That was a tattoo associated with the underworld.


    Nanson swallowed, his expression changed instantly, and he began to sweat profusely. With a


    trembling voice, he said, "Oh, it''s Jack! It must be a big misunderstanding. My bad. I didn''t


    recognize you, sir. Please, have the heart of a saint and forgive a small fry like me..."


    "Let go of my uncle," Anthea stepped forward, her gaze calm and the moonlight casting a soft glow


    on her smooth face. "You have three seconds."


    The tattooed youth smirked, still holding Nanson with one hand as he turned to Anthea. At first, he


    was stunned, but then the admiration in his eyes slowly turned to disdain.


    The girl had quite the nerve!


    "3, 2..." Anthea crossed her arms and began counting down, her lips curling into a slight, indifferent


    smirk that carried a hint of defiance.


    Thrown for a loop by Anthea''s brashness, Nanson jumped in, "Jack, she''s my niece...just a clueless


    kid. Don''t take it personally. Ann! This is big people talk. Time for you to head home!"

 Chapter 53

    Nanson was in a panic.


    Taking a beating was no big deal for him; with his resilient body, he''d bounce back in, at most, three


    days. But Anthea was a different story. She was delicate and petite, and it could ruin her life forever


    if she ended up scarred or worse.


    And to make matters worse, his headstrong niece had the brains of a block of cheese. Amid all this


    chaos, she was acting like she owned the ce.


    They were doomed,pletely done for.


    Suddenly, the screech of tires pierced the still night.


    It was Danieling in hot.


    From a distance, he''d seen themotion.


    A bunch of brutes picking on a young girl? That was the lowest of the low.


    He couldn''t just stand by. It was time to step in and be the hero.


    He said, "Sherman, you stay put. I''ll go check this out."


    It was like a scene straight out of a romance novel, like the damsel in distress, her knight in shining


    armor, swooped in to save the day, and she fell head over heels in gratitude.


    The thought had Daniel''s adrenaline spiking, and he rolled up his sleeves, ready for action.


    In the backseat, Sherman ced his book of quotes upside down on hisp and peered out the


    window, his brow furrowed.


    He could only see a silhouette, a willowy waist, and long, straight legs.


    Even without seeing her face, there was something oddly familiar about her.


    Sherman sped his pendant, his face unreadable.


    Daniel opened the car door and stepped out.


    At that moment, Anthea let out a ''tsk'' from her perfect lips, crisp and light.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Her left hand cracked her right knuckles with a series of sharp pops.


    In a blur of motion, no one could quite follow.


    Thud!


    Simultaneously, Click!


    Daniel swung the car door open, and as he took in the scene before him, he froze, his throat


    suddenly dry.


    The so-called damsel was gripping a tattooed thug by the neck with one hand and delivered a


    series of sharp ps to his face with the other. In no time, his cheek bloomed with the stark prints of


    her hand.


    "You think you can mess with me and walk away? You must be sick of living the high life!"


    That was so much for the fragile damsel.


    Since when could a fragile damsel lift a man off his feet with one hand? Since when could she turn


    a face into a bruised mess?


    Daniel watched, feeling the secondhand pain, a hint of sympathy for the tattooed thug.


    Nanson was dumbstruck, his eyes as wide as saucers.


    What the heck? Nanson thought he was seeing things. Was this his niece?


    At that moment, a thug on the ground nced at his buddy.


    The aplice nodded, clutching a switchde tightly. He sprang up, aiming the knife at Anthea''s


    heart.


    The de''s tip reflected a chilling light under the streemp.


    In the split second of action, before Daniel could even shoot, "Look out!"


    "Wham!"


    The attacker was already on the ground, courtesy of Anthea''s swift kick.


    Daniel was shocked.


    Holy cow! She was incredible.


    Nanson quickly snapped out of his daze, straddling the thug and hitting him with fierce punches.


    "This is for the sneak attack! For being cocky! For messing with my niece! I''ll beat the life out of


    you!"


    The thug on the receiving end of the punches was dazed, rapidly apologizing. "I''m sorry, sir, ma''am.


    We''ll never dare again."


    The other thugs were quick to follow suit with their apologies.


    Unhurried, Anthea let go of her captive.


    The tattooed youth hit the ground with a ''thump,'' begging for mercy. "Ma''am, we didn''t know who we


    were dealing with. Please, have mercy on us."


    "Get lost." said Anthea.


    Relieved, the tattooed youth and his gang scrambled away as fast as they could.


    "Stop right there," Anthea said as if remembering something important.


    The fleeing thugs skidded to a halt with their faces etched with terror.

 Chapter 54

    Even one of them was so scared that he wet himself.


    "Ma''am, anything else you need?" the tattooed youth stammered, his voice trembling as he turned


    back to face her.


    Anthea casually brushed her hair back with a graceful hand and spoke deliberately, "Tell the person


    pulling your strings that I won¡¯t let him off the hook if there''s a next time."


    The tattooed youth nodded frantically. "Of course, ma''am. Can we, uh, get lost now?"


    Anthea waved her hand dismissively.


    The tattooed youth bolted, his legs pumping faster than ever, as if he had engines strapped to them,


    fearing Anthea might change her mind the next second.


    Due to Anthea, these guys turned over a new leaf and became marathon runners.


    But that was a story for another time.


    "Uncle Nanson, let''s head home," Anthea said, turning to Nanson with aposure that belied the


    fiery encounter as if the person filled with fury just moments ago wasn''t her.


    Nanson gaped at Anthea, blurting out instinctively. "Yes, ma''am..."


    He caught himself mid-sentence, quickly adjusting to keep pace with Anthea, correcting himself,


    "Okay, my dear niece."


    It was then that Daniel got a good look at her face. Was that Anthea?


    He gasped, the air turning cold around him.


    Anthea frowned, methodically rolling her sleeves back down, her gaze sweeping over him. "What


    are you staring at? Never seen a toughdy before, huh?"


    Her eyes were cold, like ice in the dead of winter.


    Daniel''s knees buckled involuntarily, and he didn¡¯te to his senses until Anthea and Nanson


    vanished around the tree-lined bend.


    Was that Anthea?


    He pped his face lightly. It hurt.


    He wasn''t dreaming. If that was Anthea, was she acting?


    Daniel settled into the driver''s seat, looking dazed, and nced at Sherman. "Sherman, that was


    Anthea, wasn''t it?"


    "I saw it," Sherman replied, turning a page of the Bible in hand.


    "Do you think she was acting?" Daniel asked.


    Sherman flipped another page of the Bible without responding.


    Daniel continued, "Sherman, I''m sure she was acting. I was a bit unsure before, but now I''m certain.


    Anthea wille to the casino tomorrow night. If I lost the bet, I could handle ten cans of herring,


    not to mention four."


    "Wait and see," Sherman said, the corner of his mouth curving slightly.


    **


    It wasn''t until he was back home that Nanson could shake the feeling of disbelief.


    He used to escort Anthea home every night to protect her.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    He never expected that she would be the one protecting him.


    It was a thrilling experience.


    On the other hand, Anthea seemed unaffected. She bathed and went to bed.


    **


    Daniel arrived at the casino early the following day, standing at the second-floor railing, watching the


    floor below without blinking, afraid of missing anything.


    But even by 3 a.m., there was no sign of Anthea.


    Time ticked by, and a waiter approached Daniel respectfully. "Mr. Robinson, Mr. Christensen would


    like a word with you."


    "Understood." Daniel turned and pushed open the door to the private room.


    Sherman sat on the couch, legs crossed, a cigarette between his fingers, and a cross in his left


    hand.


    He had the look of a saint with a hint of evilness, the kind of austere coolness that was intimidating.


    Sherman''s fingers toyed with the cross. "I''ve been thinking of calling off the live stream."


    At that, Daniel''s face broke into a relieved smile. "Thanks, Sherman..."


    Before Daniel could finish, Sherman''s deep, maic voice cut in. "You''ll eat them right here."

 Chapter 55

    What? Sherman told him to eat them right there, huh?


    Like, it was for real?


    Daniel freaked out.


    Then, the private room door swung open, and a server came in with a can of herring.


    Even from ten feet away, you could catch a whiff of that odd, metallic stench.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get started,¡± Sherman said, his fingers tracing the outline of the cross slowly, his voice barely


    a whisper.


    "Sherman..." Daniel stuttered, anxiety making his words trip over each other. "You, you, you¡¯re a


    vegetarian, right? From, from now on, I¡¯ll, um, I¡¯ll join you. We can do meatless Mondays or every


    day!"


    Sherman gave him a look. ¡°A man¡¯s only as good as his word.¡±


    Daniel shuffled to the table with leaden feet. ¡°Sherman...¡±


    ¡°Eat.¡±


    That single word sapped Daniel of any will to resist. He numbly picked up a canned herring, shut his


    eyes, steeled his heart, and stuffed it into his mouth.


    The taste was wickedly intense!


    But Daniel forced it down. No sooner had he swallowed than his stomach started a riot. He bolted to


    the restroom, wishing he could vomit up his very soul.


    Sherman stood up, frowning slightly. ¡°The rest... we¡¯ll livestream it.¡±


    With that, he turned and left the room.


    Daniel was baffled. What the hell?


    Shouldn''t Sherman have said he didn''t have to eat the rest? Had he heard wrong?


    After all, Sherman was a paragon of kindness, devoted to peace and love. How could he possibly


    stand to watch him suffer?


    He must have misunderstood.


    With that thought, Daniel calmed down, washed his face, and left the casino.


    As he stepped through the casino''s gate, the manager huffed out after him. ¡°Mr. Robinson, wait up!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    The manager handed Daniel a bag. ¡°Mr. Robinson, this is the canned herring Mr. Christensen told


    me to pack for you. He insists that you livestream it for him when you get home.¡±


    Daniel was speechless, wondering what fresh hell it was.


    **


    It was the day when Anthea was due to make a house call for Paulina¡¯s husband''s follow-up


    checkup.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    After a week of medication, Tammie seemed no better, showing no significant improvement.


    Only Anthea knew that the parasites within him had reduced by more than half.


    ¡°Have you been taking the meds on schedule?¡± Anthea inquired.


    Paulina nodded. ¡°Just as you instructed, Ms. Yeager. He¡¯s been taking them on time every day.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Anthea said, checking Tammie¡¯s eyelids. ¡°Now it¡¯s time to start medicinal baths. I¡¯ll


    write you a prescription. Bathe him twice a day. Once in the morning and once at night.¡±


    ¡°When do you think my husband will be back on his feet?¡± Paulina asked eagerly.


    Anthea replied, ¡°After a month of these baths, he should regain consciousness and be able to walk.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Paulina''s face lit up.


    Anthea nodded, scribbling a prescription and handing it to Paulina.


    At that moment, hurried footsteps approached from outside.


    ¡°Paulina! Paulina!¡± It was Paulina''s mother-inw, Wilma Lewis.


    ¡°Wilma,¡± Paulina greeted as she stepped out. ¡°Luna, you¡¯re here, too.¡±


    Trailing behind Wilma, Luna Lewis offered a polite greeting.


    Paulina nodded in acknowledgment.


    Wilma grabbed Paulina''s hands excitedly. ¡°Paulina, has that miracle doctor arrived?¡±


    Paulina replied, ¡°Yes, she¡¯s inside.¡±


    ¡°Take me to her, quickly.¡±


    ¡°Of course,e with me.¡±


    Paulina led Wilma and Luna into the bedroom, where Anthea was taking Tammie¡¯s pulse.


    ¡°This is Ms. Yeager,¡± Paulina introduced her.


    ¡°What?¡± Wilma was surprised.


    She¡¯d known the miracle doctor was a woman but never imagined she¡¯d be so young.

 Chapter 56

    Wilma eyed the girl skeptically.


    She was probably seventeen, maybe eighteen tops. And this was supposed to be a miracle doctor?


    Wilma doubted if the kid could even tell the difference between a cold and the flu.


    Was it a joke?


    In Wilma''s mind, Paulina was always the sensible type, so it was a shock that she''d do something


    utterly foolish this time.


    It was a huge letdown.


    Luna squinted her eyes, a hint of scorn curling at the corners of her mouth.


    So, this was the miracle doctor that Paulina had been raving about.


    It was one other than Cloudcrest''s infamous faux heiress, Anthea Morris.


    Oh, wait, it was just Anthea, no longer a Morris.


    Who in Cloudcrest didn''t know Anthea was nothing but an illiterate good-for-nothing?


    Yet, the thought of that vial containing the Anos parasite made Luna''s gaze flicker with wariness.


    A good-for-nothing wouldn''t have the skill to drive out a parasite from a person''s body.


    Besides, Luna had met Anthea before.


    The old Anthea would''ve made a clown blush with her over-the-top makeup, a veritable poster child


    for tackiness. But the Anthea standing before her at the time bore no resemnce to her old self.


    Luna clenched her fist, a spark of something fierce shing in her eyes.


    "Wilma, this is Ms. Yeager," Paulina repeated, seeing no reaction from Wilma.


    Finally, Wilma returned to reality, nodding with a tight-lipped smile, "Hello there."


    Despite her skepticism about Anthea''s abilities, Wilma maintained herposure as a high society


    lady.


    Anthea responded with a small, poised smile. "Pleased to meet you."


    Standing by Wilma, Luna delicately covered her mouth, her eyes shifting from astonishment to


    disbelief. "You... you''re Anthea?"


    Most would''ve cringed at that remark, given Anthea''s former reputation as the town''sughingstock


    and good-for-nothing.


    Unfazed by the insinuation, Anthea nodded graciously, "Indeed, I am Anthea, although I now go by


    Anthea Yeager."


    Wilma turned to Luna, asking, "You know her, Luna?"


    Luna nodded.


    Relieved to hear Luna knew Anthea, Wilma''s demeanor softened. "Luna, step outside with me for a


    moment. Ms. Yeager, sorry, but I need to speak with my niece."


    "Of course," Anthea said, nodding slightly.


    Luna shed a friendly smile at Anthea and followed Wilma obediently.


    Once outside, Wilma immediately inquired about Anthea.


    There was a term in this world for people like her, which was a prodigy.


    Luna was a rare talent, and her circleprised the top talents.


    Thus, Wilma wondered, maybe Anthea possessed some medical genius.


    Perhaps Anthea could cure her son.


    Comforted by the thought, Wilma felt a newfound stability.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    At Wilma''s probing, Luna''s expression twisted with unease. "Um, Aunt Wilma, how do I put this?"


    "What do you mean?" Wilma frowned.


    Luna began. "Ms. Yeager was invited by Paulina after all..."


    "Don''t worry about her. Just tell me the truth, Luna."


    "Well..." Luna hesitated, "Fine, the Ms. Yeager inside is the former Ms. Anthea Morris..."


    Wilma''s face flushed in anger.


    "You mean the Morris family''s infamous usurper? The fake heiress?"


    Luna nodded. "Don''t get upset, Aunt Wilma. I think Paulina might not have known Ms. Yeager''s true


    identity..."


    How could Wilma not be upset?


    Having the town''s well-known waste of space treat her son? It was nothing short of a cruel joke.

 Chapter 57

    Wilma was furious.


    That was absurd!


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    That was total nonsense!


    Paulina had crossed the line this time!


    "Aunt Wilma, please take a moment to breathe," Luna coaxed, and her voice was a soothing balm


    as she gently held Wilma''s arm. "Knowing Paulina as I do, she''s not one to blur the lines of right


    and wrong without reason. If she''s brought Ms. Yeager here, she must have her reasons. Maybe,


    just maybe, Ms. Yeager can heal Tammie, right?"


    Trying to keep a lid on her boiling fury, Wilma retorted, "Heal? Everyone in Cloudcrest knows that


    the Morris girl is nothing but an illiterate chatan. If she had any talent, pigs would sprout wings


    and take to the skies! I bet Paulina wants to see Tammie six feet under!"


    "Aunt Wilma," Luna continued, "there''s an old saying that a gentleman should not judge the merits


    of another''s words by their status nor dismiss the worth of their status by their words. Maybe we''ve


    got Ms. Yeager wrong. She doesn''t seem as bad as the rumors paint her."


    Wilma nced at Luna helplessly. "Luna, you''re too naive. Do you believe that quack could know


    anything about medicine? If Anthea had such miraculous healing powers, her name wouldn''t have


    dragged through the mud in Cloudcrest! People have eyes. If she was that impressive, who could


    nder her?"


    Fraud was a fraud!


    No amount of dressing up could turn a fake into a genius.


    Hearing that, Luna furrowed her brow. "Well, Aunt Wilma, you do have a point. After all, they say the


    people''s judgment is rarely wrong."


    But when the words left her mouth, Luna shifted the direction of the conversation, "However, I heard


    from Paulina that her Uncle Wird had introduced Ms. Yeager to her. The family wouldn''t steer the


    family wrong. Maybe we''re making this moreplicated than it is. What if there''s a twist in the tale


    and Ms. Yeager manages to cure Tammie?"


    Far from beingforted, Wilma grew angrier.


    Paulina''s Uncle Wird was no simple man. He graduated from a prestigious medical school and


    knew pharmacology well.


    The Smith family''s pharmacy had been in business for nearly a century.


    How could such a man rmend a fraud to treat Tammie?


    It was clear as day to anyone with half a brain!


    It was nothing but a scheme by Wird and Paulina to get their hands on the ck family fortune.


    They wanted Tammie dead so they could seize the ck wealth!


    What a despicable move!


    That uncle and niece were shameless!


    The more Wilma thought about it, the angrier she became, wishing to strangle Paulina with her bare


    hands. "They''re plotting to kill Tammie and usurp the ck family!"


    "What?" Luna gasped, and her face was pale. "No, that can''t be..."


    Wilma''s emotions were an open book to Luna, who quickly added, "Aunt Wilma, don''t jump to


    conclusions. Maybe Paulina and her uncle were duped by Anthea, too. I can vouch for her with my


    integrity. Paulina is not the type to harm her husband. She loves Tammie. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t


    have been so desperate to marry her in the first ce."


    The mention of that had stirred bitter memories in Wilma.


    Paulina''s family was nothing special, just regr folks making ends meet.


    Her marrying into the ck family was a stroke of sheer luck!


    Had it not been for Tammie''s attempted suicide, Wilma would never have allowed Paulina to marry


    into the family.


    Over the years, Wilma had never quite taken to Paulina. And it seemed her instincts were right.


    Paulina was nothing but trouble!


    And she was out to harm Tammie!


    Wilma shot up from her seat, fury radiating as she stormed toward the bedroom.


    "Aunt Wilma!" Luna hurriedly followed.


    Inside the room, Anthea had already left.


    Only Paulina was there, cleaning Tammie''s body with a cloth soaked in herbal medicine, its faint


    scent permeating the air.


    ¡°Bitch!¡± Wilma strode over and pped Paulina across the face without a second thought.

 Chapter 58

    Paulina''s face was pped to the side, and disbelief etched across her features as she looked at


    Wilma. ¡°Wilma, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± she asked.


    "Harlot! Witch!" Wilma seethed. "You don¡¯t deserve to be part of the ck family! Tammie must


    have been blind to fall for a witch like you!"


    "Wilma, what''s going on?" Paulina clutched her face, her whole body shaking.


    She knew Wilma had never thought highly of her, but Wilma had never resorted to violence against


    her before.


    Luna smoothed Wilma''s back and stepped forward, her voice soft and soothing. "Paulina, you can''t


    me Aunt Wilma for being so upset. Do you know who Ms. Yeager is?"


    "What do you mean?" Paulina was perplexed.


    "Ms. Yeager was once Anthea Morris, and you should know about Anthea Morris'' reputation," Luna


    continued. "Tammie''s illness has stumped doctors here and abroad. Ms. Yeager is only eighteen.


    Can she cure Tammie? Plus, I''ve heard that Ms. Yeager can barely recognize the alphabet."


    Paulina retorted, "Wilma, Luna, it¡¯s not like that. You''ve got Ms. Yeager all wrong! She''s a talented


    individual. Here¡¯s the prescription she wrote for Tammie. Does it look like the handwriting of


    someone who can barely read?"


    The prescription was beautifully written, disying elegance and full of character.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Luna narrowed her eyes. The ingredients listed on the prescription had no vermifuge effects, only


    minor benefits for nourishing the body and replenishing energy.


    It seemed like a false rm.


    She had thought Anthea was capable of something significant.


    Wilma tore up the prescription Paulina handed her and pointed at her. "I won''t let you feed my son


    such nonsense! I want you out of the ck family immediately!"


    Paulina was trembling. "Wilma, you''re cutting off Tammie''s only chance at life!"


    "Slut, shut your mouth!" Wilma pped her again. "You think I don''t know about your dirty schemes


    with Wird? You want to kill Tammie to take over the ck family! Let me tell you. As long as I''m


    here, it will never happen! You''ll never seed!"


    "I didn''t..." Paulina''s face was wet with tears. "I want Tammie to get better more than anything. If I


    could, I''d give my life for his."


    She wasn''t lying. She and Tammie had been married for years, their rtionship as close as ever.


    Luna stood aside. "Paulina, I understand how you feel. And there''s a saying, ''Desperate times call


    for desperate measures,'' but Ms. Yeager''s reputation precedes her. How can you expect us to trust


    her?"


    "Get out! Leave now!" Wilma pointed toward the door.


    "Cough, cough, cough!" At that moment, Tammie, lying in bed, suddenly awoke, sitting up and


    coughing up a mouthful of blood, staining the white sheets crimson.


    "Tammie!"


    "Tammie!"


    Wilma and Paulina rushed to him.


    "Paulina..." Tammie grabbed her hand weakly. "I''m so sorry. I couldn''t protect you..."


    Paulina shook her head, tears streaming. "I''m fine. It''s okay..."


    As she spoke, Tammie turned to Wilma. "Mom, please don''t be hard on Paulina. It hurts me to see


    you like this..."


    Wilma cleaned her tears, saying, "Silly boy, this woman wants you dead! How can you still defend


    her?"


    Tammie spoke with difficulty, "Mom, you''ve got Paulina wrong. She''s not that kind of woman.


    There''s no need to fall out over what will happen to me, Mom. I hope you will treat Paulina as your


    daughter when I''m gone."


    "You''re not going to die, my silly boy. You won''t die!" Wilma cried out loud.


    Tammie continued, "I know my health, and I can''t escape death. Please let me try Ms. Yeager''s


    remedy. Otherwise, I can¡¯t rest in peace..."

 Chapter 59

    Tammie had been sick for so long that he knew his days were numbered. Instead of fading away, he


    wanted to leave Paulina with a glimmer of hope. He knew her trust in Anthea and didn''t want to


    leave Paulina with regrets, though he was resigned to his fate.


    Upon hearing Tammie''s decision, Wilma clutched his hand and wept. "Tammie, my boy, they''re


    going to kill you! That Anthea is a quack. She doesn''t know the first thing about medicine!"


    Tammie squeezed Wilma''s hand gently. "Mom, I''ve never asked you for much, but please, just this


    once... I''m begging you."


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


    As he spoke, another cough wracked his body, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. Seeing Tammie


    like that, Wilma reluctantly agreed with a nod. "Okay, okay, I''ll do it for you."


    "Thank you, Mom..." Tammie quickly turned to Paulina. "Paulina, say thank you."


    "Thank you, Wilma," Paulina said quietly.


    Wilma turned away in anger, unable to look at Paulina. What spell had she cast over Tammie to


    gain such trust? What a bitch!


    "Tammie, take good care of yourself," Wilma said, then turned to Paulina, "You,e with me."


    "Mom, please, don''t be hard on Paulina," Tammie pleaded, seizing Wilma''s hand.


    "Don''t worry," Wilma reassured him with a pat, then led Paulina to the next room.


    Once in the study, Wilma''s facade of warmth vanished. "Paulina, you will pay for your life if Tammie


    doesn''t pull through because of you!"


    Paulina met Wilma''s gaze calmly. "Dr. Yeager said the treatment would take effect in a month.


    Please, give me that time. If anything happens to Tammie, I won''t want to live on either."


    With those words, she bowed deeply.


    Eavesdropping from outside, Luna couldn''t help but smile coldly to herself. She knew Anthea''s


    treatment would be useless. If Tammie died, it would save her the trouble of intervening.


    Being the only son, Tammie has no children of his own and Wilma absolutely can''t bear Paulina. If


    anything should happen to him, guess who steps in as the lone heir? Of course, it was Luna, who


    had waited for this day for too long.


    Finally, that day wasing.


    All she had to do was wait for Tammie¡¯s death.


    When Wilma emerged from the study, Luna was there to greet her. "Aunt Wilma."


    "Let''s go, Luna," Wilma said.


    As they left the mansion, Luna spoke. "Aunt Wilma, I hope you didn''t fall out with Paulina. How


    could she be so gullible to trust Dr. Anthea? If anything happens to Tammie..."


    The implication was clear.


    Wilma sighed. "Tammie is blinded by love. What can I do? Luna, I''m so grateful you''re here with me


    this hard time."


    Luna was her niece, and she was exceptional. If anything happens to Tammie, Luna would be the


    ck family''s only hope.


    "Aunt Wilma, I''m here for you, just as you were for me when I was little," Luna assured her.


    "You''re a good girl," Wilma said, embracing Luna, who smiled slyly.


    After they had gone, Paulina returned to Tammie''s side. Hey there, looking at her with guilt in his


    eyes. "I''m sorry, Paulina... for the ordeal."


    "It''s okay, Tammie. As long as you get better, I''m willing to endure anything," Paulina said hoarsely,


    "Do you believe Dr. Yeager can cure you?"


    "Yes," Tammie nodded firmly, clinging to hope amidst the despair.

 Chapter 60

    "Do you know that Ms. Yeager was the baby that got mixed up with the Morris family? She didn¡¯t


    have the best reputation around here before." asked Paulina.


    Tammie took Paulina''s hand reassuringly. ¡°Those are just rumors, and I trust you, as I do Ms.


    Yeager."


    "Thank you." Paulina leaned in and nted a gentle kiss on Tammie¡¯s forehead.


    **


    At the casino, Daniel leaned against the railing on the second floor, his gaze sweeping the floor


    below.


    He was determined to show Sherman that Anthea was ying hard to get. And Anthea would


    surely step foot in this casino again.


    However, she was nowhere to be seen these past few days.


    Daniel narrowed his eyes. "Could she have changed her game n?"


    "Mr. Robinson, there you are. Mr. Christensen wants a word with you," an attendant''s voice


    interrupted Daniel''s thoughts.


    "Be right there." Daniel turned and made his way over.


    Sherman was sitting on a couch with aptop on his knees, his fingers flying across the keyboard,


    the cold light reflecting off his elegant knuckles.


    "Fire up yourptop. I''ve got something to send you."


    "Okay." Daniel grabbed a nearbyptop and logged in.


    With one hand deftly navigating hisputer and the other casually toying with a cross, Sherman


    said, "Sent it."


    "What''s this?" Daniel asked, puzzled.


    "Forward it to Phoenix. He''ll know what to do."


    Daniel paused, then inquired, "Thetest OS System?"


    Sherman nodded slightly.


    Daniel was shocked.


    The OS was an intelligent system developed by the Christensen Group.


    Sherman had been working on OS since he was sixteen and made a breakthrough at twenty,


    integrating AI into everyday life.


    After a decade of research by the Christensen Group''s elite team, OS 3.0 wasunched.


    But they hit unprecedented difficulties as they were on the cusp of 4.0.


    If AI research seeded, it meant humans were ying with fire. One slip could lead to AI ruling


    over humanity.


    It wasn''t an exaggeration but a reflection of humanity''s vulnerability in the face of advanced


    technology.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    The team had to halt research and put the 4.0 project on ice.


    Daniel hadn''t expected Sherman to have such faith in the legendary Phoenix.


    He admired Phoenix, too, of course. But could Phoenix pull it off alone? After all, it took a team of a


    thousand experts a decade to advance to OS 3.0. Could one man usher it into the 4.0 era?


    As Daniel marveled, he logged onto GlobalGigaNet.


    Opening the chat window, he typed, [Are you there, Phoenix? I have a favor to ask!]


    [Speak.] The reply was terse.


    Daniel outlined the issue.


    "How much?"


    Daniel hadn''t expected such a blunt question. He turned to Sherman, "Sherman, Phoenix is asking


    about the payment."


    "Give me theptop."


    Daniel passed it over.


    Sherman positioned the cross between his fingers and took theptop, typing a message, saying,


    [Once you get it done, you set your fee.]


    "Are you sure?"


    "Yeah." Though brief, his reply carried an air of authority.


    On the other end and ustomed to touching her nose when thinking, Phoenix smirked. [Deal!]


    Sherman sent the file over.


    Phoenix clicked to receive it.


    Sherman typed again, [How long will it take?]


    [No guarantees on time, but no more than two months,] Phoenix replied after ncing at the file. It


    seemed like an AI system. Fixing this under less-than-ideal conditions might take a month. Two


    months was a safe bet.


    In her world, this was trivial, something she could nail in a day.


    Sherman, his fingers absently ying with the cross, a faint glow from the screen illuminating his


    features, raised an eyebrow. [How about adding me on WhatsApp?]

 Chapter 61

    Sherman had never been so intrigued by someone before.


    After sending the message, he glued his eyes to the screen, not wanting to miss a beat..


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a response came through.


    Sherman clicked the chat window open with haste.


    A distant and blunt response awaited him.


    [Sorry, not interested.]


    Even through the screen, Sherman could feel the indifference from the other side.


    It was the first time Sherman had taken the initiative to add someone on social media.


    And to think, he was rejected. The feeling was somewhat novel.


    ¡°Heh.¡± Sherman¡¯s lips curled into a subtle smirk, the red mole near his eye seemingly dancing with


    mischief.


    Startled by the unexpected chuckle, Daniel shivered. ¡°Dude, Sherman, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Knowing Sherman as he did, Daniel had learned it usually spelled trouble when Sherman chuckled


    like that.


    Sherman casually closed hisptop with one hand. ¡°Did you dig up anything on Phoenix?¡±


    ¡°W¡¯s been hacked a few times. But they¡¯re still on the trail.¡± Daniel continued, ¡°The guys at the


    International Department came up with nothing. There was no record of the person.¡±


    No record.


    It was one thing for W toe up short, but for the International Department to draw a nk was


    another matter entirely.


    Interesting.


    Sherman¡¯s fingers paused, ying with the silver cross, which contrasted starkly against his pale


    skin, shimmering with a cold light. ¡°Keep digging. Don¡¯t stop until you get something.¡±


    Daniel nodded, and his curiosity piqued. ¡°This Phoenix dude is like some legend. I¡¯d kill for a face¨C


    to¨Cface! Hey, Sherman, do you think Phoenix is a guy or a girl?¡±


    Without waiting for a response, Daniel hypothesized, ¡°Judging by the style and prowess in the


    chats, it got to be a guy, right?¡±


    Each interaction with Phoenix was dominated by his preciseness, never wasting a single word.


    And someone who could evade W and the International Department? That kind of skill was


    terrifying.


    11:16


    How many female tech moguls had there been in Luxphinia?


    Could a woman be that formidable?


    So, in Daniel¡¯s mind, Phoenix was a man!


    Only their fellow men could wield such awesomeness!


    Sherman stood by the window, looking at the view below, the cross still between his fingers. ¡°Did


    you check out Phoenix¡¯s registration information on GlobalGigaNet?¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    The site required ID verification for approval.


    At that, Daniel¡¯s eyes lit up, excitedly replying. ¡°Oh snap! If we can¡¯t track down the man, maybe we


    can start with the site! I¡¯m on it. Will tell W!¡±


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Sherman nodded slightly.


    Daniel hurried off to contact W.


    On the video call, W looked frustrated. ¡°Man, you think I didn¡¯t check Phoenix¡¯s registration


    details?¡±


    ¡°You did?¡± asked Daniel.


    ¡°Yep.¡±


    Eager for the scoop, Daniel pressed, ¡°So, is Phoenix a dude or a chick? He¡¯s a guy, right?¡±


    W shook his head. ¡°No clue, man.¡±


    ¡°But you checked, right?¡±


    W rified. ¡°Hold up, I said I looked, doesn¡¯t mean I found anything. Phoenix is slicker than a


    greased pig, no registration details at all. Everything¡¯spletely nk!¡±


    Daniel was puzzled. ¡°But isn¡¯t that site all about verified sign¨Cups?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why they call them legends, right?¡±


    Daniel was at a loss for words.


    W asked, ¡°Nothing from the International Department either?¡±


    Daniel shook his head.


    After ending the call, Daniel ryed W¡¯s words to Sherman.


    Sherman¡¯s brow creased slightly.


    There were no registration details on the site either. Who in the world was Phoenix?


    ¡°Sherman, if nothing else, I¡¯m heading out.¡±


    ¡°Off you go,¡± said Sherman, his tone indifferent.

 Chapter 62

    After Daniel retreated to his room, he hopped onto his GlobalGigaNet ount, eager to check his


    messages. Scrolling through, he was shocked that Sherman had boldly asked Phoenix to connect


    on the chat app.


    But Phoenix had turned him down.


    Daniel¡¯s jaw dropped in shock and a look of utter disbelief painted across his face.


    Man, this Phoenix was something else!


    Mad respect!


    His curiosity about Phoenix was growing by the second!


    The Morris family was still as death, the moonlight barely prating the heavy curtains of the


    bedroom. A solitary figurey in bed, engulfed by the shadows.


    ¡°No, please, no!¡± The figure jolted awake from a nightmare, fumbling to switch on the bedsidemp,


    her face pale as a sheet, forehead slick with cold sweat.


    Reba had been haunted by that dream again.


    Even upon waking, she couldn¡¯t shake off the pain and despair from her past life¡¯s final moments


    and that face.


    Just the thought of it filled her with an unbearable dread.


    In this life, she was determined to break the cycle.


    Clutching the covers tightly, her hands trembling, Reba fired up herputer and typed in a


    name. The screen threw back a 404 error, showing no information found.


    The bitter taste of powerlessness gnawed at her. Her fate was in the hands of another, out of her


    control.


    But then, a figure flickered in her mind. Right, there was Mr. Christensen.


    In this lifetime, she¡¯d ensure to be the woman by his side, at the very top of the social


    pyramid!


    It took more than looks to catch Mr. Christensen¡¯s eye. She needed substance and strength.


    It was time to step up her game with Daniel.


    Reba¡¯s eyes narrowed with resolve.


    Anthea was punching the clock at the local rotisserie, counting the days until her month¨Clong shift


    substitution was up.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    1/7/2


    1107


    She had just stepped inside when someone practicing French caught her ear. She paused, looking


    a bit thrown off.


    In her past life, she was a multilingual master, juggling tennguages with ease, while rubbing


    elbows with world¨Css elites who also possessed wlessnguage skills.


    The rough pronunciation was jarring to her ears, stirring an almost irresistible urge to correct


    1. it.


    When Baldie noticed Anthea, he greeted her, ¡°Hey, Anthea, how are you?¡±


    She smiled in acknowledgment.


    ¡°I¡¯m brushing up on my French,¡± Baldie said. ¡°You into it?¡± Mid¨Csentence, it dawned on him that


    Anthea hadn¡¯t even finished middle school.


    How could she possibly be interested in French?


    I


    ¡°French is easy, you know? If you want, I can teach you. I¡¯m the top of my ss,¡± he added, a


    glimmer of pride in his eyes.


    The hierarchy of students was an unspoken rule. The underachievers hung out together, and the


    high¨Cflyers stuck to their own.


    Handsome and a ss representative, Baldie was the dream of many girls in ss. Offering to


    teach Anthea, he expected her to be over the moon.


    ¡°Thanks, but no,¡± Anthea declined politely.


    Did she say ¡°Learning a bit could do you some good, you know.¡±


    no? Baldie was stunned by her refusal, staring at her in disbelief before adding.


    Anthea touched her nose modestly. ¡°Well¡­ actually, my French isn¡¯t too shabby.¡±


    ¡°Fine, if you don¡¯t want to learn, that¡¯s up to you.¡±


    Baldie had wanted to help Anthea, stuck in the mire, but she seemed content to stay down and


    even swallow in it.


    Whatever then!


    It reminded him of that saying, ¡°You can¡¯t make bricks without straw.¡±


    It¡¯s one thing not to want help and another to be so delusional.


    Anthea was speechless.


    Was he upset? Couldn¡¯t he take a joke?

 Chapter 63

    ¡°Do you speak French?¡± Baldie queried with a skeptical arch of his brow. ¡°And, do you speak it


    well?¡±


    ¡°Yep.¡± Anthea nodded, and her gaze was steady.


    Baldie¡¯s eyes twinkled with mockery as he continued, ¡°Honesty is a cherished tradition/


    Luxphinia, and I hope we can keep that tradition alive.¡±


    If she couldn¡¯t speak it, no big deal. No one wouldugh at her.


    Girls like Anthea, so full of pretense, were doomed to stay that way for life.


    Anthea was bewildered. What was Baldie implying? Was he suggesting she was lying?


    She suspected Baldie was fabricating things out of thin air, and she had the evidence.


    ¡°Baldie!¡± Harriet¡¯s voice echoed from inside.


    ¡°Coming!¡± Baldie strode back into the house.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to keep your distance from her? Why can¡¯t you remember!¡± Harriet¡¯s tone was far


    from pleased.


    ¡°We were just saying hi, Mom. You¡¯re reading too much into it!¡±


    Harriet sighed.


    It wasn¡¯t that she was overthinking things.


    Anthea was too attractive, and Harriet feared Baldie couldn¡¯t control his young, restless heart.


    Harriet spoke with gravity. ¡°Baldie, I¡¯m an open¨Cminded parent and understand kids your age are


    sensitive. I¡¯m not against you socializing, but remember the old saying that you¡¯re known by the


    company you keep. Associate with someone like Starr from your ss, not Anthea. Have I ever said


    a word each time you walk home with Starr after school?¡±


    Starr was the epitome of a rich kid.


    Luxury cars dropped her off and picked her up from school.


    asionally, Starr chose to walk home with Baldie on a whim.


    e city.


    Starr was the rich girl from the


    What was Anthea inparison?


    ¡°Got it,¡± Baldie nodded.


    Just then, Lauren ran over, panting. ¡°Harriet! Harriet!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Harriet asked.


    Lauren exined, ¡°Some French came to the C section, and I can¡¯t speak French. What do I


    11:17


    do?¡±


    The rotisserie was well¨Clocated.


    Foreigners often came to eat, usually managing with some localnguage, but asionally, they


    encountered those who didn¡¯t speak the localnguage at all.


    Then, Lauren noticed Baldie beside Harriet and lit up. ¡°Baldie, you¡¯re good at French, right?¡±


    Hearing that, Harriet grinned. ¡°That¡¯s right! Our Baldie¡¯s excellent in French. He¡¯d be perfect for the


    job!¡±


    Baldie blushed a bit. ¡°Well, I could give it a try.¡± It¡¯s indeed a chance to practice his spoken French.


    With the confidence of an eleventh¨Cgrader and ster grades, Baldie thought he could handle a


    routine conversation with the foreigners without trouble.


    Yet as he approached the table of seven foreigners, including four men and three women, he felt a


    slight sweat on his brow.


    A bit of nerves kicked in him.


    After all, it was his first time engaging in a face¨Cto¨Cface conversation in pure French with


    foreigners.


    Lauren whispered to Harriet. ¡°That¡¯s the difference education makespared to illiterates like us.


    Pride shimmered in Harriet¡¯s eyes. ¡°That¡¯s why they say education is the only way out. But it also


    depends on the person. Not just anyone could do this. In the end, it¡¯s because our Baldie is clever.¡±


    Lauren nodded. ¡°True enough.¡±


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Relieved to finally converse with someone, one of the French women at the table smiled and said,


    ¡°Could you tell us what kind of meat this is? Also, some of us are allergic to garlic and fish, so


    please let the kitchen know. Oh, and do you have lobster? We¡¯d like a lobster, half steamed in


    Luxphinian style and the other half as sashimi, please.¡±

 Chapter 64

    Baldie barely managed toprehend the first sentence. However, he found the next one a bit


    more challenging.


    The French woman was speaking way too fast, and with Baldie¡¯s nerves getting the better of him,


    he could only make out something about fish and garlic.


    ¡°Sorry, could you please repeat that?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± replied the French woman with a smile, slowing down her speech.


    Baldie still struggled to understand, scratching his head. ¡°You mean you like fish?¡±


    The woman quickly waved her hands. ¡°Oh no, no! We don¡¯t like fish. Some of us are allergic to fish


    and garlic! Allergic!¡±


    The more nervous he got, the more confused he was, especially with Harriet and Lauren standing


    by him. Baldie could not get what the woman meant, and his face flushed with anxiety.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I still can¡¯t quite get it¡­¡± Baldie stuttered.


    The woman continued, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t be nervous. Anyone else here speaks French?¡±


    Though not understanding French herself, Harriet could see something was off and nudged Baldie¡¯s


    arm. ¡°Baldie, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Baldie turned back, his face red with embarrassment. ¡°Mom, does anyone else here speak.


    French?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t understand?¡± Harriet looked at Baldie with surprise.


    Baldie scratched his head. ¡°They have a lot of requests. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll get it wrong¡­¡±


    As Harriet had been boasting about Baldie¡¯s proficiency to Lauren, this sudden turn of events was a


    big blow to her pride.


    Then, Baldie looked up at Harriet as if struck by a sudden thought. ¡°I heard Anthea¡¯s French isn¡¯t


    bad. Why don¡¯t we let her try?¡±


    Harriet¡¯s eyes filled with contempt at the suggestion. ¡°Her?¡±


    Baldie nodded, knowing Anthea didn¡¯t speak French, but he wanted her to try.


    Anthea had bragged just that evening about her French not being half poor.


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


    He was curious to see what she meant by saying ¡°not bad.¡±


    Lauren said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go fetch Anthea:¡±


    Before Harriet could react, Lauren had run off to find Anthea.


    Soon after, Lauren returned with Anthea.


    11:18


    Seeing Anthea arrive gave Baldle a sigh of relief. He finally didn¡¯t have to worry about embarrassing


    himself.


    Anthea would be the one to do that.


    At least he could manage a few simple exchanges with foreigners. Could Anthea?


    With Anthea there, he would still be the star pupil In Lauren and Harriet¡¯s eyes.


    Seeing Antheae over, Harriet said with disbelief, ¡°Lauren, you called her over?¡±


    Anthea approached the customers with a smile. ¡°May I help you with anything?¡±


    When she spoke, the eyes of the middle¨Caged woman and the other customers at the table lit up.


    Her ent was stunning!


    Just like her presence, it was captivating.


    The woman covered her mouth, ¡°Oh my! Are you a local, or have you lived abroad?¡±


    Anthea smiled. ¡°I¡¯m a local, but I¡¯ve visited France before. It¡¯s a very weing country.¡±


    Expats always loved to hear praise for their homnd.


    The woman¡¯s smile deepened as she gave Anthea her order.


    Anthea noted each request.


    Harriet and Baldie were speechless.

 Chapter 65

    Although Harriet couldn¡¯t speak French, she could tell from how Anthea chatted up with a group of


    foreigners that she was something.


    How could this be?


    Anthea hadn¡¯t even finished middle school. How on earth could she speak French? And how could


    she speak it so well?


    It just didn¡¯t add up!


    Baldie was the French whiz of their ss. How could he possibly be outdone by a middle school


    dropout?


    Harriet often praised Baldie before Lauren and put Anthea down every chance back in the day. And


    Anthea had pped her arrogance right back in her face. How could Harriet¡¯s pride not take a hit?


    Harriet¡¯s ego wasn¡¯t just bruised, it was shattered, and she wasn¡¯t alone in her suffering; Baldie was


    also tied up in knots, feeling the sting.


    He had Lauren summon Anthea over with the wicked intention of making her the butt of the joke.


    But instead of flopping, Anthea shone bright.


    She was dazzling!


    Baldie¡¯s palms were slick with sweat as he looked up at Anthea. She stood there, basking in the


    brilliant light, her already stunning features taking on an otherworldly beauty under the glow. The


    crowd behind her seemed to fade into the background, props to her radiance.


    She was gorgeous and brimming with confidence.


    Not a trace of nerves marred her aloof visage.


    It was as though she wasn¡¯t facing a group of foreigners but chatting with old friends.


    She was so poised and graceful, the epitome of elegance.


    No, she wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this.


    Baldie clenched his fists.


    Anthea wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this.


    With his superior education and family background, Baldie had always felt a sense of superiority


    over Anthea.


    But Anthea had crushed his pride underfoot.


    This new Anthea also showed him a distance he couldn¡¯t bridge.


    Baldie was in agony. He couldn¡¯t even believe it was reality.


    Anthea, for her part, didn¡¯t give it much thought. After wrapping up the conversation with the foreign


    clients, she took her notebook and headed to the kitchen..


    The table had guests with allergies to fish and garlic, so she needed tomunicate that with


    the chef.


    The foreigners turned back to Harriet and Baldie, giving a thumbs¨Cup and a hearty ¡°GOOD!¡±


    Harriet and Baldie squirmed in their seats.


    Lauren eximed, ¡°Oh my goodness! Who knew Anthea had it in her? She¡¯s amazing! Don¡¯t you


    think, Harriet?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± Harriet forced a stiff smile.


    After a moment¡¯s thought, she added, ¡°But you know, being good at French isn¡¯t enough without a


    proper education, Lauren. Haven¡¯t you seen the news? That olddy picking up trash at the tourist


    spot knew French, too.¡±


    So, what if she spoke a few words of French?


    So, what if she spoke fluently? She was still working for them! She was a mere working girl!


    There was nothing to brag about.


    Her son attended a prestigious high school and would enter a top university. He was to join the


    elite, marry a beauty with brains and wealth, and reach the pinnacle of life!


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Anthea could only wait and work for them forever.


    Thinking this way made Harriet feel much better.


    Baldie, too, foundfort in his mother¡¯s words.


    What did it matter if she spoke French? She was still working for their family despite her proficiency,


    wasn¡¯t she?


    His status remained higher than Anthea¡¯s.


    Her education was still inferior to his, and being fluent in French couldn¡¯t save her from her low


    educational background and social standing.


    Baldie turned to Harriet. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going to my room to study.¡± He was determined to work hard,


    enter a top university, and outshine everyone.


    When the time came, Anthea would still be a middle schooler, and he would be an outstanding


    postdoc.


    ¡°Go on, dear,¡± Harriet nodded with maternal affection.

 Chapter 66

    After Baldie left, Harriet turned to Lauren with a knowing smile. ¡°Lauren, you know, talk is cheap.


    You must have the goods to back it up. That¡¯s what counts! One of these days, I¡¯ll sit back and reap


    the rewards of Baldie¡¯s hard work!¡±


    Lauren nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I think there¡¯s something special about Anthea. She will do great


    things.¡±


    ¡°Great things?¡± Harriet scoffed, rolling her eyes. ¡°What, because she can chirp in a few foreign


    phrases?¡±


    ¡°But have you noticed.¡± Lauren pressed on,¡± our rotisserie has been booming since Anthea started


    waitressing?¡±


    It was an observation that even the most skeptical couldn¡¯t deny.


    Harriet waved a dismissive hand. ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with her? I¡¯ve tweaked the recipe for our


    rotisserie. The surge of customers is thanks to the vor kick, not her!¡±


    Harriet had thought the sudden uptick in business might have something to do with Anthea.


    But she soon realized that wasn¡¯t the case. It coincided with her new and improved spice blend. So,


    Anthea¡¯s presence was just a coincidence.


    ¡°Fine, Lauren, enough chitchat,¡± Harriet said with impatience. ¡°Go check the kitchen. See if they


    need a hand with anything.¡±


    Lauren obeyed, finding Anthea in the back, wiping down trays. She approached her with admiration


    in her eyes. ¡°Anthea, you were amazing! The way you rattled off in French had me all dazzled!¡±


    Antheaughed it off. ¡°Oh, Lauren, I¡¯m not all that. You¡¯re giving me too much credit.¡±


    In her past life, Anthea had rubbed elbows with the elite. Speaking a foreignnguage was hardly a


    rare feat for her.


    ¡°But it is impressive!¡± Lauren insisted. ¡°Can you speak othernguages, too, Anthea?¡±


    Lauren had this nagging feeling that Anthea¡¯s talents were even more expansive.


    Casually holding a tray, Anthea replied. ¡°Apart from French? Well, there¡¯s Russian, Italian,


    Japanese, German, and some Korean. Just that.¡±


    Just that? Lauren swallowed hard, and her eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°Anthea, where did you say you went to high school again?¡± asked Lauren.


    ¡°Northbridge High School,¡± Anthea answered.


    Thanks to Harriet¡¯s skepticism, Lauren had once taken Anthea¡¯s words with a grain of salt. But


    11:24


    she became a firm believer at that moment.


    Anthea wasn¡¯t just some part¨Ctimer. She was truly only filling in for Carole:


    Karen hadn¡¯t shown up that evening.


    Having spent the better part of a month inseparable from Karen, her absence left Anthea feeling


    a tad off¨Ckilter, resulting in her ncing towards the entrance more than usual. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    But closing time neared, and still no sign of Karen.


    After the shift, Anthea didn¡¯t rush off. Instead, she approached Harriet at the bar.


    ¡°Something on your mind, Anthea?¡± Harriet asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been working here almost a month now.¡± Anthea started.


    ¡°And?¡± Harriet looked up her gaze meeting Anthea¡¯s.


    Anthea seemed ready to ask for a favor, which Harriet had anticipated.


    ¡°Harriet, when my mom decided to quit, you mentioned needing a month to hire someone new.


    That¡¯s why I stepped in to cover her shift. Have you found a recement yet? I¡¯m supposed to finish


    up the day after tomorrow.¡± Anthea exined, giving Harriet a gentle reminder to avoid anyst¨C


    minute confusion.


    What? Harriet stared at Anthea, dumbfounded.


    Anthea wasn¡¯t there to ask for a favor, after all?

 Chapter 67

    Anthea unexpectedly came in to talk about quitting her job,


    Why on earth would she want to quit?


    Harriet chuckled and said, ¡°Anthea, we¡¯re getting busier by the day, and you¡¯ve been quite the whiz


    around here. How about you stick with us long¨Cterm? I¡¯ll bump your pay by five hundred bucks, a


    deal that¡¯s not on the table for just anyone.¡±


    Harriet was testing the waters with Anthea.


    She could practically predict that Anthea was going to be over the moon with excitement.


    Five hundred dors was nothing to sneeze at!


    ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong, ma¡¯am,¡± Anthea replied. ¡°It¡¯s not about the money. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m about to


    start school again.¡±


    What? Wouldn¡¯t she stay for an extra five hundred?


    Harriet stared at Anthea in astonishment. She hadn¡¯t expected Anthea to be so hard to please,


    using school as an excuse.


    A waitress worrying about school? Since when did that matter?


    A flicker of barely concealed scorn passed across Harriet¡¯s eyes.


    Anthea always worked her tail off to stay in this job. Would she give it up so easily?


    It was all because business at the rotisserie was boomingtely, and Anthea thought she could y


    hardball, expecting a raise!


    Harriet had offered an additional five hundred. What more did Anthea want?


    Besides, the recent surge in business wasn¡¯t thanks to Anthea!


    It was Harriet¡¯s secret sauce recipe that was drawing in the crowds!


    Anthea was being shameless.


    Did she think she was an angel? Did she think her pretty face alone could set the rotisserie on fire


    with queues around the block?


    Ridiculous!


    Harriet had decided to give Anthea an extra five hundred out of pity. And yet, Anthea was proving to


    be ungrateful, trying to extort a better deal!


    ¡°Well, if you¡¯ve decided to leave, I won¡¯t try to stop you,¡± Harriet continued. ¡°The day after tomorrow,


    I¡¯ll have your paycheck ready for you when your shift ends.¡±


    Anthea thought she could pull a fast one? No chance!


    102


    11:24


    ¡°Okay, I appreciate it.¡± replied Anthea.


    After Anthea left, Baldie stepped out from the back. ¡°Mom, is Anthea quitting?¡±


    He had overheard Anthea talking about school.


    Could it be that Anthea was still studying?


    Had he got it wrong about her?


    Harriet turned around. ¡°Quitting? She¡¯s trying to get a pay raise out of me! Acts like she¡¯s all


    that!TM


    ¡°A pay raise? What kind of rise?¡± Baldie asked, puzzled.


    Harriet exined, ¡°Our business has picked up these past few days. She thinks it¡¯s all thanks to her


    good looks! So, she¡¯s using quitting as a threat, trying to squeeze a raise out of me!¡±


    Baldie nodded in understanding. ¡°I see. So, are you going to give her the raise?¡±


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


    Harriet replied, ¡°I offered her an extra five hundred, but she turned her nose up at the offer! She


    wants to quit, huh? Fine, let her quit! There are plenty of fish in the sea. Does she think the world


    will stop without her?¡±


    Baldie blinked, processing the information.


    ¡°So, is Anthea quitting?¡±


    Harriet smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s just bluffing. She won¡¯t leave. Our rotisserie offers one of the


    highest wages around here. I even threw in an extra five hundred. Where else can she get a deal


    like that?¡±


    Forget around here. She¡¯d be hard¨Cpressed to find such wages anywhere in Cloudcrest.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Baldie nodded, relieved.


    Time flew by.


    Two days passed in the blink of an eye.


    It was Anthea¡¯sst day at the rotisserie.


    Ironically, Karen, who hadn¡¯t shown up for three days, decided to drop by tonight.


    ¡°Mrs. Christensen, where have you been the past few days?¡± Anthea asked, genuinely happy to see


    her regr.


    Karen replied, ¡°I had a bit of a headache, so I took a few rest days.¡±


    ¡°Are you fine, Mrs. Christensen?¡± Anthea asked, noticing a pallor on Karen¡¯s face. She reached out


    instinctively to check her pulse, her brow furrowing in concern.


    C

 Chapter 68

    In a heartbeat, Anthea let go of Karen¡¯s hand. ¡°Mrs. Christensen, your headaches have been


    bugging you for twenty years?¡±


    Karen looked at Anthea, astonished. ¡°Ann, how did youe to know that?¡±


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


    ¡°I¡¯ve picked up a bit of the ancient healing arts,¡± Anthea replied. ¡°Mrs. Christensen, I¡¯ve seen this


    kind of headache before. If you trust me, I have a remedy to cure your ailment.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Karen¡¯s eyes sparkled with hope. Her headaches were bearable most of the time, but


    when they hit, they were crippling. She couldn¡¯t even get out of bed, and the pain wouldst for


    days on end. It seemed to re up at least once a month.


    Hearing Anthea might have a cure, Karen was more than happy.


    Anthea nodded, picked up a pen, scribbled the remedy on the back of a menu, tore it off, and


    handed it to Karen. ¡°Here¡¯s the recipe for the remedy. Keep it safe.¡±


    Karen took the paper gratefully. ¡°Thank you so much, Ann!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just doing what I can,¡± Anthea smiled. ¡°By the way, what would you like for dinner tonight?¡±


    Karen listed off a few dishes.


    After their meal, Anthea mentioned she would be leaving the next day.


    Upon hearing that, Karen¡¯s face fell. ¡°Oh, Ann, you¡¯re leaving? Does that mean I won¡¯t see you


    again?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Christensen,¡± Anthea reassured her with a smile. ¡°My number is on that recipe.


    Call me anytime you want to chat or if you need anything. And here, take this.¡± She pulled a wad of


    cash from her pocket and pressed it into Karen¡¯s hand.


    Anthea had withdrawn the money from the bank earlier, wanting to help the elderlydy living


    alone.


    Karen¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears as she said, ¡°Ann, thank you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    After herte shift, Anthea found Harriet.


    Harriet handed her an envelope. ¡°Here¡¯s your sry for thest two months.¡®¡±


    Anthea epted it with both hands. ¡°Thank you, Harriet.¡±


    ¡°You sure about leaving?¡± Harriet asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Anthea nodded slightly.


    Harriet gave a little smile. ¡°Then I wish you good luck getting a great new job.¡±


    0


    11:25


    Anthea frowned, puzzled why Harriet always assumed she was dropping out of school, but she


    didn¡¯t bother to correct her and just thanked her.


    Harriet watched Anthea walk away, a cold smirk on her face. Just wait and see!


    Within three days, Anthea would be back, begging for her job.


    The following morning, the family sat down for breakfast.


    ¡°Ann. I¡¯m feeling better now. I can start back at the rotisserie today,¡± said Carole.


    A month¡¯s rest had done wonders for Carole¡¯splexion, and even her wrinkles seemed to fade.


    She looked rejuvenated.


    While peeling an egg leisurely, Anthea said, ¡°I quit the job at the rotisserie. It was too exhausting


    and didn¡¯t pay well. You don¡¯t need to go back there.¡±


    Carole was anxious upon hearing that. ¡°Ann, I know you¡¯re looking out for me, but I am better now. I


    can¡¯t just sit around, and the little we made at the rotisserie helped with the bills.¡±


    Carole didn¡¯t want to be a burden to her daughter.


    Anthea sipped her milk and looked up. ¡°Mom, if you want to do something, I have an idea.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got some savings, and I was thinking we could rent a spot and you could run it. A little diner


    could do well. How about opening one?¡±


    ¡°A diner?¡± Carole frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not good at cooking. Do you think people woulde?¡±


    Anthea smiled reassuringly. ¡°You and uncle always say how good my cooking is. I¡¯ll teach you! And


    if business picks up, we can hire some help, right?¡±

 Chapter 69

    ¡°Sounds like a n!¡± Nanson eximed, ¡°If Ann teaches you her killer cooking skills, we¡¯ll make a


    killing! Carole, don¡¯t underestimate a diner. It¡¯s way better than any desk job if it hits off.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Uncle Nanson,¡± Anthea nodded in agreement, but Carole remained skeptical.


    Starting a diner sounded easy, but the reality could be quite challenging.


    Running a business wasn¡¯t just about smooth talking.


    If things went south, just the rent could be a nightmare to cover.


    Carole furrowed her brow. ¡°The rent in a decent spot in our town is sky¨Chigh. We¡¯re talking


    thousands a month¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the money,¡± Nanson assured her, ¡°I¡¯ve got enough saved up for rent, and once


    Mrs. ck¡¯s husband is back on his feet, she¡¯s paying me a hefty fee. Besides, we will turn a profit


    with the business.¡±


    Mentioning Paulina, a worried look crossed Carole¡¯s face, ¡°Ann, are you sure Mr. ck will recover


    within a month?¡±


    She had apanied Anthea on a house call to check on Tammie some time ago.


    Tammie had seemed at death¡¯s door.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Carole was deeply concerned.


    Anthea offered a reassuring smile, as fresh and hopeful as April¡¯s blossoms. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mr. ck


    will pull through.¡±


    Somehow, that smile washed away Carole¡¯s worries about Tammie, but she still had her doubts


    about the diner venture.


    Seeing Carole¡¯s anxious demeanor, Nanson couldn¡¯t help but encourage her. ¡°Carole! You got to


    have guts in business! Take risks! With your cold feet, you¡¯ll never strike it rich!¡±


    Nanson was a different breed altogether.


    He dared to take leaps, although his business acumen was questionable.


    ¡°Okay then,¡± Carole relented, ¡°I¡¯ll trust you guys.¡±


    ¡°After dinner, I¡¯ll write down some recipes for you to practice at home, and I¡¯ll start scouting for a


    location.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good,¡± Carole nodded.


    After leaving the Yeager residence, Anthea strolled to the nearby pedestrian street to look for


    avable storefronts.


    By sheer luck, she stumbled upon a shop up for lease.


    1125


    The ce was empty save for an olddy at a table, engrossed in ying Solitaire on her phone,


    oblivious to Anthea¡¯s arrival.


    ¡°Hello there.¡±


    Startled, thedy looked up. ¡°Oh, dear, what can I get you?¡±


    Anthea shook her head slightly. ¡°I noticed your ¡®For Lease¡® sign outside. Is it still avable?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is,¡± thedy confirmed, sizing up Anthea.


    ¡°How much for the transfer fee?¡± Anthea inquired.


    Doubting a young woman could afford it, the olddy replied while fixated on her game. ¡°The fee is


    $8,000. You get everything in the shop as is. The rent is $3,000 a month, paid annually. There¡¯s six


    months left, so you¡¯re looking at $26,000 in total to take over.¡±


    Contrary to thedy¡¯s expectations. Anthea wasn¡¯t fazed by the figure.


    Herposure remained unshaken.


    Thedy squinted her eyes, reconsidering. Could this youngdy be a low¨Ckey wealthy type?


    With the thought in mind, she warmed up considerably, giving Anthea a tour around the shop,


    exining the ins and outs and even the supply chain.


    ¡°The location¡¯s a bit off the beaten path.¡± Anthea observed with a slight frown.


    Thedy chuckled. ¡°Sure, it¡¯s a bit hidden, but a good wine needs no bush! Sess is all about


    effort. I believe you¡¯ll do great business here with some hard work! We¡¯re only selling because we¡¯re


    moving abroad. Otherwise, I¡¯d never let it go. You should¡¯ve seen the crowd just a few days ago.


    We¡¯ve got our minds on moving, and the chef left. That¡¯s why business has dropped.¡±

 Chapter 70

    Entrepreneurs could be as cunning as foxes and spout lies as effortlessly as breathing.


    She knew that Anthea was young and probably an easy mark.


    Their diner was so remote that they barely saw any customers. They were losing money, losing


    thousands of dors, and were desperate to offload the ce.


    But people these days were too savvy, too sharp to get fooled so easily!


    ¡°I¡¯ll consider taking it off your hands if you waive the transfer fee.¡± Anthea said casually.


    Thedy¡¯s ears perked up at that. She sensed an opportunity!


    ¡°Gotcha,¡± she thought. ¡°The fish has bitten the bait!¡±


    *Sweetheart, are you pulling my leg? We¡¯ve put our hearts into this ce. Look at the decor. Isn¡¯t it


    gorgeous? We used the finest materials! An $8,000 transfer fee is the least we could ask


    for.*


    Anthea wasn¡¯t born yesterday. She grinned and said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, I prefer to shoot straight. If you want


    to transfer, let¡¯s get that contract signed. If not, I¡¯ll look elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°Well, go ahead and look elsewhere,¡± thedy bluffed, faking indifference.


    From her years of business experience, she believed Anthea had set her sights on the diner and


    wouldn¡¯t walk away over a measly $8,000.


    After all, missing out on $8,000 wasn¡¯t a big deal. Thedy and her family had been trying to sell the


    diner for three months without so much as a nibble. If some sucker came along willing to take on


    the $18,000 rent, they¡¯d be over the moon!


    But greed was a funny thing. If they could make an extra $8,000, why not?


    Anthea said nothing more and turned to leave.


    Thedy seemed careless, confident that Anthea would return. But when Anthea¡¯s figure was


    almost out of sight without a backward nce, she panicked and ran after her. ¡°Wait, darling! You¡¯re


    so hasty! I guess we can make this deal. Let¡¯s do it your way. I¡¯ll waive the $8,000 transfer fee. Let¡¯s


    sign that contract! I¡¯m in a rush to emigrate anyway.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Anthea nodded slightly.


    Thedy¡¯s eyes sparkled with triumph. She couldn¡¯t believe how easily she¡¯d swayed Anthea.


    Anthea was such a young girl, so inexperienced in the ways of the world!


    Like a calf unafraid of tigers, Anthea was about to rent a ce destined to fail. She would regret it in


    tearster on.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go then. We agree no take¨Cbacks once the contract is signed,¡± thedy said, masking her


    glee expertly.


    11:25


    Anthea smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t regret it,¡±


    ¡°Okay, follow me.¡±


    An hourter. Anthea walked out onto the main street, rental contract in hand.


    Thedy watched Anthea leave, shaking her head in disbelief. Such a pretty young thing. What a


    shame she didn¡¯t have the brains to match.


    Renting a diner in such a forsaken spot, she might as well wait to start losing money!


    The Christensen Mansion.


    Karen handed the butter a prescription, ¡°Larkin, please purchase the medicine listed here.¡±


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


    The butler respectfully epted it with both hands. ¡°Very well, ma¡¯am.¡±


    Adah walked in from outside, curious. ¡°What¡¯s that, Karen? Some medicine?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s supposed to cure my chronic migraines,¡± Karen replied with unwavering confidence in Anthea.


    Adah responded with surprise. ¡®Really? Your migraines have gued you for decades, and we¡¯ve


    tried everything from mainstream medicine to ancient healing arts with no sess.¡±


    Karen nodded. ¡°It¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°And where did this miracle prescriptione from?¡± Adah inquired.


    ¡°My future granddaughter¨Cinw gave it to me,¡± Karen dered, beaming with pride.


    ¡°What?¡± Adah thought she must have misheard.

 Chapter 71

    Adah looked at Karen with a puzzled expression, full of doubt. Had Karen gone crazy with longing


    for a granddaughter¨Cinw so much that she was seeing things?


    Karen chuckled and repeated, ¡°I said my future granddaughter¨Cinw gave the prescription to me.¡±


    ¡°No way, Karen, what granddaughter¨Cinw are you talking about?¡± Adah queried.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to change my clothes, and then we¡¯ll talk,¡± Karen responded.


    A few minutester, Karen emerged in a new outfit.


    Adah was stunned. ¡°Oh, my goodness! What on earth are you wearing?¡± Karen was in tattered rags


    that would make a street beggar cry a river of sorrow. It was as if someone at home had mistreated


    Karen.


    With a smile, Karen said, ¡°How else am I supposed to get a granddaughter¨Cinw?¡±


    After the ordeal with Reba, Karen had be more cautious in her hunt for the perfect match


    for her grandson, hence the deliberate beggar disguise.


    And, believe it or not, the tactic was surprisingly effective.


    Poverty was like a magic mirror for revealing true natures. All manner of fiends and fakes would


    show their true colors before it.


    Disguising herself, Karen witnessed many things usually hidden from view.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Adah was helpless. ¡°Are you sure you want to go out looking for a granddaughter¨Cinw dressed


    like that?¡±


    Wouldn¡¯t that scare any potential match away?


    As Karen sprayed on some sunscreen, she insisted, ¡°Not everyone is like Reba, you know. Let


    me tell you, Adah. I met this youngdy who is just wonderful. She¡¯s so beautiful, kind, and has a


    voice like an angel, and she didn¡¯t despise my tattered clothes. I like her!¡±


    In her youth, Karen was a renowned beauty. It was rare for someone to be deemed beautiful by her


    standards.


    Even Reba, the campus belle, only received a lukewarm ¡®not bad¡® from Karen.


    That piqued Adah¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Is she as beautiful as you say?¡± she asked.


    Just then, the TV was ying thetest popr series, and Karen pointed at the lead actress on the


    screen, saying, ¡°She¡¯s a hundred times, no, a thousand times more beautiful than this girl!¡±


    The actress in question was Carlotta, a name synonymous with celestial beauty. She had taken the


    entertainment world by storm with her stunning looks and was dubbed by the media as


    11:25


    Luxphinia¡¯s top beauty.


    In the entire showbiz industry, no one could match Carlotta¡¯s beauty.


    Adah, being a sucker for good looks, had taken a strong liking to Carlotta and even shared an


    impressive off¨Cscreen chemistry with her.


    ?? ?


    It was just that Karen never seemed to remember Carlotta.


    Somewhat incredulously, Adah said, ¡°Karen, that¡¯s a bit of an exaggeration! If someone is that


    beautiful, she¡¯d be an angel!¡±


    Karen replied with cocky pride, ¡°You¡¯re right, Adah. My future granddaughter¨Cinw is indeed an


    angel!¡±


    Adah was skeptical. She wondered if Karen was making things up, letting her imagination run wild.


    ¡°Karen, do you know who Carlotta is? She¡¯s Luxphinia¡¯s number¨Cone beauty!¡±


    ¡°Her?¡± Karen said dismissively, ¡°She¡¯s considered Luxphinia¡¯s top beauty? If she¡¯s the top beauty,


    my granddaughter¨Cinw is the unrivaled beauty of the entire realm!¡±


    Continuing her thought, Karen added, ¡°My future granddaughter¨Cinw isn¡¯t just a pretty face.


    She¡¯s skilled in medicine, too! Can this so¨Ccalled ¡®beauty¡® im the same? If my future


    granddaughter¨Cinw were to join the entertainment world, this Carlotta wouldn¡¯t stand a


    chance.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Carlotta, for God¡¯s sake!¡± Adah protested.


    ¡°So what?¡±


    ¡°Oh, please, Karen,¡± Adah protested.


    ¡°There you go. In any case, this Carlotta is not as beautiful as my granddaughter¨Cinw!¡±


    Adah had to admit defeat. Karen¡¯s wit was unbeatable.

 Chapter 72

    Karen added, ¡°When the butler returns, have him take the medicine to the kitchen. I¡¯ll take it when I


    get back this evening. I have something to handle now.¡±


    Adah frowned slightly. ¡°Karen, are you sure that medicine works? What if someone¡¯s pulling the


    wool over your eyes?¡±


    Karen nced back at Adah. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my dear. My daughter¨Cinw wouldn¡¯t deceive me.¡±


    ¡°People can be quite the actors, you know. How can you be sure she¡¯s not just putting on a show?¡±


    ¡°Trust me,¡± Karen patted Adah¡¯s hand reassuringly. ¡°I handpicked my future daughter¨Cinw. I can


    tell a genuine person from a chatan.¡± She wasn¡¯t born yesterday, after all.


    Adah continued, ¡°Where are you headed? I can have the chauffeur drive you.¡±


    Karen waved the offer away. ¡°No need, darling. I feel like taking a stroll.¡± Karen had developed a


    habit of disguising herself whenever she stepped out.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the butler returned with the medicine in hand.


    Adah took the medicine, still feeling uneasy, and said, ¡°Larkin, would you mind calling Dr. Lyons to


    take a look at this?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the butler nodded.


    Hancock Lyons arrived promptly.


    Adah handed the medicine to Hancock, saying, ¡°Dr. Lyons, could you please check if there¡¯s


    anything wrong with this?¡±


    Hancock examined the packaging and sniffed the contents carefully.


    After a moment, he replied, ¡°There¡¯s nothing harmful in this medicine, but it won¡¯t do anything for


    Lady Karen¡¯s migraines either.¡±


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


    After hearing that, Adah¡¯s frown deepened. She had suspected that Karen had been sweet¨Ctalked


    into nonsense.


    Is there such a perfect person in this world?


    Was there a girl who was beautiful and skilled in medicine? It sounded like a fairy tale, but Karen


    seemed utterly convinced.


    ¡°Thank you. Dr. Lyons. I appreciate youing out here,¡± Adah said with a nod.


    ¡°No trouble at all,¡± Hancock replied. ¡°I¡¯ve been treating Lady Karen¡¯s condition, which is a cold


    syndrome. It requires gradual care. We can¡¯t rush it. Don¡¯t discontinue the prescriptions I¡¯ve given.


    There can be harm in unnecessary medicine, and we don¡¯t want to riskplicating her condition.*


    11:26


    Hancock was a renowned physician in Cloudcrest and was confident in his ability to treat Karen.


    Above all, he valued the Christensen family¡¯s trust.


    After all, how could an unknown upstartpare to his expertise?


    ¡°Understood,¡± said Adah, nodding again.


    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I should be going,¡± Hancock suggested, ready to leave.


    Adah stood up and instructed the butler to see Hancock out.


    Over at the rotisserie, the door had barely opened at half¨Cpast six when customers began to trickle


    in.


    The business was as usual.


    Harriet finally felt a weight lift off her chest. She had always known that the business picked up due


    to the new recipes, not because of Anthea!


    What was Anthea in the grand scheme of things?


    Relieved, Harriet returned to her room to have a rest. The worry about today¡¯s business had


    kept her awake most of the night.


    When Harriet returned after her nap, she was in for a shock.


    It was as if she was seeing things.


    ¡°Lauren! Lauren!¡± she called out loudly for her partner.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Lauren asked, startled by the urgency in Harriet¡¯s voice.


    Harriet demanded, ¡°What¡¯s going on tonight? Why are there so few customers? Justst night,


    we had a line out the door, and now, look, half the ce is empty!¡±


    Lauren looked hesitant before replying. ¡°I think¡­ it might be because of Anthea.¡±


    ¡°Because of Anthea?¡± Harriet¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion.


    Lauren nodded. ¡°Many regrs left when they didn¡¯t see Anthea. Some even said that they wouldn¡¯t


    come again if Anthea quit.¡±

 Chapter 73

    Harriet¡¯s face twisted into a scowl, the shade of a stormy sky. She¡¯d never fathomed that


    Anthea¡¯s draw at the rotisserie was akin to a siren¡¯s call.


    The patrons were flocking in to gawk at Anthea¡¯s beauty.


    ¡°Who gave you the bogus news that Anthea quit? She¡¯s just catching a short break! She¡¯ll be back


    on the grind in a few days!¡± Harriet spit out her words.


    Lauren blinked in surprise. ¡°Oh? Anthea didn¡¯t quit?¡±


    Harriet¡¯splexion darkened further. ¡°No! Go tell them Anthea will be back tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Lauren nodded, quickly turning on her heel to inform the customers that Anthea hadn¡¯t quit


    and would return the following day. Their blunt reply came as a gut punch. They¡¯de back to


    dine when Anthea did.


    Harriet was livid!


    She had expected Anthea to crawl back, yet she found herself in the humiliating position of begging


    Anthea to return. That was disgusting!


    But with the business at stake, she had no choice.


    ¡°Baldie! You got Anthea¡¯s contact on WhatsApp?¡± Harriet had deleted Anthea¡¯s number in a power


    y, expecting a plea that would nevere. But at the time, she was cut off without a lifeline.


    ¡°Yeah, Mom, what¡¯s up?¡± Baldie emerged from the back room.


    Harriet¡¯s voice was a mix of frustration andmand. ¡°Tell Anthea I¡¯ll bump her wage to five grand.


    Get her back here.¡±


    Baldie¡¯s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ¡°You sure, Mom?¡±


    Harriet nodded firmly.


    ¡°But why?¡± he prodded further.


    ¡°Just do as I say and message her,¡± Harriet barked.


    Sensing his mother¡¯s foul mood, Baldie didn¡¯t press further. He whipped out his phone and sent


    Anthea a casual ¡°You there?¡± on WhatsApp.


    There was no immediate reply, and Harriet¡¯s impatience boiled over. ¡°Did Anthea get back to you?¡±


    Baldie shook his head.


    Half an hourter, Harriet was gnashing her teeth, cursing Anthea¡¯s silence. To her, it was a


    deliberate snub, which was uneptable!


    11:26


    Just then, Baldie perked up. ¡°Mom, she replied!¡±


    Harriet leaned in eagerly. ¡°What did she say?¡±


    Baldie hesitated, ¡°Anthea says she¡¯s got school and can¡¯t make it.*


    Hearing it, Harriet thought, ¡°Five grand wasn¡¯t enough? This girl¡¯s appetite was bigger than a


    Thanksgiving turkey!¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Harriet felt the rage bubble up inside her. ¡°Tell her she¡¯ll get seven thousand!¡±


    The base sry in Cloudcrest was a mere $2,500. Seven thousand was upper crust territory.


    Anthea had no grounds to refuse.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Baldie said, though his voice was tinged with disbelief.


    After a moment, he returned with another update. ¡°Mom, Anthea says it¡¯s not about the money.¡± If it


    was not about the money, what then? Harriet felt the blood drain from her face.


    Never had she imagined Anthea would be so bold. Seven grand wasn¡¯t enough.


    After a moment¡¯s consideration, weighing the profits Anthea could bring in against the sry,


    Harriet took a deep breath. ¡°Tell her she¡¯ll get fifteen thousand!¡±


    Baldie¡¯s eyes widened as if he had misheard. ¡°Fifteen grand, Mom?¡±


    She nodded firmly. ¡°Yes, fifteen thousand.¡±


    With shock and awe, Baldie sent the message.


    But neither of them had anticipated Anthea¡¯s response, a refusal that echoed louder than any


    eptance.

 Chapter 74

    ¡°Oh,e on! That¡¯s $15,000 we¡¯re talking about here!¡±


    ¡°Mom, Anthea¡¯s saying it¡¯s not about the money¡­¡±


    Harriet was fuming, her blood boiling. It was $15,000!


    What on earth did Anthea want?


    She couldn¡¯t possibly be holding out for $100,000, could she?


    How shameless could she bel


    ¡°Mom, what do we do now?¡± Baldie queried, his voice tinged with uncertainty.


    ¡°Just ignore her!¡± Harriet spat out maliciously. ¡°That little bitch is just ying hardball with me! She


    can take it or leave it! I refuse to believe my rotisserie can¡¯t survive without her!¡±


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Even if Anthea turned Cloudcrest upside down, there was no way she¡¯d find anyone willing to pay


    $15,000 a month for an inexperienced waitress with no education to boast of.


    Who in their right mind would do that?


    Were they out of their minds?


    ¡°So, I just ignore her?¡±


    Harriet nodded affirmatively. ¡°Yeah, ignore her! Mark my words. Within three days, she¡¯lle


    crawling back and begging for her job!¡±


    As the words left her mouth, Harriet added, ¡°And if she messages you on WhatsApp trying to


    apologize, don¡¯t even respond!¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Baldie agreed before he asked hesitatingly, ¡°Mom, do you think Anthea wille back


    to us?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Harriet dered, brimming with confidence. ¡°I offered her $15,000, and she refused.


    When she begs toe back, she¡¯ll find the offer substantially reduced. Just wait and see her


    regret it, Baldie.¡±


    Baldie nodded, convinced by his mother¡¯s assurance.


    **


    Wrapped in her quilted vest, Karen had taken a brisk walk around the park before heading home.


    She was about to take her medicine when she realized the staff hadn¡¯t prepared it.


    Karen confronted the butler, ¡°Larkin, why haven¡¯t you instructed the kitchen staff to prepare my


    medicine?¡±


    Before the butler could reply, Adah interrupted, ¡°Karen, I had Dr. Lyons look at those medicines


    11:26


    Charter 74


    you told Larkin to buy, and he said they¡¯re justmon ingredients, ineffective for your migraines.¡±


    ¡°How would he know without me even trying them?¡± Karen protested.


    ¡°Karen, Dr. Lyons is one of Cloudcrest¡¯s top physicians. If he says so, it must be true. Medicines can


    be toxic, so you should stick to the prescriptions Dr. Lyons has provided.¡±


    Karen scoffed, ¡°If he¡¯s such a miracle doctor, why am I still suffering after all these years? | would


    say he¡¯s just a quack, dismissing my future granddaughter¨Cinw¡¯s capabilities out of sheer


    ipetence!¡±


    ¡°Karen, you¡¯ve been dealing with these headaches for over two decades. Healing takes time. It


    doesn¡¯t happen overnight. I have faith Dr. Lyons will cure you.¡±


    Karen waved her off, ¡°Larkin, go tell the kitchen to prepare my medicine!¡±


    Adah¡¯s brows knitted in concern as she watched Karen¡¯s unwavering faith in the young girl¡¯s


    remedies. ¡°Dr. Lyons insists that you can¡¯t mix his treatment with other remedies, or it could dy


    your recovery.¡±


    Hearing this, Karen shot back, ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll ditch Dr. Lyons¡® prescriptions. From now on, it¡¯s only


    the meds rmended by my future granddaughter¨Cinw or nothing!¡±


    Adah sighed deeply. Karen also sighed, taking Adah¡¯s hand in hers, her voice filled with earnest


    gravity. ¡°Adah, I know you¡¯re looking out for me, worried I might get worse. But do you know what


    I¡¯ve endured these past twenty years? Every re¨Cup makes me wish for death. Even when I¡¯m not


    in pain, I spend countless nights tossing and turning without a wink of sleep. Adah, just let me try


    her remedy, please.¡±

 Chapter 75

    For over thirty years, Adah had been a part of the Christensen family, fostering a bond with Karen


    that was as deep as any that exists between a mother and daughter.


    Hearing such words, Adah telt a pang of distress, her eyes uncontrobly brimming with tears.


    ¡°Karen, you will get better, I know it. You have to!¡±


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Gripping Adah¡¯s hand tightly, Karen pleaded, ¡°So, Adah, let me try it, okay? What if it works?¡±


    Seeing Karen in such a state, Adah couldn¡¯t bear to refuse her again and nodded. ¡°Okay, you can


    try it for a few days, but let¡¯s make it clear now. It anything seems off, we¡¯ll stop the treatment


    immediately.¡±


    Finally giving in, Karen¡¯s face lit up with the joy of a three¨Cyear¨Cold. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Adah. Ann¡¯s got


    an amazing touch! She¡¯s going to cure me!¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Ann?¡± Adah blinked in confusion.


    Karen exined, ¡°Ann¡¯s my future granddaughter¨Cinw!¡±


    ¡°That youngdy is Ann?¡± Adah asked for rification.


    Karen nodded in confirmation.


    When Hancock heard that Karen had decided to abandon his treatment for some unproven remedy,


    he was so livid he was practically blowing steam out of his ears. After all, he was a renowned


    physician in Cloudcrest! Could some nobody upstage his fame and expertise?


    Had Karen lost her wits?


    Hancock rushed to the Christensen family¡¯s grand vi and retrieved the medical kit he had stored


    there.


    Witnessing this, the butler quickly summoned Adah. Since their arrival in Cloudcrest, Hancock had


    been in charge of Karen¡¯s care.


    Upon hearing the news, Adah rushed over promptly. ¡°Dr. Lyons, what¡¯s going on? Why are you


    packing up all of a sudden?¡±


    Holding his medical bag, Hancock scowled, his face a mask of displeasure. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t change


    doctors during your treatment. I see no reason to stay since Lady Karen has found a miracle


    doctor.¡±


    With a smile, Adah tried to smooth things over. ¡°Dr. Lyons, you must be joking. Everybody knows


    you¡¯re the finest doctor in Cloudcrest. Karen¡¯s health still depends on you. Who else could we


    possibly find with skills that surpass yours?¡±


    ttery often soothed the wounded pride, and even Dr. Lyons wasn¡¯t immune to it.


    His expression softened slightly upon hearing Adah¡¯s words.


    ¡°But I¡¯ve been informed Lady Karen has stopped my treatment.¡±


    Adah continued, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, Dr. Lyons. We¡¯ve merely paused your treatment. It¡¯s not


    that we don¡¯t trust you. Besides, the person who offered the remedy is a young woman Karen holds


    in high regard. It¡¯s hard to turn down such a heartfelt gesture. Don¡¯t worry. Even if we¡¯re pausing the


    treatment, we¡¯ll still honor your fees during this time. Think of it as a little vacation for yourself.¡±


    The first part of what Adah said was tolerable to Hancock, but as she continued, his expression


    soured. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m the kind of man swayed by vanity and wealth?¡±


    What was Adah implying? Did she think money could solve everything?


    ¡°Sorry, but I won¡¯t be serving as your family¡¯s doctor from here on.¡± With that, Hancock turned to


    leave.


    *Dr. Lyons! Let¡¯s talk this out!¡± Adah hurried after him.


    Hancock stopped but remained firm. ¡°If you want me to stay, I will, but on one condition. I don¡¯t


    share patients.¡±


    It was then that Karen¡¯s voice came from behind. ¡°Let him go!¡±


    ¡°Karen?¡± Adah turned around.


    Karen insisted, ¡°Adah, let him leave.¡±


    At that, a scornful look crossed Hancock¡¯s face. ¡°Lady Karen, I don¡¯t mean to boast, but your


    condition is a result of cold syndrome, a terminal illness by medical standards. My ancestors had


    unique insights into treating such ailments. Apart from me, you won¡¯t find a cure for your condition in


    Cloudcrest, perhaps not even Luxphinia. You must realize that by now. Otherwise, your condition


    would have been resolved twenty years ago!¡±

 Chapter 76

    When the Christensen family moved to Capital City. Hancock didn¡¯t have the slightest clue about


    their background. He assumed they were another wealthy family of no particr note, so he spoke


    his mind without reservation.


    ¡°Perhaps Dr. Lyons doesn¡¯t realize there¡¯s always a bigger fish,¡± Karen¡¯s voice carried a chill.


    Hancock turned to look at Karen. ¡°Well then, I wish you a speedy recovery and many more. years to


    come. But let me be frank. If you regret this decision and want to call me back, that opportunity


    won¡¯te.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I never regret anything I say or do!¡±


    ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll remember that! And you should remember your words today, too!¡± He couldn¡¯t believe


    anyone else could cure her cold syndrome!


    Karen would regret it in less than a month! But by then, her regret would be pointless!


    With that, Hancock walked away.


    Adah was beside herself with worry, about to chase after Hancock.


    Karen gripped Adah¡¯s hand. ¡°Leave him be.¡±


    Adah,sighed. ¡°But Karen, your health¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. We still have Ann,¡± Karen reassured her, patting Adah¡¯s hand.


    Adah had no choice but to let it go, although she had little faith in Anthea¡¯s remedies. She nned


    to wait for Karen¡¯s anger to subside before seeking out Hancock again.


    **


    Reba sat near the window at the coffee shop, seemingly waiting for someone, her gaze


    frequently drifting outside.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Before long, a young woman with a wless makeup look approached, led by a server.


    ¡°Luna,¡± Reba greeted her with a smile.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯mte,¡± Luna apologized.


    ¡°No big deal. We¡¯re close. I ordered your favorite cappino and almond biscotti,¡± Reba said


    softly.


    Luna might seem like a lonely girl living at the mercy of others. But in five years, she would turn


    heads!


    In Reba¡¯s memories of her past life, Luna was a big shot.


    The Luna of the past had single¨Chandedly taken down the sole heir of the ck family, Tammie,


    eventually taking the ck Group, transforming it into the Lewis Group, and even making a


    10


    11-27


    name internationally!


    So, after her rebirth, Reba wasted no time trying to make Luna her ally.


    Reba had even saved Luna before, earning her deep trust.


    After some small talk, Reba got to the point. ¡°How are things with the ck family? Do you still


    need Anos?¡±


    Luna hesitated before sharing the news about Anthea treating Tammie¡¯s illness in the ck family.


    Reba looked up in surprise. ¡°Anthea? Are you sure you¡¯re not mistaken?¡±


    Since when did Anthea have medical skills? What was going on? Had Anthea truly changed?


    Reba¡¯s mind raced.


    Luna nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sure it was Anthea. Here, this is the prescription she wrote. Can you check if


    there¡¯s anything wrong with it?¡± Although Luna thought the prescription looked fine, she remained


    concerned. What if she missed something?


    It was better to be cautious with these things.


    Reba took the prescription and scanned it with her system.


    A momentter, her face broke into a smile. ¡°Rx,¡± she said, ¡°this prescription is useless for Anos


    Syndrome.¡± She knew her concerns were unfounded. How could a nobody have medical


    expertise?


    Anthea had been nothing but a waste of space in the Morris family. Back in that slum, she was still


    beneath Reba¡¯s contempt.


    Anthea was destined to be nothing more than a lowly mistress¡® offspring in this life.

 Chapter 77

    In Luna''s eyes, Reba was the epitome of omnipotence. Even the mysterious parasite Anos was


    courtesy of Reba''s ndestine resources.


    Before Luna had crossed paths with Reba, Luna had been using a run-of-the-mill slow poison


    on Tammie, something far less sophisticated.


    Poison was a dark business that couldn''t withstand the scrutiny of daylight or the probing of tests.


    It would be her undoing if her secret were brought to light!


    But Anos was different. Anos was a parasite. And since Tammie had traveled abroad, it was unlikely


    anyone would suspect foul y in his illness.


    Relief washed over Luna as she heard Reba dismiss the effectiveness of Anthea''s prescribed


    medications. "Reba, I can breathe easy with your assurance."


    Reba shed a casual smile and raised her ss in a toast. "To enduring friendship."


    "To enduring friendship," echoed Luna, clinking her ss against Reba''s. "But Reba, I''ve


    noticed Anthea has been acting differently. Maybe you should keep an eye on her?"


    Reba''s lips curled up into a sly smirk. "She''s just a waste of space, doesn''t even register on my


    radar."


    Initially, Reba had reservations about Anthea, but at this time, she hardly gave Anthea a second


    thought.


    She had been through a rebirth.


    Armed with foreknowledge, a system at her golden fingers, and the prestige of her family''s wealth,


    what didn''t she have?


    What did Anthea have? Absolutely nothing. On top of that, she was the despised offspring of a


    homewrecker.


    **


    Anthea had been way too busytely.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    She was juggling the renovations of her new diner, finalizing the OS System software, and sparing


    moments to coach Carole in the culinary arts.


    The diner''s specialty would be the roasted rabbit, a dish that was as delicious as it was


    controversial, given the animal''s adorable reputation.


    The secret to the roasted rabbit was all in the sauce, and under Anthea''s guidance, Carole was


    meticulously crafting it, following the recipe to the letter. Soon, the tantalizing aromas filled the


    kitchen.


    Nanson, who had just returned from a delivery, was salivating at the smell. "Carole, what''s for


    dinner tonight?"


    "We''re having roasted rabbit," Carole called from the kitchen. "Go take a shower. Dinner will be


    ready once you finish bathing."


    "Great!"


    By the time Nanson was freshened up, Carole had the rabbit roasted in the oven and made


    vegetable sd, soup, and sauce, a feast for the senses.


    "Wow! It smells amazing! You''ve outdone yourself, Carole!" Nanson gave Carole a thumbs-up.


    "With your cooking skills, we will hit the jackpot on opening day!"


    "Just hush and go get Ann for dinner, will you? I''ll whip up a sauce," Caroleughed and replied.


    "Got it." Nanson nodded and went to Anthea''s door, yelling, "Ann, I''ming in!"


    "Come in. It''s unlocked."


    As Nanson swung the door open, he found Anthea before herputer, her fingers dancing across


    the keyboard at lightning speed. Her other hand was on the mouse. And she was wedged between


    a phone conversation. "If there''s no silver, white will do. The brand doesn''t matter. Just make sure


    it''s eco-friendly! No high formaldehyde levels..."


    The soft glow of themp highlighted her face, painting a picture of serene beauty that seemed to


    defy time.


    Nanson was entranced. He had never known someone could multitask with such agility, typing while


    taking a call.


    Was this the legendary art of multitasking?


    Impressed, he thought it was nothing short of remarkable, just like his speed when he was gaming.


    Theputer screen was all iprehensible symbols that shifted continuously, making Nanson''s


    head spin as if he were trying to decipher an alien script.

 Chapter 78

    Anthea hung up and turned to Nanson. "Uncle Nanson, you need anything?"


    Snapped out of his thoughts, Nanson replied, "Ah, dinner''s ready."


    "Uncle Nanson, you and Mom go ahead and start without me," Anthea continued what she was


    doing. "I''ll save this file and be right over."


    Knowing Anthea was working on something significant, Nanson didn''t bother her further and said,


    "Well, make it quick. We''re having roasted rabbit tonight."


    "Will do," Anthea nodded slightly.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    About fifteen minutester, Anthea finished herst bit of coding, hit save, checked everything was


    in order, closed herptop, and headed to the living room for dinner.


    Nanson was engrossed in a video game on the couch in the living room.


    Meanwhile, Carole was poring over a book on starting and managing a business.


    She didn''t have much experience in entrepreneurship, but she was sharp enough to learn from


    books, hoping to cut out the mistakes of trial and error.


    "Mom, Uncle Nanson, have you finished already?" Anthea asked, a bit surprised.


    Caught up in his game, Nanson didn''t immediately respond, but Carole closed her book instantly.


    "We haven''t started yet. We were waiting for you."


    "Mom, you don''t have to wait for me next time. Just save me some," Anthea said with a smile.


    "There''s more joy in a shared meal," Carole said as she set the table and served the roasted rabbit.


    "Ann, could you grab the Coke from the fridge?"


    As she spoke, she turned to Nanson. "Nanson! Enough with the games! Come on, dinner''s ready!"


    "I''m on it!" Nanson said, moving to the dining table with his phone in hand.


    Anthea brought over the Coke and couldn''t help asking, "Uncle Nanson, what game are you so


    absorbed in?"


    "Kings of the Realm."


    "Kings of the Realm? Is it fun?" Anthea inquired further.


    "Loads!" Nanson replied passionately, thumbs flying over his phone screen. "The other guy, what''s


    he running for? Oh,e on! Someone is hiding in the bushes! Help! Kid, get over here! What is


    this? Kid''s first game, huh? This guy''s clueless!"


    "How do you know your teammate''s a kid?" Anthea asked curiously.


    Nanson responded, "With skills that bad, you just know it''s a kid."


    Poor skills equated to being a kid, Anthea mused, as she cut a small piece of rabbit leg, thinking


    how tough it was to be a kid these days, always taking the me.


    The roasted rabbit smelled great.


    Anthea picked it up with her fork and took a careful bite. The spicy and aromatic sauce matched the


    rabbit meat''s unique vor. It was so good that one just wanted to keep eating, almost wishing he


    could swallow his tongue.


    Carole, who had made the roasted rabbit, watched Anthea nervously. "Ann, how''s the taste?"


    "Great! I''ve never had roasted rabbit this good before!" Anthea gave a thumbs up.


    "Really?" Carole asked in disbelief.


    Anthea nodded earnestly and quickly served Carole a piece of rabbit meat. "Mom, you try it."


    Carole took a bite and was equally astonished. She hadn''t expected her roasted rabbit to taste this


    amazing!


    With the sessful taste test, Carole was brimming with confidence about the future of their diner!


    With renewed vigor, Carole was ready to tackle any challenge!


    After dinner, Nanson inquired, "Sweetheart, how''s the diner¡¯s renovationing along?"


    Anthea replied, "They said they could finish it in a week. Once all the permits are approved, we can


    open for business."


    "That soon?" Nanson asked, visibly impressed.

 Chapter 79

    Anthea nodded. "Yeah, just a quick spruce-up, so it went fast. Oh, Mom, we''ve got to get a health


    certificate."


    After all, in the food service industry, a health certificate was a must to apply for a health permit.


    "Sure thing," Carole replied with a nod.


    Since Carole and Nanson were still in the dark about the exact location of the diner, Anthea decided


    to take them for a little tour after dinner.


    The diner was quite spacious, the kitchen included. It rounded up to about eight hundred square


    feet.


    The renovation crew had clocked out for the day, and their voices echoed through the space as they


    chatted.


    "Ann, how much is the rent for this ce?" Carole asked.


    Nanson interrupted. "Given the size of this diner, I bet the rent''s at least a couple grand a month,


    right?"


    Anthea nodded. "Yup, three thousand dors a month."


    Although Carole knew rentals in Cloudcrest weren''t cheap, the figure still made her gasp. "Three


    thousand a month? That''s like, what, thirty-six grand a year?"


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


    "Yep." Anthea''s tone was light, almost breezy as if they were discussing the price of a coffee, not a


    year''s worth of rent.


    Nanson started doing the math. "My paycheck from delivering parcels is fifty-two hundred a month,


    so thirty-six grand is more than five years'' sry for me!" It was shocking when he crunched the


    numbers!


    Anthea spoke with gentle assurance. "You have to invest to reap the rewards."


    At that moment, a middle-aged woman with curly hair wandered in, munching on bubble gums. "You


    folks rented this ce?"


    Anthea confirmed with a nod. "Yes."


    The curly-haired woman continued, "My name''s Fanny. I run a snack shop over there. Look, there,


    at Snacktastic Spot! Let me tell you. This location has got issues. It''s like a curse. I''ve seen over a


    dozen ownerse and go! Just take the recent one, Samia''s Savory Symphony, for example.


    They bled money, and I mean tens of thousands!"


    After hearing about the losses, Carole''s face went pale. "Is that true?"


    With a knowing smile, Fanny said, "Do I look like I''m pulling your leg? And that Samia''s Savory


    Symphony owner, did they tell you they were moving abroad? Bull! Samia just switched to selling


    snacks right next door at Samia''s Goodies Gallery!"


    The topic touched a nerve with Fanny.


    Her snack shop was the only one around until Samia''s Goodies Gallery popped up, undercutting


    her prices and snatching away half her customers!


    Otherwise, she''d be too busy to be out and about at this hour.


    Fanny had her motives for sharing these insights with Anthea.


    As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.


    If Anthea discovered the deception, she''d confront Samia''s Goodies Gallery, which might cause


    them to lose business, and in turn, Fanny''s shop would thrive.


    Fired up, Fanny ranted. "Can you believe the nerve of Samia''s Savory Symphony? Just ept the


    loss, but no, they lied about moving abroad! The things people will say for money! Pfft! Despicable!"


    The more Carole heard, the more anxious she became. She had been full of hope for the future, but


    at that moment, it felt like a cold shower had drenched her from head to toe.


    The rent was paid annually, and they were already thirty-six grand in the hole without even opening


    their doors.


    What were they going to do?


    "Ann?" Carole looked up at Anthea, her eyes filled with concern.


    Anthea gave a reassuring smile. "Mom, don''t worry. We shape our destiny, and sess is made,


    not given. I believe we can make this ce thrive."

 Chapter 80

    Her smile was like the gentle breeze, teasing the blossoms of an apple tree as if ice had suddenly


    met the fierce ze of the midsummer sun.


    Watching Anthea in profile, Carole felt an inexplicable sense of calm washing over her.


    At those words, the curly-haired woman showed a look of speechlessness in her eyes.


    Gosh, the young folks these days were bold. Their talk was like daydreaming, blowing their


    trumpets without giving their brains a moment to catch up.


    Could a ce like this make a go of it?


    It was a pipe dream!


    "Listen, sweetheart, don''t take this the wrong way, but turning a profit will be tough with a location


    like this. Tough! I''d advise you to bail before you''ve even opened your doors. Otherwise, you''re in


    for a world of hurt and tears."


    Anthea smiled faintly. "Thank you for the heads up, ma''am. I get where you''reing from, but I


    have confidence. I''m sure we can make it work."


    When seeing her good intentions weren''t getting through, the curly-haired woman figured there was


    no point in pressing further. After all, it wasn''t her who would be taking the hit. "You''re young and


    optimistic, and that''s fine. I''ve said my piece. Take it or leave it. I''ve got my fires to tend to, so I''ll


    leave you to it."


    After the woman left, Carole voiced her concerns with worry. "Ann, are you sure we can pull this


    off?"


    Nanson put an arm around her shoulder. "Carole, we must have faith in Ann! Ann is brilliant! She''s a


    whiz at stocks and a guru at financial nning. Running a small restaurant will be a piece of cake


    for her. Don''t sweat it."


    Nanson was all-in when it came to Anthea.


    If Anthea imed the moon was made of cheese, he''d probably believe her!


    Anthea chuckled. "Uncle Nanson is right, Mom. Trust me, and I''ll make our business thrive!


    Besides, we''ve got everything set up. Are we going to chicken out now?"


    Carole finally cracked a smile, letting go of her worries. "Fine, I''ll take your word for it."


    Every beginning was hard, but with their family banding together, she was sure they''d make each


    day better than thest.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    **


    In the Christensen family, the servant brought over the medicine to Karen.


    The brew was a bitter bomb.


    It packed a punch, ten times the bitterness of any medicine she''d ever tasted. Barely a sip down


    and Karen couldn''t help but spit it right out.


    "Karen, what''s wrong?" Adah was startled.


    Karen frowned. "This medicine is just too bitter!"


    Adah suggested. "Karen, maybe we should call Dr. Lyons back. If the medicine''s too bitter, you


    shouldn''t take it."


    "A bitter pill is often good medicine. Fetch me some candied fruit," Karen instructed.


    Still worried, Adah insisted, "Are you sure we shouldn''t call Dr. Lyons?"


    "No need," Karen waved her off.


    Sighing, Adah went to get her mother-inw some candied fruit.


    With the sweet treat to chase it, Karen bravely finished the bitter medicine.


    Adah added, "Karen, you must tell us immediately if you feel unwell. Don''t just bear it." Karen''s


    chronic condition required medication to keep in check, and stopping Dr. Lyons'' prescriptions had


    Adah genuinely concerned.


    "I will." Karen nodded. "I''m heading upstairs to rest. You should get some sleep, too."


    "Okay."


    Adah was ate riser. Typically, Karen would be up and about long before her. But this morning,


    Karen was nowhere to be seen.


    Adah''s brow furrowed as she turned to a servant. "Where''s Lady Karen?"


    The servant replied, "It seems she hasn''t gotten up yet."


    "Not up yet?" Adah nced at the clock. It was well past nine. Something didn''t feel right.


    Her mind went back to the medicine Karen had taken the night before.


    A chill ran through her. Could something have happened to Karen?

 Chapter 81

    Adah''s mind was racing, her heart pounding in her chest.


    If there were something wrong with the medicine she had given Karen, she would be a murderer.


    She wished she had never let Karen take the medicine the night before.


    What did she do?


    Tears welled in her eyes as she rushed upstairs, pounding on the door. "Karen! Karen! Are you in


    there?"


    The door was locked from the inside, and there was no response, no matter how long she knocked.


    Without the key, Adah had no choice but to round up some house staff, ready to break the door


    down if necessary.


    She then instructed the butler to summon Hancock.


    Despite her panic, Adah managed to keep her orders clear and precise, a testament to her


    experience in handling crises.


    The door was solid, and it took the effort of five servants several minutes to finally break it open.


    Therey Karen, asleep in bed, with a thin quilt draped over her.


    The room was silent, with little indication of life.


    Adah''s heart raced. "Karen?" she called out.


    There was no response.


    "Karen?" Adah''s voice grew louder, calling out again.


    Still, Karen did not stir.


    Could it be...


    Had the unthinkable happened?


    Tears instantly sprang to Adah''s eyes as she threw herself onto Karen, embracing her. "Karen!


    Karen, can you hear me? Karen!"


    Karen was jolted awake by the crying. She had thought it was still the middle of the night.


    To her surprise, sunlight was streaming through the window.


    It had been ages since she had seen such bright light, feeling like a blind person suddenly regaining


    his sight.


    Karen blinked in confusion, then turned to Adah, crying her heart out. "Adah, what''s the matter?"


    Adah''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Ah! Karen! Are you okay? I thought you were..."


    "You thought what?" Karen asked, perplexed.


    Adah clung to her, relief flooding through her. "Karen! You''re okay! You''re okay! You scared me to


    death!"


    Seeing Adah''s reaction, Karen realized something was amiss and gently patted her back. "Silly girl,


    what could happen to me?"


    Adah sniffled. "You always get up by six in the morning, and it''s nearly ten now! I knocked, and you


    didn''t answer, I thought, I thought..."


    "It''s nearly ten?" Karen was astonished, looking at Adah for confirmation.


    Adah nodded. "Yes."


    Karen couldn''t believe she had slept until almost ten. She only remembered falling asleep as soon


    as her head hit the pillow.


    She had finally slept soundly for the first time in twenty-three years.


    Her eyes misted with joy. "Twenty-three years, Adah. I''ve waited for this day for twenty-three years.


    I finally got to sleep well! I feel like I''m filled with energy, thanks to Ann!"


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Adah was incredulous. "Karen, you didn''t have insomniast night?"


    Karen''s insomnia was chronic, a nightly ordeal, and even sleeping pills barely made a difference,


    which was why she was used to rising early.


    This Ann must know her stuff.


    Adah had been skeptical, allowing Karen to try the medication, but she never expected such


    miraculous results. Just one dose had improved Karen''s sleep.


    "It''s true!" Karen said tearfully. "I never knew what a good night''s sleep felt like after all these years!"


    Only someone who had just recovered from a critical illness could understand that feeling.


    It wasn''t something easilyprehended by others.


    Adah took Karen''s hand and said, "Karen, you must be famished after sleeping for that long. What


    are you in the mood to eat? I can ask the cook to prepare it for you."

 Chapter 82

    Karen pondered for a moment, "I want to go for some lobster pasta."


    Adah nodded, "Why don''t you go freshen up? I''ll head to the kitchen and get them started on


    breakfast."


    "Sounds good."


    Half an hourter, Karen descended the stairs just as Adah arrived in the dining room bearing a


    steaming te of lobster pasta.


    "Mom, your pasta''s ready. Eat it while it''s hot."


    "Thank you." Karen''s spirits were lifted, and so was her appetite. She polished off the bowl in no


    time.


    At that moment, the butler, Larkin, burst in out of breath, "Mydy, I tried speaking with Dr. Lyons,


    but he refused. Says he might think about it if you go apologize... in person."


    Dr. Lyons was of the opinion that he was the only one in Cloudcrest capable of treating Karen,


    hence his audacity.


    After all, Karen had no other choice but to capitte to his demands.


    Karen furrowed her brow slightly, "Adah, you sent Larkin to fetch Dr. Lyons?"


    Adah nodded slightly, exining, "You wouldn''t answer your door no matter how much we knocked.


    I was worried it might have been something wrong with the medication you tookst night, so I had


    Larkin go fetch Dr. Lyons."


    Karen looked up at Larkin, asking, "Larkin, did Dr. Lyons really expect me to apologize to him?"


    Larkin nodded reluctantly.


    Karenughed in disbelief, "Is he crazy! Expecting me to apologize? No way! He''s not fit to be a


    doctor! Ann''s medical skills are a thousand times better!"


    Adah said with a smile, "Mom, we owe a big thanks to Ann this time. Otherwise, I might have had to


    beg Dr. Lyons. Where does she live? Let''s go together and thank her properly, and we can bring


    Sherman along too."


    Adah was curious about Anthea who was beautiful and skilled in medicine.


    Was she really like an angel?


    Adah couldn''t imagine what a celestial being more beautiful than Carlotta would look like.


    Karen stood up, saying, "You''ll scare Ann with such suddenness! You can''t rush them about their


    rtionship. I''ll go see her on my own. No need for you toe."


    "But won''t it seem insincere if you go alone?" Adah inquired.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Not at all! Ann isn''t like that. Besides, Ann and I have a little secret to share. Once that''s settled, I''ll


    invite her over. Then you can thank her however you wish."


    Adah nodded, "Alright, I''ll have the driver ready for you."


    "Perfect, I''ll go change my clothes."


    Before long, Karen reappeared, dressed in her attire, the same old and worn-out clothes.


    Adah looked puzzled, "Mom, why are you wearing that again?"


    Karen offered a mysterious smile, "It''s a secret."


    Meanwhile, Dr. Lyons had waited a long time and Larkin had not returned.


    What was going on? Could it be Karen had passed away?


    At the thought, a shiver ran through Dr. Lyons.


    If she had died, what would he do?


    The Christensen family, though new to Cloudcrest, were known for their generous spending, far


    more so than the average wealthy family.


    He had been counting on curing Karen and making a tidy sum.


    Dr. Lyons hurriedly called Larkin, only to be doused in disappointment by his response.


    Karen wasn''t just alright but was improving.


    Without his treatment, how could Karen be getting better?


    How could there be a doctor in Cloudcrest more capable than him?

 Chapter 83

    Dr. Lyons was bbergasted.


    In Cloudcrest, his medical prowess was unrivaled.


    But who was this mystery healer who had turned Karen''s health around?


    If he had known that someone else would cure Karen, he would never have let pride get the better


    of him, let alone demand an apology from Karen.


    Had he apanied the butler to the Christensen family, he would''ve been the one to im


    sess.


    However, there''s no pill for regret out there in the world.


    Right now, Dr. Lyons was so frustrated and could''ve kicked himself.


    Just then, the air was pierced by the shrill ring of the telephone.


    Could it be a call from Larkin? A glimmer of hope sparked in Dr. Lyons'' eyes.


    Surely Karen¡¯s condition had worsened again!


    He was certain there was no one in Cloudcrest with medical skills to outshine his.


    "Hello?" Dr. Lyons drawled, taking his sweet time to pick up the receiver.


    After all, it was the Christensen family''s turn to ask for his help.


    He expected to hear Larkin, but instead, he was greeted by a young woman.


    "Hey! Hanny, I''ve found the perfect house with three bedrooms in a great school district, which costs


    five million. When can you transfer the money?"


    Dr. Lyons was taken aback, "Wendy? When did you change your number?"


    "Just got a new one! Didn''t you save it?"


    Dr. Lyons fell silent, his expression turning sour.


    "Hanny, I''m talking to you! When are you transferring the money?" Wendy urged.


    "I don''t have that kind of cash right now."


    "No money? Didn''t you say you''ve got a wealthy olddy on the hook? Don''t tell me you''re backing


    out of getting us that house?"


    That was a sore spot. Dr. Lyons darkened his face even more, "Don''t worry about the money, just


    give me some time."


    The displeasure was evident in her voice, "Alright then, Hanny. Are youing over tonight? Carl


    says he misses you."


    Dr. Lyons intended to refuse, but at the mention of Carl, the stormy look on his face eased slightly,


    "Sure, I''lle over after work."


    Meanwhile, a sleek ck Bentley pulled up discretely by the roadside.


    Disheveled Karen, leaning on a cane, stepped out and waved to the driver, "You can head back


    now."


    The driver nodded and turned the car around, driving off into the distance.


    Karen stood beneath the thick branches of a tree, its lush leaves shielding her from the zing sun.


    She pulled out a basic cell phone from her pocket and dialed a number.


    The call connected almost immediately, "Hello?"


    The voice on the other end was soft and soothing like a cool breeze on a hot day.


    "Guess who!" Karen pinched her nose to disguise her voice yfully.


    Anthea''sughter rang out from the other side, "Mrs. Christensen!"


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


    "Ann, you''re so sharp! You guessed it right away!" Karen beamed with pride, having chosen such a


    bright candidate as Sherman¡¯s wife.


    Anthea responded proudly, "Of course! By the way, where are you now?"


    Karen nced around, "I''m over at the Sunshine Market. Ann, where do you live? I''lle to you."


    "I''m nearby. Just stay there, I''lle to you."


    "Alright."


    Karen had barely hung up when she spotted Anthea dashing across the street towards her, "Mrs.


    Christensen!"


    "Ann." Karen waved back.


    Today, Anthea was dressed simply yet strikingly.


    With a red T-shirt paired with denim shorts, her legs looked incredibly long and slender under the


    golden sunlight.

 Chapter 84

    With Anthea''s stunning good looks and alluring figure, Karen couldn''t help but imagine how


    gorgeous Anthea''s children would be.


    "Ann!" Karen eximed with open arms to greet Anthea.


    Anthea wrapped her in a warm hug, "Mrs. Christensen."


    Karen brimmed her eyes with satisfaction.


    On her way over, she had spritzed herself with a scent of durian, but there wasn''t a hint of disdain


    from Anthea.


    "Mrs. Christensen, my ce is just over there, let''s head on," Anthea suggested.


    Chatting and walking, it wasn''t long before they reached the Yeager family.


    Anthea fished out her keys, "Mrs. Christensen, wee to my home."


    As the door swung open, they were greeted by the delightful smell of home cooking.


    With the family restaurant gearing up for its grand opening, Carole had been busy experimenting


    with recipes at home.


    Hearing themotion, Carole, d in an apron, emerged from the kitchen. "Ann''s back, and who''s


    this lovelydy with you?"


    Anthea introduced, "Mom, this is the Mrs. Christensen I told you about. Mrs. Christensen, this is my


    mother."


    "Hello there," Karen greeted her with a cheery smile.


    "Pleasure to meet you," Carole replied.


    "Calling me Karen would be just fine," Karen offered.


    "Karen," Carole, ever the pragmatist, invited her to make herself at home.


    Anthea quickly went to pour Karen a ss of water.


    Karen surveyed the surroundings discreetly. The decor was modest but spotless, a testament to the


    homeowner''s grace.


    Carole brought over a te of freshly sliced fruit, "Karen, please enjoy some fruit."


    "Thank you."


    Carole was always kind-hearted, "Karen, feel free to treat this ce like your own."


    Come lunchtime, Carole served up a feast.


    Karen''s appetite soared, "I haven''t had such a satisfying meal in ages. Your cooking is seriously out


    of this world."


    "If you like it, you''re wee toe by anytime," Carole offered.


    "Really?" Karen looked at Carole in surprise.


    Carole nodded affirmatively, "Karen, I''m not joking. It''s tough for the elderly, alone at this age. If


    sharing a meal can help, why not?"


    Karen was deeply touched.


    The Morris family was a thankless lot, yet Anthea and her mother were the good Samaritans who


    sought no rpense.


    Karen figured her trip to Cloudcrest was totally worth it.


    After the meal, Anthea escorted Karen back.


    Stepping outside theplex, Karen held Anthea''s hand, "Ann, you''re amazing! I tried that remedy


    you gave me just once, and I didn''t lose a wink of sleepst night! How can I ever thank you? I


    happen to have a grandson, perhaps he could be the one to repay you!"


    Anthea was stunned, looking at Karen in amazement.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Karen went on, "Don''t worry, Ann! My grandson is a real catch, the pride of Capital City!"


    With a wink, Karen added, "And he''s quite the wealthy bachelor!"

 Chapter 85

    Having met Carole and her family, Karen feltpletely at ease.


    Carole wasn¡¯t the type to be dazzled by dors.


    So Karen didn¡¯t want to keep secrets any longer and she decided toe clean with Anthea.


    If Anthea¡¯s families were the type to chase a quick buck, ready to trade Anthea¡¯s happiness for a


    taste of glory, she would have Anthea¡¯s back!


    She¡¯d help Anthea break free from her family ties..


    Anthea chuckled, ¡°Mrs. Christensen, you must be kidding. By the way, where do you live? I¡¯ll call an


    Uber to drop you off.¡±


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


    Karen held Anthea¡¯s hand, ¡°No need, my chauffeur will pick me up in a bit!¡±


    Anthea paused. She hadn¡¯t taken her earlierment about wealth seriously. Perhaps, was


    Karen¡¯s family really loaded?


    Karen continued. ¡°Ann, let me tell you, we do own wealth! And my grandson is a real heartthrob!


    Won¡¯t you give him a chance?¡±


    Mrs. Christensen. I appreciate your kindness, but I¡¯m still young. I just want to focus on my


    studies.¡±


    Karen replied. ¡°Studying is one thing, dating is another. My grandson was a top¨Cnotch student. If


    you two start dating, he could tutor you and warm you. If you¡¯re ever upset, he could make you


    happy! It¡¯s a win¨Cwin!¡±


    ¡°Your grandson must have plenty of great girls after him.¡±


    ¡°In my eyes, Ann, you¡¯re the best girl out there! No one else is good enough for my grandson!¡± In


    truth. Karen sometimes felt Sherman wasn¡¯t quite worthy of Anthea.


    Sherman was just wealthy and good¨Clooking, a schrly type without much else to offer.


    Young but so serious, he was always with his nose in a book!


    Nearly thirty, he hadn¡¯t even held a girl¡¯s hand.


    If Karen didn¡¯t adore Anthea so much, she wouldn¡¯t dream of setting her up with Sherman!


    Karen was the best grandmother in Luxphinia!


    Blushing at Karen¡¯s praises, Anthea yfully touched her nose, ¡°Well, Mrs. Christensen, dating¡¯s a


    personal thing. I bet your grandson has his own tastes.¡±


    ¡°What tastes could he have? If he dares have any, I¡¯ll knock his block off!¡±


    Karen, seizing the moment, pressed on, ¡°So, Ann, do you want a husband or not? Just say word,


    and I¡¯ll deliver him to you.¡±


    the


    Anthea replied, ¡°¡­I don¡¯t want.¡±


    Karen corrected her, ¡°Fine, If you need, I¡¯ll send him right over¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Anthea nodded with a smile.


    ¡°Really?¡± Karen lit up her eyes. Before Anthea could react, Karen extended her pinky finger, ¡°Ann,


    let¡¯s make a pinky promise.¡±


    Anthea linked her delicate and porcin¨Clike pinky with Karen¡¯s, a vivid contrast between their


    hands.


    Just then, a modest¨Clooking Maybach pulled up across the street.


    Looks like Karen¡¯s family was rolling in dough!


    The driver stepped out and respectfully opened the door, ¡°Madam.¡±


    Karen nodded and turned to Anthea, ¡°Ann, my chauffeur¡¯s here. I gotta go.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye, Mrs. Christensen.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye.¡±


    Karen settled into the back seat and turned to the driver, ¡°Baber, is driving tough? Do you get


    tired?¡±


    Baber blinked, caught slightly off guard.

 Chapter 86

    After all the times he had driven Karen, this was the first time she had ever initiated a conversation


    with him.


    ¡°Not tired at all,¡± he replied.


    Karen continued. ¡°Baber, did you think that youngdy we just dropped off was pretty?¡±


    Baber, unsure of where Karen was headed with this, decided to stick with the truth. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s


    pretty.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Karen lit up her face with pride. ¡°Of course! Sherman¡¯s wife is bound to be


    beautiful.¡±


    Baber was speechless. So Karen had taken him on such a roundabout conversation just to brag


    about how gorgeous Sherman¡¯s wife would be?


    Anthea returned home.


    Nanson had already arrived and was sitting in the living room, chatting with Carole.


    ¡°Ann, you¡¯re back just in time. ine¡¯s birthday is tomorrow. Carole and I were discussing heading


    over to her ce. You¡¯ve been back for a while and haven¡¯t met many of the rtives. It¡¯s a good


    chance to get to know everyone.¡±


    ¡°Aunt ine¡¯s ce?¡± Anthea paused, then remembered that Carole had not only a younger


    brother like Nanson but also two older sisters and an older brother.


    Nanson was referring to Carole¡¯s eldest sister, ine Yeager.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Anthea nodded, then added, ¡°What time are we going tomorrow? I¡¯ll head to bed early


    tonight.¡±


    Lately, Anthea had been swamped with developing her OS System, workingte into the night..


    ¡°No need to rush,¡± Carole added. ¡°We¡¯ll leave around nine in the morning.¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    The next morning, Anthea was up early. After a jog, she joined Carole and Nanson on their way


    to ine¡¯s house.


    After a two¨Chour journey on the bus, weaving through the city, they finally arrived.


    Anthea hadn¡¯t expected Aunt ine¡¯s living conditions to be so grand.


    A majestic vi stood before them,plete with a sprawling front garden and tworge fountains


    to the left.


    Standing in front of the opulent vi, Carole seemed a bit tense.


    Anthea looped her arm through Carole¡¯s, ¡°Mom, one day I¡¯ll buy you and Uncle Nanson twenty


    vis like this each. One for you to live in and neen to rent out. You can just collect the rent, and


    don¡¯t even need to work.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Nanson said excitedly. Though it sounded like a boast, he believed that Anthea could


    make it happen.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Carole smiled, ¡°It¡¯s the thought that counts.¡± Clearly, she didn¡¯t take Anthea¡¯s words to heart.


    In Cloudcrest, an average vi would cost at least seven million dors.


    A vi like this one at least cost ten million.


    A million dors was out of reach for them, let alone twenty.


    Nanson stepped forward to ring the doorbell


    The door was opened by a housekeeper.


    The housekeeper, upon seeing Carole and Anthea, didn¡¯t show much respect, but rather a hint


    of scorn.


    Shameless, poor rtivesing to mooch again!


    The housekeeper didn¡¯t invite them in right away but turned and called out, ¡°Mrs. Lyons, there are


    guests!¡±


    Soon after, ine emerged, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Out of all the Yeager family, ine had married the best.


    ine¡¯s husband was none other than Hancock Lyons, known in Cloudcrest as the best doctor. No


    one could challenge Hancock¡¯s medical expertise in Cloudcrest.


    She and Hancock had two daughters, the eldest a renownedwyer and the youngest attending a


    prestigious university.


    It wasn¡¯t an overstatement to call ine the most sessful of the Yeager family.


    This gave Carole a sense of superiority in front of Nanson.


    Though siblings, they were hardly from the same world.


    ¡°How do you do, ine?¡± Carole and Nanson greeted.


    ine nodded, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you! Come in. Delia, fetch some disposable slippers for our guests.¡±


    As she spoke, ine seemed to notice Anthea for the first time. ¡°Who might this be?¡±


    ¡°This is my daughter, Anthea. Ann, this is your Aunt ine.¡±


    ¡°Pleased to meet you,¡± Anthea said politely.


    ine scrutinized Anthea, a flicker of barely detectable disdain in her eyes.

 Chapter 87

    Carole was brazenly bringing her daughter her for humiliation.


    ine¡¯s disdain was barely concealed as she faintly ushered Carole, along with Nanson and


    Anthea inside.


    ¡°Carole and Nanson havee over.¡±


    The living room couch was lined with family members.


    There sat Carole¡¯s parents, Felton and Gemma as well as Carole¡¯s another sister, Susan.


    Speaking of which, Felton and Gemma were quite an interesting pair of parents.


    Among their five children, their favorite was undoubtedly their second son, Saul.


    Then came their eldest daughter, ine.


    ine had married well, which meant she could help out her family financially.


    Indeed, ine wielded considerable influence in the Yeager family and her say was nearlyw


    which all matters.


    Even Saul, the favored son, yed second fiddle to ine.


    Upon hearing ine¡¯s announcement. Felton and Gemma showed no particr emotion. They


    didn¡¯t even lift their eyelids, a clear sign of their indifference towards Carole and Nanson..


    Nanson greeted coolly. His grievances with his parents were nothing new.


    The favoritism of his childhood was bad enough, but being kicked out at seventeen because Saul


    needed a house for his wedding was thest straw.


    With nowhere else to turn, Nanson had sought refuge with Carole..


    When the family property was divided, yielding four houses, Felton and Gemma kept them all for


    Saul.


    Sometimes Nanson wondered if he was rted by blood.


    Nanson¡¯s resentment was mirrored by Felton and Gemma¡¯s disdain for him. In their eyes,


    Nanson and Carole were the family disappointments.


    Nanson had been a troublemaker and a poor student, dropping out to work odd jobs. Now, past


    thirty, he was still unmarried!


    Carole, well, was another story.


    As the most beautiful girl in the family, Carole was expected by her parents to marry into a good


    family and support them in their old age. Instead, Carole had shocked them all by getting pregnant


    out of wedlock, staining their reputation.


    Carole too called out greetings, then introduced Anthea, ¡°Ann, this is your grandpa and


    grandma. This is your Aunt Susann


    Anthea greeted them one by one.


    Felton and Gemma responded tepidy, not even bothering to smile at Anthea Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Aunt Susan, however, beated at Carole. ¡°Candle your daughter sure is a locker! How¡¯s she doing in


    school?¡±


    Before they arrived. Susan had heard that Cardle¡¯s daughter couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Reba the


    outstanding pupil and ss leader


    Anthea could barely read


    Like mother, like daughter.


    In this case, it seemed no amount of wery could change a person¡¯s nature.


    Susan now regretted not treating Reba better when she was just her niece. Had she known


    Reba was to be the heress of a wealthy family, she would have worshipced her!


    But it was all toote.


    At the mention of academic achievement, re couldn¡¯t help but wear a smug expression. Her


    daughters, after all were both academic aces


    grandma. This is your Aunt Susan.¡±


    Anthea greeted them one by one.


    Fetton and Gemma responded tepidly, not even bothering to smile at Anthea.


    Aunt Susan, however, beamed at Carole, ¡°Carole, your daughter sure is a looker! How¡¯s she doing


    in school?¡±


    Before they arrived, Susan had heard that Carole¡¯s daughter couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Reba, the


    outstanding pupil and ss leader.


    Anthea could barely read!


    Like mother, like daughter.


    In this case, it seemed no amount of luxury could change a person¡¯s nature.


    Susan now regretted not treating Reba better when she was just her niece. Had she known


    Reba was to be the heiress of a wealthy family, she would have worshipped her!


    But it was all toote.


    At the mention of academic achievement, ine couldn¡¯t help but wear a smug expression. Her


    daughters, after all, were both academic aces.

 Chapter 88

    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¨Cstopping, they were well¨Cdefined, 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.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    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.¡±

 Chapter 89

    Hearing Sallie sigh with fatigue, ine was quick to respond, ¡°Have a rest. I¡¯ll give you a shout.


    when dinner¡¯s ready.¡±


    Sallie nodded in acknowledgment.


    ¡°Hold up a second, Sallie.¡± Gemma suddenly grasped Sallie¡¯s hand.


    Sallie betrayed a flicker of disgust as she caught sight of Gemma¡¯s grubby fingers. Gemma¡¯s long


    and unkempt nails were caked with grime.


    Swallowing her revulsion, Sallie managed to ask, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Gemma continued with a hint of excitement, ¡°I got a special treat for you! Felton, bring it over here,


    will you?¡±


    Felton stepped forward with a bag in hand. ¡°This is the pickle I made just for you.¡±


    Gemma chimed in. ¡°Remember how you loved it when you were a little girl? Only you and Ste get


    to enjoy my pickle. No one else gets this special treatment!¡±


    Sallie and Ste were the shining stars. It was natural for Gemma to dote on them. After all when


    they married off, she expected them to remember herself with affection and generosity.


    ¡°Thanks, Granny,¡± Sallie said, taking the bag.


    Gemma beamed. ¡°No need for thanks, child. Go get some rest now.¡±


    Sallie took the bag inside. The moment she was out of sight, she tossed it straight into the trash.


    She couldn¡¯t bear to hold onto such filth for a moment longer.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Susan¡¯s daughter Phoebe arrived.


    Phoebe was the spitting image of Susan, with a talent for ttering that was second to none. One


    moment she wasplimenting ine on her youthful looks, the next on how well¨Cmaintained her


    skin was. Her words were as sweet as honey.


    Phoebe¡¯s sweet talk made Anthea¡¯s silence more noticeable. Sitting motionless on the couch. she


    didn¡¯t utter a single charming word.


    ine frowned slightly with a hint of distaste flickering in her eyes.


    How on earth did Carole educate Anthea?


    ine slipped off her bracelet and fastened it around Phoebe¡¯s wrist. ¡°Phoebe, this bracelet is for


    you.¡±


    Phoebe was taken aback. ¡°Auntie, I couldn¡¯t ept this!¡±


    ine¡¯sughter filled the room. ¡°You¡¯re my niece. Besides, with how sweet you are, you¡¯re my


    favorite. This is thetest style. It¡¯ll look great on someone young like you. I¡¯m too old for such


    things!¡±


    1134


    It was a clear jab at Anthea, who undoubtedly felt a pang of envy as she watched the bracelet


    change hands. She probably regretted not cozying up to ine like Phoebe had.


    Phoebe clung to ine¡¯s arm. ¡°Auntie, you don¡¯t look old at all! Standing next to my mom, who


    would guess you¡¯re sisters? You look more like mother and daughter! If anyone¡¯s looking old, it¡¯s my


    mom!¡±


    Susan shot Phoebe a re, thinking, ¡°That little brat! There was no need to trample my pride just to


    win favor with ine. Am I really that old?¡±


    But the sight of the bracelet tempered Susan¡¯s irritation.


    ine swelled with Phoebe¡¯s ttery. ¡°You always know how to make me smile!¡±


    Phoebe replied, ¡°You are young. Auntie! And this bracelet must have been so pricey. I think I¡¯ve


    heard one of my friends mention this brand before.¡± Her eyes darted to Anthea, who seemed


    uninterested in their conversation.


    Thanks to Reba¡¯s deliberate promotion, Phoebe knew all too well about Anthea in the Morris


    family.


    Anthea was an outsider and not even favored. She must never have seen a bracelet like this


    before.


    ine casually mentioned, ¡°It wasn¡¯t that expensive, just a bit over two thousand dors.¡±


    Two thousand dors?


    Phoebe sparkled her eyes.


    Anthea, on the other hand, seemed to care little for the conversation. She pulled out her


    smartphone and logged onto GlobalGigaNet to pick up a task she couldplete right there and


    then. Money was her focus now.


    As soon as she epted the task, a message popped up.


    ¡°No way! Are you the real Phoenix¨CYC? That master?¡±


    ¡°Yes, is there an issue?¡±


    The person on the other end of the screen took off their sses and polished them fervently. unable


    to believe their luck at having Phoenix¨CYC ept their task.


    Phoenix YC¡¯s growing fame brought a plethora of imitators with simr usernames, such as Phenix¨C


    YC, Phoenix YC, Fhoenix¨CYC, Phoonix¨CYC and so on.


    The person was worried this was just another fake.


    After carefully checking and realizing they were indeed in contact with the real Phoenix¨CYC, they


    hurriedly sent another message. ¡°Boss! Please, add me as a friend!¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Anthea, absorbed in her coding, didn¡¯t notice the iing message.

 Chapter 90

    After a while, she sent over herpleted work with a message, ¡°Done! Please hit the ¡®Complete


    Task¡® button if everything looks good.¡±


    The person on the other side of the screen was gobsmacked.


    What a true professional!


    Tasks that would take a regr Joe a week to finish, the professional had nailed in half an


    hour.


    ¡°Thanks a lot! You¡¯re a genius!¡±


    No sooner had he sent the message than he received a notification that the professional had


    epted his friend request.


    ¡°Holy smokes! The master added me as a friend!¡± He couldn¡¯t help but nt a big smooch on the


    young woman next to him.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost at my ce. It¡¯s my mom¡¯s birthday today. Can you tone it down a bit?¡± The young


    woman said with augh, ¡°Which master has got you this hyped?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Phoenix¨CYC! The wunderkind our research institute calls the master!¡±


    ¡°No way! Let me see!¡±


    ¡°Seriously! Look!¡±


    Before long, the car pulled up, and the driver announced, ¡°Ms. Ste, we¡¯re here.¡±


    The young woman handed back the phone and stepped out, saying, ¡°Send me a screenshot of your


    friend list. I want to show off on my socials. They¡¯re gonna be so jealous!¡±


    This was Phoenix¨CYC, a master at their research institute! Getting even a sliver of connection with


    Phoenix¨CYC would be a monumental honor.


    ¡°Will do.¡±


    After they got out, the young woman straightened her boyfriend¡¯s tie before ringing the doorbell. The


    door was answered by none other than ine.


    ¡°Mom!¡±


    ¡°Ste!¡± ine beamed, then turned to look at the young man by Ste¡¯s side.


    Ste looped her arm through the young man¡¯s, ¡°Mom, this is my boyfriend, Oakley Bingham.¡±


    Oakley adjusted his sses out of habit, ¡°Pleased to meet you. Just Oakley is fine.¡±


    ine had heard about Oakley before, but seeing him in person, he was even more handsome than


    in photos. What mattered most was his background.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    11304 7


    Oakley was a rich kid with royalty.


    ¡°Nice to meet you too. Ste, bring him in! Oakley, thanks for your gifts!¡±


    Once in the living room, Ste started introducing everyone to Oakley. When she got to Anthea, she


    paused slightly.


    ine chimed in. ¡°Ste, this is Anthea, your Aunt Carole¡¯s daughter.¡±


    At that, a mocking glint shed in Ste¡¯s eyes, ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re Anthea! Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Ste,


    and this is my boyfriend Oakley.¡±


    Anthea looked up from her phone and said with a polite smile, ¡°Nice to meet you.¡±


    Oakley was momentarily taken aback by Anthea. His eyes lit up.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Ste to have such a pretty cousin.


    Ste frowned subtly, thinking to herself that Anthea as a mistress¡® daughter sure knew how to turn


    heads!


    She held Oakley¡¯s arm a bit tighter, curious, ¡°Reba mentioned you and said you can hardly


    recognize any of the letters in the alphabet. Is that true?¡±


    Realizing her tone might have been inappropriate, she quickly added, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m just


    curious.¡±


    Anthea smiled slightly, looking down at Ste from her perch. ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary person and can¡¯t


    compare to you.¡±


    Ste shook off the feeling that she saw a mocking coldness in Anthea¡¯s eyes.


    It must be her imagination. How could a nobody have such a gaze?


    Ste was the golden girl, and Anthea was nothing but a pity case in her presence!


    ine, standing nearby, interjected, ¡°Ste, you and Oakley must be tired from the ride. Why don¡¯t


    you show him to the guest room upstairs to rest?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Ste nodded, leading Oakley upstairs.


    Upstairs, Oakley¡¯s curiosity got the better of him, ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal with Anthea? You act like you


    barely know her.¡±


    Ste offhandedly replied, ¡°Oh, her? She¡¯s a love child of Aunt Carole! She¡¯s also a fake heiress.


    from the Morris family they just acknowledged recently.¡±


    Oakley turned intrigued, ¡°Is Anthea the one who¡¯s clueless about everything?¡±


    Being from the same social circles, Oakley had certainly heard of Anthea¡¯s notoriety.


    Ste nodded affirmatively. ¡°Yep, that¡¯s her! I heard her high school diploma was bought and paid


    for by the Morris family. She¡¯s lucky they picked her up by mistake. If she¡¯d stayed with Aunt Carole,


    she probably wouldn¡¯t have made it past middle school!¡±

 Chapter 91

    Oakley twisted his face. He couldn¡¯t believe he once thought Anthea was attractive. Apart from her


    looks, it seemed she didn¡¯t have a single redeeming quality.


    To call Anthea a ¡®poor rich girl¡® would be apliment she didn¡¯t deserve.


    Her reputation at the Morris family was notorious for all the wrong reasons!


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard the stories about the Morris family¡¯s spoiled heiress, but I never imagined she was your


    cousin¡­¡± Oakley finally managed to say after a moment of disbelief.


    Watching the shift of Oakley¡¯s expressions, Ste continued, ¡°Honestly, I was just as surprised!


    Poor Aunt Carole had such high hopes with Reba, who was not only top of her ss but sharp


    as a whip, too. There was a light at the end of the tunnel with her. But Anthea? My mom¡¯s worried


    sick about Aunt Carole. Raising a daughter like that is just a heartache.¡±


    Ste heaved a heavy sigh, pretending to be worried about Carole.


    Reba was a star, bound for an Ivy League future, destined to make something of herself.


    But Anthea? She could hardly spell her name, let alone dream of university. Expecting her to


    amount to anything was like waiting for pigs to fly. Anthea¡¯s future was as clear as day. Living her


    life as nothing more than an underachiever in some dingy basement apartment.


    ¡°Are you saying Reba is the real heiress of the Morris family?¡± Oakley asked. looking for


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


    rification.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ste nodded. ¡°A true heiress through and through. Despite living in that basement with my


    aunt, Reba never fell behind. She¡¯s nothing like Anthea who, despite being spoon¨Cfed with a


    silver spoon, amounts to nothing more than a jerk.¡±


    Oakley nodded, impressed. Reba did indeed seem remarkable.


    Just then, Ste seemed to remember something and quickly said, ¡°Oh, shoot me that screenshot


    of your friends list, will you? I need to post it on my socials.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Oakley replied, pulling out his smartphone to log into GlobalGigaNet and send the


    screenshot to Ste.


    As soon as Ste posted it online, her social feed exploded. Even the most reclusive of her


    contacts couldn¡¯t resistmenting.


    ¡°Holy smokes! Is that the real Phoenix¨CYC?¡±


    ¡°Riding on the coattails of greatness!¡±


    ¡°For real? Or just a lookalike ount?¡±


    ¡°Reposting for a touch of luck!¡±


    Ste was bombarded with private messages too, everyone eager to get a piece of Phoenix¨CYC


    through her.


    Looking up at Oakley, she mused, ¡°Imagine if you could befriend Phoenix.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t even start,¡± Oakley replied, rolling his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s Phoenix YC we¡¯re talking about. Not


    someone you just add willy¨Cnilly. I¡¯ve heard even Dr. Varn couldn¡¯t swing an invite.¡±


    Ste deted her hopes immediately.


    Dr. Varn? The man was a legend, a titan in the scientific research!


    Downstairs in the living room,


    Hancock, the patriarch of the Lyons family, had returned home.


    At fifty¨Cthree, Hancock looked remarkably younger, probably thanks to his job, which seemed to


    keep him in his early forties.


    Gemma and Felton were nking him on either side like attentive butlers rather than elders of the


    family.


    One held Hancock¡¯s zer while the other offered him slippers.


    They were more like servants in the Lyons family than the head of the family.

 Chapter 92

    Hancock never really saw Felton and Gemma as family.


    If he were just an ordinary Joe with no im to fame, Felton and Gemma probably wouldn¡¯t give


    him the time of day.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    But in their world, everyone had an angle.


    *Ann, meet your uncle!¡± Carole chirped, introducing Anthea to Hancock.


    Anthea, phone in hand, stood up to greet him with a casual, ¡°Hello, uncle.¡±


    To Hancock, Anthea was just a kid, barely worth a second nce. He nodded absentmindedly in


    her direction.


    Anthea, unfazed, returned to her scrolling.


    Soon enough, Saul showed up with his wife and kids in tow.


    Saul and his wife Vanessa were the intellectual types, modest, and not much for small talk. But


    when they spoke, it was all dripped with ttery.


    As for the rest, they might as well have been invisible.


    ine, ever the hostess, chimed in, ¡°Looks like everyone¡¯s here. Shall we start the dinner?¡±


    ¡°Just a minute,¡± said Hancock, ncing at ine. ¡°Irvin¡¯s not here yet.¡±


    ine caught on immediately, ¡°Oh, right! How could I forget? We¡¯ve got one more VIP guest on the


    way!¡±


    About ten minutester, the so¨Ccalled VIP arrived.


    He was a middle¨Caged man, maybe 50, short and stout, tipping the scales at around 300 pounds.


    His neck seemed swallowed up by his shoulders, and he wore a chunky gold chain that looked


    almostical.


    At the dinner table, Hancock made the introductions, ¡°This is Irvin, a patient and a good friend of


    mine. Irvin, meet the family. We¡¯re all prettyid back here, grab a seat anywhere!¡±


    Anthea frowned slightly. Why did it seem like Irvin kept wandering over to Carole? It was unsettling.


    Anthea shot him a look that could cut ss.


    Irvin, catching her gaze, broke out in a cold sweat and quickly looked away, reaching for his drink


    to mask his difort.


    It was a strange feeling.


    Despite Anthea being just a teenager, her look struck a chord of fear in him.


    Irvin gulped down his drink, trying to shake off the fear.


    11:05


    When ine mentioned karaoke after dinner, Anthea tugged at Carole¡¯s sleeve, whispering, ¡°Mom,


    I¡¯ve got stuff to do. Let¡¯s head out after we eat.¡±


    Carole nodded in agreement, ¡°Sure, we can leave once we¡¯re done.¡±


    So, right after the meal, Carole made their excuses.


    ine, not one to let go easily, held Carole¡¯s hand saying, ¡°Don¡¯t rush off. Come with me, I need. to


    talk to you.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Carole agreed.


    They retreated to the family den, where Carole was surprised to find Felton, Gemma, and Saul,


    along with Susan, all waiting.


    What on earth could they want to discuss? Carole felt a surge of unease.


    ¡°Have a seat,¡± ine gestured toward a chair.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine standing,¡± Carole replied, uneasily.


    ine gave her a look. After all these years, Carole still didn¡¯t quite fit the mold. ¡°Fine, stand if you


    want.¡± she sneered.


    Then ine got straight to the point, ¡°We brought you here to ask what you think of Irvin?¡±

 Chapter 93

    "What''s that mean?" Carole blinked, clearly not following.


    ine continued, "Irvin is 55 years old. Although he¡¯s in in look, he is a millionaire. If you marry


    him, you''ll be rolling in luxury for life!"


    Yep, that was ine''s grand n.


    It wasn''t that she had any particr affection for Carole.


    Instead, her husband, Hancock, saw a golden opportunity to rub shoulders with Irvin, hoping to


    secure him as an investor.


    Despite being in her thirties and a mother, Carole was undeniably beautiful, with ssical features


    that could turn heads.


    Carole frowned, "ine, are you suggesting that I..." The rest of her sentence hung in the air,


    unspoken.


    ine nodded, affirming the unvoiced usation.


    Carole pushed back, "I appreciate the thought, but I''m not looking to get hitched again."


    ineughed, a wry twist to her lips, "Oh, Carole, you''ve got it wrong. I''m not asking you to marry


    the guy."


    She thought Carole had an inted sense of herself.


    Thinking Irvin would marry her wasughable. Did Carole believe just anyone could waltz into high


    society?


    "ine, then what are you saying?" Carole was puzzled.


    ineid it out, "Here''s the deal. Irvin''s got his wife and kids settled in another city. He had a


    mistress here in Cloudcrest, but his mistress got into a car ident, lost a limb, and he cut her


    loose. Now, Irvin''s looking to set up a new nest with a mistress here."


    Affairs were dime a dozen among the rich and famous, so ine wasn''t fazed.


    Plus, Carole, unwed with a child, wasn''t saintly. She''d be a perfect match for Irvin.


    At that, Carole''s face drained of color. She stared at ine, incredulous, "Are you asking me to


    break up a family?"


    "Oh, honey, you''re making it sound so dramatic!" ine chuckled, patting Carole''s hand, "Look, I''m


    doing this for you. With Irvin, you won''t have to worry about a thing. Just rx, count your money,


    and enjoy life. Trust me, Irvin''s a good man. He won''t shortchange you."


    Carole stepped back, "No way! I could never do something like that!"


    "Why not? What''s stopping you?" Before ine could respond, Gemma burst out of her seat,


    pointing at Carole, "Irvin''s interested in you, and that''s a stroke of luck! With your reputation, you


    should be grateful anyone''s giving you the time of day, let alone being picky! You''ve done far worse,


    so drop the act! Do you think you''re still some untainted maiden?"


    Carole reddened her eyes as she locked gazes with Gemma.


    ine patted Carole''s shoulder, "Listen, these words are harsh but not wrong. Given your situation,


    Irvin''s interest is a blessing. He''s loaded. If you get with him, you''ll be living the high life. I''m only


    thinking of your best interest..."


    "Ridiculous!" Carole cut ine off, "Enough! I won''t agree to this!"


    Only ine could suggest such a ridiculous thing with a straight face.


    ine frowned, frustrated that Carole couldn''t see the opportunity right in front of her.


    Irvin was willing to overlook her past, and yet she had the gall to refuse him!ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

 Chapter 94

    "Do you think you¡¯re the belle of the ball, huh?" ine nced at Carole with a mix of amusement


    and disbelief. "Carole, the only reason I''m even bringing this up in front of Irvin is that we''re sisters.


    Otherwise, do you think this deal would just fall into yourp? Do you think everyone gets this


    lucky?"


    The unspoken message was clear that Carole should stop ying hard to get! Why bother to


    pretend?


    "Then, by all means, pass this great opportunity to someone else! I can''t handle this blessing,"


    Carole retorted with a soft but firm tone that betrayed her usually gentle nature.


    After all, she wouldn''t have chosen to bravely move out on her own with her child if she were the


    type to be easily manipted.


    "ine, you''re a woman too, and you¡¯re a wife. Put yourself in my shoes, how would you feel if


    someone tried to set your husband up with a mistress?" Carole challenged.


    ine choked on her words, her face contorting with displeasure.


    This was not going ording to n.


    She thought Carole would be grateful for introducing her to such a fine man like Irvin!


    But instead, Carole was biting the hand that fed her.


    She even suggested that Hancock would have a mistress. Ridiculous!


    "Alright, let''s not get nasty. We''re all family here, no need to ruin the harmony," Saul stepped in at


    the right moment. "Carole, ine''s just looking out for you. Since Irvin seems like a decent catch, I


    think you should give it some thought! You''re a single mom, have you considered how you''re going


    to manage in the future?"


    Saul, ever the schr and the moralpass, his stance was always upright.


    Who would''ve thought he''d stoop to such skewed morals?


    Deep down, Saul wanted no part in this mess, but ine had dangled a carrot that if Carole and


    Irvin hit it off, he''d receive a house as a thank-you gift.


    Money talked after all.


    Especially a house, considering the average price in Cloudcrest was skyrocketing.


    Carole looked up at Saul, as if seeing him for the first time, "The poor have their way of living, and


    the rich theirs. Saul, you needn''t worry about our household."


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Are you sure you won''t regret this?" Saul pressed.


    "I''m sure."


    He continued, "I hear Anthea''s high school tuition isn''t cheap. School''s about to start. Do you have


    enough for tuition, living expenses, misceneous fees, rent, utilities... We''re not lending you money


    this year!"


    Traditionally, Carole would borrow money from them around the start of the school year.


    Saul''s words left Carole with no exit.


    If she refused, Anthea would have to drop out, and their lives would be plunged into hardship.


    Taking a deep breath, Carole stood her ground, "Don''t worry. From now on, even if we die poor or


    starve, we won''t ask for a penny from you again!"


    With those final words, Carole stormed out of the study.


    "That ungrateful bitch. She even turned the world upside down! I¡¯m still alive, and she dares to show


    such disrespect!" Gemma fumed, smashing the teapot on the table to the ground.


    Saul chuckled, cing a reassuring hand on Gemma''s shoulder, "Mom, don''t worry. It''s a done


    deal. Nobody''s lending her a dime this year. She''lle crawling back to us."

 Chapter 95

    Carole, a single mother, found herself in a pickle with a good-for-nothing ex and a gambler brother.


    Without a solid rock to lean on, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and turn to her families


    for help.


    So Saul wasn''t the least bit worried as he said to his mom, "Just wait and see. I''ll count down from


    seven, and she''ll be running back to us."


    With that, he started counting backward.


    But as he neared the end of his countdown, Carole showed no sign of turning back.


    ine furrowed her brow with concern and couldn''t let Carole disrupt Hancock''s wellid ns.


    She quickly grabbed her phone and sent out a message.


    Just as Carole opened the door to the study, she bumped right into Irvin.


    Irvin was a hulking man, and Carole instinctively stumbled several steps backward.


    "Carole," Irvin leered at her, his gaze undressing her on the spot.


    ine approached with a smile, "Carole, we''ll give you and Irvin all the time and space you need.


    Have a good chat."


    With that, she ushered everyone out of the study.


    "ine!" Carole sensed trouble and grabbed ine''s hand.


    ine passed Carole''s hand to Irvin, "Irvin, take good care of my sister."


    In ine''s eyes, Carole was just ying coy. Since Carole was too shy to take the plunge, ine


    decided to give her a little nudge.


    She wanted to see Carole and Irvin''s rtionship set in stone.


    "Will do!" Irvin grabbed Carole''s hand firmly, "Carole, rx, I may look tough, but I''m a teddy bear at


    heart. Let''s step inside and get to know each other better."


    Irvin was genuinely pleased with Carole.


    She was beautiful with a great figure, far surpassing any of the mistresses he''d had before.


    Now that both the Lyons family and the Yeager family had given their blessing, he didn''t have to


    hold back anymore. He was raring to go.


    ine didn''t even give Carole a shot at saying no and shut the door behind them.


    "Carole..." Irvin reached out for her again with his greasy hands.


    "Get your hands off me!" Carole swatted Irvin''s hand away and dodged to the side.


    Irvin twinkled his eyes with sleazy delight as he rubbed his hands together, "Feisty, huh? But I like


    that!"


    Outside the study.


    Seeing everyone leave except for Carole, Anthea found it odd, "Where''s my mom?"


    Anthea was a wild child with no manners after all!


    ine frowned, "Who are you talking to? Didn''t Carole teach you to greet your elders? You have no


    manners!"


    A snicker came from the side, "If she had any manners, Aunt Carole wouldn''t have had her out of


    wedlock." Ste was hinting that Carole was a bad influence.


    In her eyes, Carole and Anthea were nothing but pitiful creatures, so she had no fear of offending


    Anthea.


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    "Ste!" Nanson said angrily, "Watch your tone!"


    Sallie descended the staircase and stood in front of Nanson, her voice steady and strong, "I have


    already given you respect. This is my house. If you''re unhappy with our behavior, go out now."


    Sallie had long grown tired of these parasitic rtives.


    Nanson shook with rage, realizing just how important money was.


    Without it, even a younger rtive could trample his dignity underfoot.


    Ignoring the bickering, Anthea went straight to the study door and started banging, "Mom! Mom, are


    you in there?"


    There was no response from inside.


    Nanson, too, sensed something amiss and hurriedly followed, pounding on the door, "Carole!"


    ine strolled over with a grin, grabbing Anthea''s arm, "Carole is having a chat with Irvin inside!


    Stop making a fuss and get going!"

 Chapter 96

    "Scram!" Anthea shoved ine away with a force that caught herpletely off guard.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ine, unprepared for Anthea''s strength, was flung to the floor.


    Chaos erupted in the room.


    Felton helped ine up.


    "Dad, I''m cool," ine said, "Let her make a fuss. I wanna see what she can pull off!"


    The study''s door was bulletproof.


    Not only was it soundproof, but it was also incredibly sturdy.


    Not just Anthea, but even a group of bodyguards wouldn''t be able to break through unless someone


    inside opened it.


    And then, a loud noise filled the air. It seemed as though the ground itself shook.


    Everyone froze. No one expected Anthea to kick the door down.


    "Ann!" Carole burst out from behind the door.


    "Mom." Anthea shielded Carole with her body.


    Carole, disheveled with torn clothes and a scratch on her neck, looked utterly distressed.


    Irvin followed, chasing after her. It was clear to any observer what had transpired.


    "That bastard! How dare hey a finger on Carole!" Nanson, eyes red with fury, charged in to hit


    Irvin.


    But the wiry Nanson, quick as lightning, was no match for Irvin. Not only did he fail tond a punch,


    but Irvin also grabbed him with one hand.


    Irvin held Nanson aloft, his rage directed at ine, "ine! What the hell kind of job are you doing


    here?"


    He was so close to closing a deal! And at this critical moment, it was rudely interrupted.


    How could he not be furious?


    Anthea just stood there, fists clenched, and then peeled off her cardigan to drape it over Carole,


    "Mom, wait for me a minute."


    At that moment, Carole was taken aback.


    She had never seen Anthea like this before, radiating a chilling aura.


    Before the crowd could react, another loud crash echoed, followed by cries of agony.


    "Stop! Stop!"


    By the time everyone could see clearly, Irvin was on the ground, beaten by Anthea.


    His already plump head had swollen to the size of a pumpkin.


    Anthea stood over him, grinding his fingers beneath her shoe, "Who gave you the right to bully my


    mom?"


    Irvin''s twisted features and wails were proof of his agony, "I won''t do it again! I swear I won''t..."


    "And you lot!" Anthea turned her fierce gaze to the onlookers, "Who allowed you to mistreat my


    mom?"


    Silence hung in the air without a sound.


    No one had expected Anthea, deemed a nobody, to possess such skills, which not only broke down


    the door but also gave Irvin a thrashing.


    It all happened too fast.


    Carole, tears in her eyes, tugged at Anthea''s sleeve, "Ann, let''s go home, please."


    She couldn''t bear another second in this ce.


    Only then did Anthea release Irvin.


    Nanson quickly followed Anthea and Carole, and the crowd finally snapped out of their shock and


    rushed to help Irvin up.


    ine, fuming to the point of explosion, blocked their path and shouted, "Carole, stop right there!


    You better bring your disrespectful daughter to apologize to Irvin this instant!"


    That wretched Anthea had gone too far to even strike Irvin.


    "Apologize?" Carole looked at ine as if she were a stranger, "ine! Have you lost all humanity?


    I''m your sister!"


    "Shut up! I have no sister who brings me such shame! If you don''t find a way to make Irvin forgive


    you today, then from now on, we''re no longer sisters!"


    Did Carole dare to sever ties with her?

 Chapter 97

    Carole stood alone in Cloudcrest, feeling the weight of her istion.


    It was final. The ties were cut. Without reconciliation, Carole would be unable to find her footing in


    Cloudcrest ever again.


    The only option left was to swallow her pride and apologize.


    Felton, along with Gemma and Saul, marched up to her. ¡°Yes, cut her off! Carole, if you don''t


    apologize to Irvin today, we''re done with you!¡±


    Lifting her gaze, Carole scanned the faces before her.


    Her heart sank. There stood her parents, her brother, and her sisters... She had never imagined


    standing opposite them like this.


    They were her flesh and blood, yet today they tossed around the words "cut her off" as if they meant


    nothing.


    Apparently, she was no longer family in their eyes.


    Tears threatened to spill as Carole fought to keep them at bay.


    ¡°So, you want to cut ties, huh!¡± Anthea raised her eyes slightly, ¡°Fine by me! From now on, my mom


    and I have nothing to do with any of you!¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Carole stepped forward, ¡°Ann¡¯s right! Go ahead! It¡¯s clear I''m no longer your


    family! To you, I''m just an object to be given away!¡±


    It was a harsh truth. If she failed to cut ties, chaos would follow.


    Today it was Carole being handed off to Irvin. Who knew if Anthea would be next? If a second time


    was inevitable, it was better to end it now, once and for all.


    Anthea nced at Carole with surprise.


    Honestly, she hadn''t expected this.


    Carole had always been gentle, but now, faced with a major crisis, she was resolute.


    As Anthea watched Carole, Carole turned and gave Anthea a small smile, signaling she was okay.


    ine was furious.


    She never knew Carole could be so ungrateful!


    It seemed Carole would never learn her lesson unless she faced the consequences.


    ¡°Fine!¡± ine said coldly, ¡°If that''s how you want it, I, ine, no longer have a sister! From now on,


    you go your way, and I''ll go mine! I hope you don¡¯t regret this!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Carole replied with conviction, ¡°I will never regret it!¡±


    With that, Carole looked to Anthea and Nanson, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Nanson, you stop right there!¡± Gemma, seeing Nanson leave with them, snapped, ¡°If you dare to


    leave with her today, then you¡¯re no son of mine!¡±


    Nanson turned to look at Gemma, his lips curling into a cold smile, ¡°Haven¡¯t you always only had


    your precious Saul? Remember what you told me the day I moved out? To you, what¡¯s the


    difference between me and a stray cat or dog on the street? Since I can remember, it was Carole


    who raised me. She dropped out of school to work and pay for my education!¡±


    Nanson grew up wearing Saul¡¯s hand-me-downs and eating leftovers.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    When he was young, he thought it was his fault for not being good enough, but when he proudly


    showed his parents a test with perfect scores, he was used of cheating.


    That day, his father beat Nanson half to death with a belt. It was only Carole¡¯s desperate


    intervention that saved him from a tragic end.


    From then on, he knew that no matter how good he was, it would never be enough for someone


    who didn''t have a ce for him in their heart.


    Tears streamed down his face as he remembered the past.


    ¡°From now on, I have no parents or siblings, only a sister named Carole! I have nothing to do with


    any of you!¡± Nanson linked arms with Carole, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    As they walked away, Ste watched their retreating figures with a smirk ying at the corner of her


    lips.

 Chapter 98

    Ste wished those three shameless rtives would nevere crawling back. She snapped,


    "Remember your words today, all three of you. If you ever go back on them ande begging to


    us, you''ll be worse than a snake in the grass!"


    Anthea shot back a look, her eyes dark and fathomless. "What goes around,es around. Don''t


    forget the show you put on today! Don''t descend to the level of a weasel!"


    Ste snorted disdainfully.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    What a big talker this loser was!


    They woulde begging to her? A lowlife only fit for the basement!


    Carole made it clear she wanted to cut ties, but neither she nor the Yeager family were worried.


    They knew Carole would soon regret her actions. Within a month, she''d be back on her knees.


    Gemma turned to ine, saying, "Sweetie, if that rotten applees back begging, don''t you dare


    forgive her so easily! We''ll only consider it after Irvin gives her the nod."


    ine nodded, "I know, Mom."


    Anthea booked a ride on her phone.


    They had just stepped out of the vi when the ride arrived.


    Nanson took the passenger seat.


    Carole and Anthea sat in the back, Anthea looking down at her phone, revealing a stretch of her


    pale neck, casual and a bitzy.


    Sunlight streamed through the car window, casting a soft glow on her.


    Anthea in front of them, so pure and harmless, bore no trace of the fierce creature from moments


    ago.


    If Carole hadn''t seen it with her eyes, she would never have believed the person before was her


    daughter.


    But no matter how Anthea''s attitude might twist and turn, she was still her kid. Carole decided not to


    overthink and leaned back, closing her eyes for a quick rest.


    Cutting off ties with the Yeager family hadn''t phased Carole and Nanson.


    Life went on.


    With all the paperwork in order and the restaurant refurbished, they were set to open tomorrow.


    The restaurant''s name was simple: Yeager''s Delicacies.


    With an opening ceremony, the grand opening was official.


    Since they hadn''t notified anyone, there were no customers yet, but Anthea had ordered some floral


    arrangements online, ensuring the celebration felt just right.


    Perhaps due to the remote location, they hadn''t seen a single customere in for a bite.


    Nanson had left to deliver a package.


    Soon, it was just Carole and Anthea in the shop. No customers and Carole was getting anxious.


    Anthea, however, didn''t seem to share her concern, absorbed in her phone.


    Carole wanted to say something but swallowed her words.


    Just then, footsteps approached from outside.


    Could it be a customer atst?


    Carole brightened her eyes and looked up hopefully, only to dim again, but she still stood up with a


    smile, "Fanny, you made it."


    Fanny, the owner of Snacktastic Spot just down the street, had warned them during the renovation


    to lease the shop out, but Anthea didn''t take her advice and insisted on opening.


    Now, it seemed karma had caught up quickly.


    Anthea and Carole were about to bankrupt inside their empty restaurant!


    With this in mind, a smug expression crept into Fanny''s eyes, "Honey, how''s it going? I was right,


    wasn''t I? This location is a dead zone. Both you and Anthea didn''t listen, and now you''re eating


    crow!"


    Embarrassment crept onto Carole. If only she had heeded Fanny''s advice from the start...


    Fanny added fuel to the fire, "Honey, you must be losing a pretty penny, huh?"


    Anthea looked up with a smile, her voice tinged with amusement, "Fanny, lunchtime isn''t even here


    yet. Are you so sure we''re going to take a loss?"

 Chapter 99

    Anthea''s confidence was just as infectious as her smile when she assured she wouldn''t lose a dime


    on her new venture.


    Fanny couldn''t help but let out a chuckle.


    "Sweetheart, let me give you a piece of my mind. Don''t take offense! It''s not about making or losing


    money anymore. It''s about closing down or not. Honey, you just opened the doors. It''s best you cut


    your losses while they''re still small and find someone to take this ce off your hands."


    Half a day into the grand opening, there was not a soul had wandered in. Fanny was baffled by


    Anthea''s unwavering optimism.


    Anthea was pretty, but prettiness didn¡¯t fill the seats or pay the bills.


    Fanny held a tinge of pity as she continued, "I''ve got my pot to stir, so I''ll leave you to it. Remember


    to drop by for a cuppa sometime!"


    "Sure, Fanny. Pop in whenever you can," Carole said with a warm smile, escorting her to the door.


    As soon as Fanny left, Carole came back with a frown painting her face. "Ann, maybe we should


    consider selling the ce..." Her earlier confidence had vanished with the absence of customers on


    their first day.


    Anthea grasped Carole''s hands, her smile undimmed. "Mom, don''t lose heart. The lunch rush hasn''t


    even started! Go ahead and whip up a hundred and fifty servings of our roasted rabbits, and the


    same number of our opening act dessert. I promise you, by lunchtime, we''ll have a crowd."


    Carole furrowed her brows in concern. "Ann, that''s a lot of food that won''t keep. What if no one


    shows? Won''t that all go to waste?"


    Anthea''s store was still empty, and yet she was asking for a feast fit for a festival.


    "Don''t worry. Trust me, it won''t go to waste," Anthea reassured her.


    At the sight of her determination, Carole hesitantly agreed, "All right then..."


    Waste or not, she could see Anthea wasn''t one to back down without a fight.


    After Carole had prepared everything and emerged from the kitchen, a pixie-haired girl walked in,


    smartphone in hand. "Excuse me, is this Yeager''s Delicacies at 612 Arcadia Avenue?"


    Carole, caught off guard, quickly got to her feet. "Yes, that''s us!"


    The girl shed a grin. "Took me a minute to find you! I snagged this coupon online for a free starter


    dessert. Is that for real?"


    Carole paused, bewildered. What coupon? Free dessert?


    That was when Anthea, ever the charmer, stepped in. "Absolutely! Let me take a look at your


    coupon."


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


    The girl was momentarily starstruck by Anthea''s beauty.


    Was she even real? That kind of beauty didn''t just walk into diners every day.


    Shaking off her awe, she handed over her phone to Anthea.


    Anthea checked the coupon and guided the girl to a window seat. "Right this way. Since you''ve


    imed our special offer, here''s our dessert on the house. Enjoy this while you browse the menu for


    your main course."


    "Thank you!" The girl then cheekily added, "And if I don''t like it, I can just skip ordering more, right?"


    "That''s correct," Anthea replied with a nod. "If you decide you''d like to order, just give me a shout."


    The girl was impressed by Anthea''s easygoing nature.


    She had only made a quip about not ordering, but Anthea had taken it in stride.


    After Anthea left, the girl took a tentative bite of her dessert.


    She had expected the freebie to be mediocre at best.


    To her astonishment, it was nothing short of sublime.


    Her eyes lit up, and she dove in for a second taste.


    Delicious!


    It was unlike any dessert she''d ever had.


    "Hey! I''m ready to order over here!" she hollered at Anthea, trying to catch her attention.


    Anthea approached with an iPad in hand. "What can I get for you?"


    The girl spoke between bites of her dessert, "I heard there''s roasted rabbits today. I''ll take two


    servings of that with several pastas."

 Chapter 100

    Sure. Anthea nodded with a smile, ¡°Just give me a second.¡±


    Just then, a young couple walked in, ¡°Excuse me, is this Yeager¡¯s Delicacies?¡±


    That¡¯s us!¡± Anthea quickly headed over to greet them, guiding them to a table before serving up a


    complimentary slice of cheesecake.


    Carole was absolutely stunned. It wasn¡¯t until the couple had ordered their meals that she pulled


    Anthea aside and asked, ¡°Ann, what¡¯s going on here?¡±


    Anthea chuckled and filled her in.


    It turned out Anthea had listed the restaurant on a popr foodie app three days prior and set up a


    time¨Climited promotional event.


    Worried about not getting enough traffic, Anthea even crafted a script to ramp up the marketing.


    And thus, the customers started rolling in.


    After all, it was the digital age. Sticking to the old ways just wasn¡¯t going to cut it.


    You had to keep pace with the times.


    Otherwise, Anthea wouldn¡¯t have been brimming with confidence.


    Carole nodded in understanding, ¡°I see.¡± Anthea was so savvy! If it had been up to Carole, they¡¯d


    probably be at a loss! Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Just then, new customers walked in, and Anthea said, ¡°Mom, you better get back to the kitchen.


    That table over there ordered our roasted rabbits. I¡¯ll handle the front!¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Carole nodded and hurried off to the kitchen.


    In less than half an hour, what was once an empty restaurant was now filled to half


    capacity.


    The air was thick with the aroma of delicious food, making mouths water.


    The first customer, a young woman with a pixie cut, was so delighted with her meal that she packed


    ten servings of roasted rabbit to go, ¡°Miss, your food is divine! Especially the roasted rabbits! I¡¯ve


    got to bring my folks here next time.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Anthea smiled gently, ¡°Next time youe in, I¡¯ll give you a discount. Here¡¯s our


    exclusive loyalty card!¡±


    ¡°Oh my gosh! Thank you!¡± The pixie¨Ccut girl beamed as she took the card.


    Before leaving, she snapped a photo of the restaurant and posted it online with the caption,


    ¡°Yeager¡¯s Delicacies in Cloudcrest is just too delicious! Best in town! If you¡¯re


    12:34


    near Arcadia Avenue, don¡¯t miss out.


    As lunchtime peaked, the restaurant got even busier.


    Seeing the ce bustling, Carole was filled with energy and didn¡¯t feel the least bit tired.


    It wasn¡¯t until 2 p.m., when the lunch crowd thinned, that Carole and Anthea finally got a chance to


    eat. Carole whipped up two tes of spaghetti.


    Serving one te to Anthea, who was engrossed in her phone at the cash register, Carole said,


    ¡°Ann, time to eat.¡±


    ¡°Oh, thanks.¡± Anthea took the te and continued to multitask, eating while she checked her


    phone.


    Anthea was not one to frequent GlobalGigaNet forums.


    Little did she know, at that very moment, that the international forum was buzzing with discussions


    about her.


    ¡°Holy smokes! Phoenix YC just knocked out 20 tasks in two days!¡±


    ¡°Incredible! Mighty master!¡±


    ¡°Wait, 20 in two days? Is she even human?¡±


    Tasks posted on GlobalGigaNet, even the simple ones, usually took at least three days to


    complete.


    But Phoenix YC had managed 20 in just two days, which spoke volumes about her formidable


    skills!


    ¡°Let me throw a conspiracy theory out there. What if Phoenix YC isn¡¯t just one person but a whole


    team? No ordinary person could pull this off!¡±

 Chapter 101

    Totally agree! A task takes us at least three days, and even Master M can only manage one a day.


    How on earth could Phoenix¨CYC knock out 10 in a single day?¡±


    Thumbs up to the post above! Phoenix YC is just a team yer!¡±


    ¡°Agree! Shameless team yers!¡±


    It was human nature to harbor a bit of jealousy.


    When someone surpassed the perceived limits of humanity and achieved extraordinary sess,


    the knee¨Cjerk reaction was to deem it false with some trickery.


    After all, in the tech world, the esteemed and formidable Master M could only wrap up one standard


    task per day.


    Yet here came Phoenix YC, averaging staggering ten tasks a day.


    For the past three years, not a soul in the tech realm hade close to sharing the spotlight with


    Master M.


    And now, Phoenix YC burst onto the scene with these unbelievable aplishments.


    It was just too good to be true, definitely a sham.


    So naturally, everyone felt that this suspect was spot on in their assessment.


    The forum erupted into chaos. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Phoenix¨CDamon said, ¡°Are you jealous? Since when did everything be about the team? This


    is the tech world, not some celebrity fan club! Phoenix YC doesn¡¯t need a team, nor marketing


    stunts!¡±


    Phoenix InfinityAeon echoed, ¡°using Phoenix¨CYC without a shred of proof! How dare you!¡±


    Phoenix BreakdownBuddy said, ¡°Somebody¡¯s insulting Phoenix¨CYC! Where¡¯s the Phoenix family?


    Crush these sourpusses!¡±


    Since Phoenix YC¡¯sst groundbreaking victory, they¡¯ve amassed a legion of fans and even


    founded the Phoenix family. Anyone with ¡®Phoenix¡® in their ID was a family member.


    The family now boasted over ten thousand loyalists.


    As both sides dug in their heels, the forum debates raged on.


    Daniel jumped into the fray, adopting the ID Phoenix Robinson and enlisted in the Phoenix, family.


    After a hearty round of forum bickering, he opened a chat window, ¡°Don¡¯t sweat the forum trash talk!


    We believe in you!¡±


    12:34


    Anthea was confused..


    Realizing Phoenix¨CYC likely didn¡¯t care about such trifles, Daniel added, ¡°Master, you¡¯ve been


    tackling all these side taskstely. Won¡¯t it affect your work on the OS?¡±


    Phoenix YC answered, ¡°Those tasks were done in my spare time on my phone. They won¡¯t interfere


    with the OS. It¡¯ll be delivered on schedule, no worries.¡±


    When Daniel read the response, he was gobsmacked.


    He thought, ¡°If the green¨Ceyed tech gurus on the forum saw that Phoenix¨CYC was breezing through


    tasks in his ¡°spare time¡± and on a phone no less, how would they feel?¡±


    Meanwhile, Anthea had just polished off her spaghetti when the restaurant buzz picked


    1. up.


    Many customers who had savored the sulent roasted rabbits and mouthwatering wings at lunch


    were back for seconds, drawn by the tantalizing vors and the lure of discount coupons. Before


    long, a line formed at the door.


    While the lunch rush had been good, they hadn¡¯t expected an evening queue.


    Carole was stunned. She never imagined their opening day would boom like this.


    By 8:30 PM, they¡¯d sold out of their entire stock. To make up to those who missed out, Anthea


    handed out cards.


    With that card, customers could im a free serving of spicy chicken wings the next day.


    Anthea might be a tech tycoon, but she knew how to draw a crowd.


    More importantly, she wasn¡¯t afraid to take a loss.


    In business, you have to give to get.


    Carole tallied up the day¡¯s takings.


    Two thousand in cash.


    Another six thousand through card and mobile payments.


    After rent, utilities, and costs, they¡¯d cleared three thousand!


    If they hadn¡¯t sold out, they could have earned even more.


    Double¨Cchecking to ensure no mistake, Carole turned to Anthea with excitement, ¡°Ann, we made


    three thousand today!¡±


    Her monthly sry didn¡¯t even hold a candle to what she made today. It felt uncanny.


    Anthea nced back with a smile. ¡°This is just the beginning. We¡¯ll earn much more in the future.¡±


    She continued, ¡°Oh, we¡¯ll need more stock for tomorrow. It¡¯ll be busier than today. We


    12341


    should hire a couple of extra hands. Uncle Nanson should stop his courier job and help


    us out. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be overwhelmed once I¡¯m back at school.¡±

 Chapter 102

    Carole nodded with a smile, ¡°Yeah! Ann, you¡¯ve thought of everything.¡±


    Carole couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Anthea¡¯s prowess.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Here was a teenager, but she approached problems with the kind of thoroughness and maturity that


    put most adults to shame.


    Just then, Fanny burst through the door, ¡°Hey, why¡¯d you close up shop so early?¡±


    Of course, Fanny knew the answer well enough.


    Why close early if not forck of business? She was just there to rub it in.


    Caroleughed it off, ¡°Fanny, take a seat. Business was booming today and we sold out of


    all the dishes, so we shut the doors a bit early.¡±


    What?


    Fanny registered pure shock.


    Booming business? Sold out? Carole wasying it on thick!


    Did she think Fanny was born yesterday?


    Just this morning, when she dropped by, the ce was dead, not a soul in sight.


    Fanny pressed on, ¡°Come on! No need for pretense. Even if business was slow, I wouldn¡¯t tease


    you about it!¡± Her eyes darted around, and she added, ¡°Oh! I get it now, you¡¯re looking to offload


    this joint, making up stories about good business to bait a buyer, right?¡±


    Carole sighed, a bit exasperated, ¡°Fanny, you¡¯ve got it all wrong! We did have a good day, and


    there are no ns to sell the ce.¡±


    Fanny grabbed Carole¡¯s hand, ¡°We¡¯re both in the trenches ofmerce. I know the truth!¡±


    Carole still tried to pull one over on Fanny as if she was that easy to fool.


    After more than two decades in business, having seen more than Carole had ever walked, Fanny


    wasn¡¯t about to be duped.


    At the sight of Fanny¡¯s conviction, Carole didn¡¯t bother to exin further.


    Convinced by Carole¡¯s silence, Fanny left. After a few more snide remarks, Fanny was sure that she


    was being misled.


    At ten in the evening, Carole and Anthea arrived home.


    When Nanson heard they¡¯d made a whopping $3,000 on opening day, he was over the moon, ¡°I¡¯ve


    always said Anthea is destined for great things! Didn¡¯t I call it?¡±


    Carole was clearly thrilled, ¡°That¡¯s right, Nanson. You¡¯re busting your back delivering packages for


    peanuts. Why don¡¯t you quit and give us a hand at the shop?¡±


    Nanson, firing up his video game, declined, ¡°I think I¡¯m better off sticking to deliveries.


    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Carole frowned.


    Nanson was brief, ¡°Just prefer deliveries, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Hearing this, Carole let it be.


    Anthea, fetching water in the living room, chimed in with a grin, ¡°If Uncle Nanson likes deliveries so


    much, I¡¯ll just buy out thepany when I¡¯m rich, and you can be the boss.¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡± Nanson eximed, ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that, my entrepreneurial Anthea! Go for it!¡±


    ¡°How much would buying out yourpany cost?¡± Anthea asked, half¨Cjoking.


    Nanson, assuming it was all in jest, casually replied, ¡°Oh, about fifty or sixty million¡±


    Anthea nodded thoughtfully.


    How much was in her bank ount again? She rubbed her chin, heading back to her room to code.


    She needed to finish that OS and make a move on Nanson¡¯s delivery empire!


    At the Christensen family.


    Karen had been taking medicine as per Anthea¡¯s prescription for a few days, and not only was her


    sleep improved, but her appetite andplexion had significantly brightened.


    Sherman had been away in Capital City for a week. Returning home to find Karen looking so well,


    he wondered if his eyes were deceiving him.


    ¡°Grandma, are you feeling better?¡± Initially, when Adah mentioned that Karen had been on the


    mend, Sherman thought she was just offeringfort. But there was no denying it. Karen was


    indeed looking much revived!


    ¡°Yes!¡± Karen twirled around for Sherman to see. ¡°Not only am I feeling fine, but I¡¯ve also found you a


    beautiful bride!¡±


    A beautiful bride?


    Sherman twiddled his crucifix, his expression unreadable. How could he break it to Karen that he


    had no intentions of marrying just yet?


    At the sight of Sherman¡¯s hesitation, Karen brandished her walking stick and kicked him when she


    made her point clear, ¡°Don¡¯t act all high and mighty! Do you think you¡¯re some kind of intergctic


    Adonis? It¡¯s not about you picking someone. It¡¯s about whether she¡¯d even spare you a nce!¡±

 Chapter 103

    Karen didn¡¯t pull her punches, each p hitting Sherman square on the back.


    That little weasel!


    For ten years, Sherman had the same air of superiority, looking down his nose at everyone. He was


    just asking for it!


    Sherman didn¡¯t even flinch, and he said calmly, ¡°Karen, everyone has their way of living. I¡¯m content


    with mine. Like you always say, I can¡¯t be everyone¡¯s cup of tea, can I?¡±


    Sherman was a bachelor and a devout vegan. He loved his peace and quiet.


    Life with someone else was too noisy. Alone was just perfect.


    Karen looked at Sherman, her face a picture of disbelief, ¡°Don¡¯t you have any urge?¡±


    Sherman just shook his head.


    Karen was about to try and provoke him, using the fact that Anthea wasn¡¯t into him to give Sherman


    a little nudge.


    But it turned out that Sherman couldn¡¯t care less.


    Weren¡¯t most men driven by a desire to conquer?


    Her eldest grandson, was he¡­ a bit off?


    Karen eyed Sherman up and down, ¡°Sherman, be honest with me, is there something wrong?¡±


    Even Sherman, as collected as he was, seemed thrown off bnce by that, ¡°Karen, you¡¯re worrying


    over nothing.¡±


    ¡°Or maybe you prefer men?¡± Karen squinted her eyes, probing.


    Sherman paused his fingers on his rosary, ¡°Karen, that¡¯s out of line!¡±


    The tone made it seem as though it was Karen who was the foolish youngster.


    ¡°So what if you like men? It¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of! If you do, I would ept it! Just tell me, do


    you like men or not?¡±


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    As she finished, Karen added, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m concerned about you? I¡¯m worried about Ann! What


    if you like men and I hook you two up, wouldn¡¯t I be hurting Ann? She¡¯s so pretty, young, smart, and


    capable! I don¡¯t want her to get hurt!¡±


    Sherman thought Karen was concerned about him, which turned out he was just being conceited!


    She was i


    worried about that youngdy.


    Seeing Sherman silent, Karen poked him in the arm, ¡°Hey! I¡¯m talking to you! Do you like men?¡±


    Sherman silently repeated a mantra for patience, then said, ¡°Karen, although I have no ns to


    settle down, my sexual orientation is perfectly normal. So, please stop fretting over unfounded


    worries.¡±


    Hearing this, Karen breathed a sigh of relief.


    As long as he was swinging the right way, there was still a glimmer of hope.


    It seemed she could continue her scheme to bring Anthea into the Christensen family fold.


    Karen wanted to pat Sherman on the shoulder. But upon reaching up, she realized she couldn¡¯t


    quite make it.


    Why¡¯d her darn kid have to grow so tall?


    Without a word, Karen climbed onto the nearby couch, finally managing to give Sherman¡¯s shoulder


    a pat and said with gravity, ¡°Sherman, life is short. I hope you find someone to share it with. Ann


    isn¡¯t half bad! Sure, she¡¯s more aplished, fairer, more eloquent, better looking, and more


    likable than you! But if you double your efforts, you might just be worthy of her!¡±


    With that, Karen thumped her chest confidently, ¡°With a granny like me, she¡¯s sure to be a


    member of the Christensen family! To be honest, if you weren¡¯t my 1 blood, I¡¯d think twice before


    subjecting Ann to you.¡±


    Sherman was at a loss for words.


    and


    ¡°Ah!¡± Karen eximed, ¡°Why on earth am I such a good granny? You must save the world in your


    last life or something?¡±


    Sherman was speechless.


    The next morning.


    Anthea was up with the birds, her legs strapped with weighted bags, she ranps around the


    neighborhood.


    With the regr exercise, her physical fitness had improved significantly.


    12

 Chapter 104

    By the time Anthea finished her morning jog and got back home, the clock struck half-past seven.


    After a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast, she and Carole made their way to the diner.


    Carrying the lessons from yesterday, Carole had prepared twice as many dishes as the day before.


    No sooner had they opened the door than customers began to trickle in.


    Just as Anthea had predicted, they had more patrons than the previous day, keeping them on their


    toes until well past two in the afternoon before they could catch a moment of break.


    During their brief respite, two young girls came in looking for a job as waitresses.


    Anthea greeted them with a warm smile, "Would you mind showing me your ID, please?"


    "Of course." The girls handed over their IDs to Anthea.


    One was named Sunny and the other Nana, both fresh-faced at 22.


    After checking their IDs, Anthea continued, "Ladies, we offer a sry of $3,000 a month. Shifts start


    at 10 a.m. You''ll get an hour break at noon, and then it''s back to work until 10 p.m. If that sounds


    good to you, get a health check done and you can start tomorrow."


    The minimum wage in Cloudcrest was $2,500, but Anthea felt that the restaurant industry was


    tough work and deserved a little extra.


    Hearing they¡¯d be making an extra $500 a month over other ces, the girls immediately agreed,


    "That sounds perfect! We''ll be here first thing tomorrow!"


    "Great."


    After hiring the waitresses, Anthea also took on Agre, ady to help with dish washing in the


    kitchen.


    Agre had just moved to town. She had been turned away by many employers, so when she found


    out Anthea needed help, she was overjoyed.


    "Boss, if you''ll have me, I can start today! Don''t worry about paying me for today. Consider it free


    labor!"


    Anthea let out a gentleugh, "Agre, you can call me Ann. Go get your health check today, and then


    come in to work tomorrow at ten."


    "Alright then." Agre nodded before adding, "I''lle back in the morning."


    Down the same street was Snacktastic Spot.


    Fanny sat inside, popping snacks, when another shop owner, Daisy, dropped by for a chat, "Hey,


    Fanny!"


    "Ah, Daisy! Come in, have a seat!" Fanny quickly scooped some snacks for Daisy.


    Daisy didn¡¯t hesitate, nibbling on the snack as she spoke, "Samia is such a piece of work! When her


    main gig tanked, she had the gall to encroach on your turf! I saw a bunch of your regrs in there


    just now!"


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    "It¡¯s infuriating! I get sick just thinking about her! And that clueless Carole and Anthea took over her


    old joint. I warned them about Samia, but they don¡¯t seem to have a clue!"


    "Are they the Yeager family you mentioned?" Daisy inquired.


    Fanny nodded.


    "How''s their business doing?" Daisy asked curiously.


    Fanny shrugged, "With that location, what business could they have? If it were any good, would


    Samia¡¯s Savory Symphony have given it up? They opened yesterday and didn¡¯t see a single


    customer! I bet they won¡¯tst three days before closing up shop! And yet, they boasted to me


    about doing well as if I''d believe that!"


    Daisyughed, "Some folks just love to brag! It¡¯s Samia¡¯s Savory Symphony that¡¯sughing all the


    way to the bank, offloading that dump!"


    Standing up, Fanny brushed her hands, "I¡¯ve got nothing better to do. Let''s go check out Yeager''s


    Delicacies."


    They were expecting to see an empty diner, especially during lunchtime. This would be interesting,


    seeing if Carole could keep up her facade.


    "Sure," Daisy agreed, rising to her feet.


    Upon arriving at Yeager''s Delicacies, Fanny was dumbstruck.


    Was she seeing things?


    Daisy nudged Fanny¡¯s arm, "This is Yeager''s Delicacies, right? You sure about that?"


    A line was forming outside the door. Was this the struggling business they talked about?

 Chapter 105

    If this was what they called a tough market, their situation would be a disaster.


    Truth be told, Fanny was speechless!


    She couldn¡¯t even believe the scene before her eyes.


    What in the world was going on? Why was Yeager''s Delicacies bustling with customers?


    How could it be so affordable? Where were all these peopleing from?


    A cold sweat broke out on Fanny''s back as a tumult of emotions with jealousy, envy, and a certain


    indescribable feeling swirling in her heart.


    "Fanny, are you even listening to me? Are we really talking about Yeager''s Delicacies here?"


    "Yes," Fanny nodded with difficulty.


    Much as she hated to admit it, it was indeed Yeager''s Delicacies.


    Just then, Carole stepped out to take out the trash and spotted Fanny. "Hey Fanny, I''m swamped


    right now, so I can''t invite you in for a coffee," she said with a casual wave.


    Fanny mustered a stiff smile. "You¡¯re busy! Businesses first." She hade to revel in Carole''s


    downfall, but instead, she was the one left red-faced.


    "Let''s head back," Fanny said, pulling Daisy along.


    Daisy, puzzled, said, "I can''t figure out why her ce is so packed. On this street, aside from that


    crawfish joint, I''d bet hers is the busiest!"


    Fanny felt a sting in her heart. It was just a small and out-of-the-way shop. How on earth was it


    thriving?


    She wondered what sort of tricks those two were pulling.


    It was infuriating!


    Daisy went on, "Imagine if Samia found out how Yeager''s Delicacies is booming. Wouldn''t she be


    livid?"


    That sparked an idea in Fanny.


    Right! She shouldn''t be the one upset.


    Samia''s Savory Symphony would be the ones kicking themselves.


    If they knew that the spot they¡¯d tossed aside wasn¡¯t a dud but a goldmine, they¡¯d be green with


    regret!


    "Of course, they''d be fuming!" Fanny replied.


    After returning, Fanny made sure the news reached the previous owner next door.


    Samia, upon hearing the news, was incredulous.


    She had let go of that location because it was so isted, barely seeing a soul from day to day. And


    now, in just a few days after Anthea took over, the business was taking off? It couldn''t be true.


    Deciding to see for herself, Samia headed over to Yeager''s Delicacies.


    The sight left herpletely dumbfounded.


    The once deserted storefront was now lined with customers.


    "Good heavens!" she eximed, rubbing her eyes in disbelief.


    But the scene remained unchanged.


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    It was real!


    When Anthea had first taken over, Samia hadughed at her, sure she¡¯d run at a loss.


    The irony stung sharply.


    If only Samia had known the true potential of that location, she would have never given it up! The


    regret was killing her!


    All that business should have been theirs. It was Anthea reaping the benefits now!


    Inside, Anthea and Carole were bustling about.


    Thankfully, the roasted rabbits and the seasoning were prepared early on, so there was no need for


    on-the-spot cooking, which would have been impossible to manage with the current crowd.


    At the end of the night, Carole tallied up the earnings and was astounded to find they had doubled


    since yesterday!


    "Ann, we made six thousand bucks today!"


    Anthea turned with a smile, "Mom, I told you our business would keep getting better."


    With every passing day, there was more hope. Carole felt genuinely happy, herplexion even


    seemed brighter than before.

 Chapter 106

    The next morning, the new employees Sunny, Nana, and Agre showed up for their first day of work.


    With three extra hands on deck and Anthea offering a higher wage than thepetitors, they


    worked diligently, easing the load on Anthea and Carole significantly.


    Thanks to some effective marketing, the business was booming, and soon the team was swamped


    with work. Anthea decided it was time to bring on two more people.


    Days flew by, and before school was back in session, Carole wanted to take Anthea for a visit to


    Latonia''s ce and share the news of their new venture.


    Over the years, Latonia had been a rock for Carole, supporting her through thick and thin. Carole


    saw this visit as the perfect opportunity to express her heartfelt thanks.


    Carole spilled her n to Anthea, who was all for it, "Sarah''s off tomorrow, how about we swing by


    then?"


    The following day, Carole and Anthea picked up an assortment of gifts and set off to Latonia''s


    home.


    Latonia lived in an aged neighborhood thatcked the luster of newer developments but was by no


    means subpar. It was a quintessentially middle-ss area in Cloudcrest.


    Latonia weed Carole and Anthea with open arms.


    "Sarah! Look who''s here, Carole and Ann!" Latonia called out. "Come in and make yourselves at


    home!"


    Latonia chided them upon seeing the bounty of gifts, "Carole, you should have juste to visit!


    Why all this fuss? Do you think money grows on trees? I''ve seen your struggles and I don''t want


    you wasting your hard-earned cash."


    Carole replied, "It didn''t cost much! Besides, haven''t you always been there for me, Latonia?"


    Latonia retorted with a smile, "We''re like sisters!"


    Laughing, Carole said, "Exactly! So let me spoil you a little. If you don''t ept these gifts, you''re


    making me feel like an outsider."


    Latonia yfully smacked Carole''s arm, "Look at you, getting me all wrapped up in your words."


    Just then, Sarah burst out of her room, "Ann!"


    "Sarah!" Anthea embraced her in a warm hug.


    Latonia''s husband, Keeley Allen, emerged from the house.


    "This is Keeley," Carole introduced him to Anthea.


    "Nice to meet you, Keeley."


    Keeley, a pleasantly plump and jovial middle-aged man, responded with a grin, "You¡¯re as lovely as


    her sister."


    As he spoke, he added, "Well, Latonia is hosting youdies. I''ll go grab some groceries!"


    "Off you go," Latonia said, then turned to Keeley, "Make sure to pick up a nice and fatty fish for the


    catfish stew. Carole loves it."


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    "Got it," Keeley replied.


    Carole, feeling a tad guilty, said, "Keeley, there''s no need for the fuss. We''re fine eating whatever is


    on hand."


    Latonia put an arm around Carole''s shoulder, "Oh, it''s no bother at all. We''ve gotta eat too. Let him


    go. Let''s head inside and chat."


    The Allen family''s living room was immacte with sunlight pouring in through the windows.


    Sarah scurried to serve them drinks while Latonia sliced up some fresh fruit.


    Handing Anthea a ss of water, Sarah noticed her phone still on the table and said, "Hey Ann, do


    you y video games? We should totally team up and y!" She had been in the middle of a game


    when she heard Latonia announce Anthea''s arrival and had dashed out without even finishing.


    "What game?" Anthea asked.


    "League of Legends," Sarah replied.


    Anthea raised an eyebrow, "Is it really that fun?"


    "It''s a st!" Sarah said excitedly. "I''m an experienced yer! You wanna try? I''ll carry you to


    victory!"

 Chapter 107

    Anthea, who wasn''t usually into gaming, felt her interest piqued by Sarah''s enthusiasm.


    "I might as well download it."


    "Well,e on up to my room then!" Sarah suggested, her voice upbeat. "Thework is better


    there."


    "Sure." Anthea nodded and followed Sarah''s lead.


    Once they settled into Sarah''s room, Anthea finished downloading the game.


    "Just log in and skip the tutorial. I''ll show you the ropes!" Sarah dered with a grin, her confidence


    not at all diminished by her modest status.


    "Ann, I sent you an invite. ept it, will you?"


    "Got it."


    The game seemed simple enough on the surface, but as soon as Anthea entered the fray, she was


    promptly taken out by an opposing champion.


    "It''s cool! Just stick with me, Ann. I''ve got your back!" Sarah reassured her, slipping into the role of


    the protective teammate.


    "Okay." Anthea, resurrected in the game, obediently shadowed Sarah.


    But as luck would have it, even with Sarah''s limited prowess, they were no match for the opposing


    team. After three consecutive defeats, Sarah''s rank tumbled.


    Silence hung heavy after the third loss, with Anthea staring down at her screen, a crestfallen


    shadow over her face.


    Sarah, eager to keep the mood light, offered aforting smile. "Don''t sweat it, Ann. Everyone is a


    rookie at the start. I was way worse on my first try."


    Anthea lifted her gaze, her clear eyes shining with resolve. "Enough talk. Let''s queue up again,


    Sarah. This time, I''ll carry you."


    Sarah blinked, taken aback not just by the bold im, but also by Anthea''s striking beauty in that


    moment.


    "Carry me?" Sarah was skeptical. She had evidence, after all. Gaming required quick reflexes and


    sharp wits. It was rare for someone to excel at both on their first try, especially someone who hadn''t


    even reached the primary rank.


    To avoid discouraging Anthea, Sarah nodded. "Alright, let''s do this."


    As theyunched into another game, Sarah braced for even a marginal improvement from Anthea.


    Instead, Anthea charged headfirst into the fray just as before. "Ann, slow down! That hero is super


    strong early on. You can¡¯t beat him alone!"


    Before Sarah could finish her warning, the game announced a kill: "First Blood!"


    Holy smokes!


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Sarah blinked, thinking she was seeing things. "Ann, did you just take down their champ?"


    "Yep." Anthea nodded, casual as ever.


    Sarah swallowed hard, wondering if it was a fluke. But as she was lost in thought, her character met


    an untimely demise.


    "Damn!" Sarah couldn''t help but curse. "Sneaky assassin!"


    "Don¡¯t worry, I''ll avenge you," Anthea dered, her fingers dancing over the controls. With a series


    of slick moves, she avenged Sarah¡¯s death.


    No way! Sarah turned to look at Anthea, her eyes wide. Was she gaming with a professional?


    The game''s announcements kepting, "First Blood! Double Kill! Triple Kill! Quadra Kill! Penta


    Kill!"


    For the first time, Sarah realized that girls could totally dominate gaming.


    So she was totally carried by Anthea to victory.


    Sarah felt her cheeks burn with a mix of embarrassment and awe.


    Meanwhile, in the living room.


    Carole and Latonia were deep in conversation over steaming cups of coffee. Latonia was happy for


    her friend after hearing about the recent sess of Carole''s diner.


    "Carole, you''ve worked hard for so many years. Your good fortune''s just around the corner."


    Carole, ever the optimist, patted Latonia''s hand. "You''re blessed too, Latonia. You''ve got a


    wonderful family. Sarah is a sweetheart and so responsible, and Walter just got into a great


    college!"

 Chapter 108

    I meant to say Walter was the son of Latonia and his twin sister was Sarah.


    Latonia said with a smile, "If only Sarah could stay with me for a couple more years, I''d have no


    regrets."


    Carole was taken aback, "What do you mean, Latonia?"


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Latonia continued, "Well, Sarah has been dating Lacy for quite some time now. Since Lacy is four


    years her senior, his parents are getting a bit anxious. They''re hoping to have the wedding this


    year!"


    Lacy, mentioned by Latonia, was Sarah''s boyfriend.


    "So soon?" Carole was obviously surprised.


    Latonia nodded, "I also think it''s a bit quick, considering Sarah''s only twenty. But Lacy''s already


    twenty-four and you can''t put off a young man''s prime years. Plus, the boy is honest and stable. He


    treats Sarah well andes from a decent family. So, after discussing it with Keeley, we decided to


    settle everything on October the first?"


    Lacy was an only child, and his parents were still youthful, owning two houses in Cloudcrest.


    Latonia and Keeley were quite satisfied with the match and didn''t want Sarah to miss out on him.


    Carole had met Lacy and thought him quite a catch, "What does Sarah think about this? I believe


    such matters should respect her wishes."


    Latonia said, "Sarah is head over heels for Lacy. She''d get married tomorrow if she could."


    Carole chuckled, "If Sarah''s on board and you all like Lacy, then an early wedding is a good idea.


    Besides, the Brown family is local, so even after she''s married, she can stille around to visit


    often."


    Inside the house.


    Anthea and Sarah were on a gaming winning streak, climbing ranks quickly!


    Only one step away from the top tier!


    If it weren¡¯t for the dinner call, they might have reached the pinnacle of the game by now.


    It was the most fun Sarah had ever had ying games.


    "Ann, how are you so good? You''re even better than my boyfriend!" Sarah eximed.


    Anthea modestly touched her nose, "I''m just average. Honestly, there''s not much to this game."


    Sarah suggested, "Ann, you should consider streaming. You can y and make money without


    missing out on anything."


    "Streaming?" The mention of making money lit up Anthea.


    Sarah opened a streaming app, clicked on the most popr channel, "Look, Ann, this is


    SingleLightStar, the hottest game streamer right now! He makes at least tens of thousands in just


    one session! There aren''t many skilled female streamers who rely on their looks. But you''ve got the


    looks and the skills. You''d be a hit!"


    Anthea''s eyes shed with interest, "I''ll dig into it once I''m back."


    Once she got home, Anthea registered a streaming ount.


    In the username field, she slowly typed out Griffin¡¤YC.


    After setting up her ount, Anthea started streaming. She decided not to show her face, just her


    chin and everything below her corbone.


    The stream went live smoothly, but since it was a new ount, there weren''t any viewers. However,


    Anthea wasn''t discouraged. She wasn''t just streaming for the money. After a couple of games, she


    ended the stream and logged onto GlobalGigaNet to work on some coding.


    School was starting tomorrow, and the OS System was more than halfway done. She needed to


    solve all the issues she could on herputer before returning to school, where she''d be limited to


    her phone.


    Just then, a knock came from the door, "Ann! Mr. and Mrs. ck are here,e on out."


    Anthea brightened her face. Could it be Paulina and Tammie? Had Tammie recovered?


    After being so busy for a month, Anthea had nearly forgotten about Tammie.

 Chapter 109

    ¡°Coming!¡± Anthea called out, setting herputer to autopilot before she made her way.


    to the living room.


    On the couch sat a couple, a man and a woman. It was Tammie and Paulina.


    Upon seeing Anthea emerge, both of them excitedly stood up. ¡°Ms. Yeager!¡±


    A month had passed and Tammie had fully recovered.


    But the sickness had taken its toll, leaving him a bit gaunt.


    The two people he was most grateful for were Anthea and Paulina.


    Without Anthea¡¯s prescription and Paulina¡¯s relentless care, he would never have made it.


    So, as soon as he got better, he didn¡¯t even inform his parents. The first thing he did wase


    over to thank Anthea.


    Knowing Anthea was tied up during the day, they decided to swing by in the evening.


    Anthea greeted them with a warm smile.


    Just then, Tammie and Paulina suddenly bent down before Anthea to express their gratitude.


    This unexpected act stunned both Anthea and Carole, who was nearby.


    ¡°What are you doing? Please, get up!¡±


    Neither of the two would budge.


    With tears in his eyes, Tammie said, ¡°Ms. Yeager, you¡¯ve given me a second chance at life. We owe


    you this gesture of gratitude!¡±


    During his illness, Tammie never thought he¡¯d recover. He had even prepared hisst will.


    Only those who had been on death¡¯s door could understand the euphoria of a second chance at


    life.


    Moreover, Anthea, despite her young age, exuded an elegance that belied her years.


    She had a grace that washed away any pretense of youth.


    Though Tammie was much older than Anthea, standing before her, he felt like a junior, with no


    sense of incongruity.


    Anthea helped the couple to their feet with augh, ¡°There¡¯s no need for such formalities! Besides,


    as a healer, it¡¯s my duty to help!¡±


    Paulina handed Anthea a card, ¡°Ms. Yeager, this is a token of our appreciation. Please ept it!¡±


    epted the card without any pretensa,


    The ck family was one of Cloudcrest¡¯s wealthiest families, Refusing their gesture might have led


    to misunderstandings as if she had ulterior motives.


    After a short visit, the couple prepared to leave.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Anthea and Carole walked them to the gate of themunity.


    Once in the car, Paulina turned to Tammis, ¡°Should we go see your folks now? They¡¯d be over the


    moon to know you¡¯re okay¡±


    Tammie nodded, ¡°They¡¯ve worried about me for years, We should definitely surprise them. Let¡¯s get


    ready and call them tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good!¡± agreed Paulina. ¡°I¡¯ll follow your lead.¡±


    The next morning, Paulina made a call back home,


    The butler answered,


    To keep the surprise for the elderly couple, she didn¡¯t divulge the details, only mentioning that


    something serious had happened and they needed toe quickly.


    As soon as the butler hung up the phone, Luna, who had been eavesdropping, approached, ¡°Was


    Paulina on the phone?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the butler nodded.


    Squinting her eyes, Luna asked, ¡°Did she say what it was about?*


    The butler replied gravely, ¡°Thedy mentioned a serious matter that requires Baily and Wilma¡¯s


    immediate attention. I suspect that it might be¡­¡± he trailed off, the implication clear.


    For the ck family, nothing could be more serious than a crisis involving Tammie.


    Hearing this, Luna could barely contain her glee.


    It must be trouble with Tammie!


    Thest time she saw him, she figured he wouldn¡¯tst a month. And now, she thought, he must be


    gone!

 Chapter 110

    Sadness quickly enveloped Luna as she murmured, ¡°Tammie was so young, how are Wilma and


    Baily going to bear this¡­¡±


    Tammie had been in the prime of his life. Such an outstanding guy! It was such a tragic loss!


    Thinking so, the butler sighed, ¡°I¡¯ll go upstairs to inform Wilma and Baily.*


    Luna nodded and hurried back to her room to slip into a somber ck dress, wiping away her


    makeup.


    Tammie was gone. She needed to look appropriately grief¨Cstricken.


    By the time she descended the stairs, Wilma and Baily were already there.


    Wilma was weeping uncontrobly on Baily¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Tammie! My poor baby! It¡¯s all that hussy


    Paulina¡¯s fault! If she hadn¡¯t fed my son all those crazy pills, how could my boy have¡­!¡±


    Baily seemed moreposed than Wilma, but his eyes were red¨Crimmed too, ¡°Wilma, let¡¯s not


    jump to conclusions. Paulina doesn¡¯t strike me as that kind of person and she didn¡¯t say for sure


    that something happened to Tammie over the phone! Let¡¯s find out what¡¯s going on before we lose


    our heads.¡±


    Luna, with a choked voice, approached them, ¡°Please ept my condolences! Now that Tammie is


    gone, the family is relying on you. Tammie was taken from us unjustly! He¡¯s still waiting for you to


    avenge him!¡±


    Hearing Luna¡¯s words, Baily crumbled a little more. Could it be Tammie really was in


    trouble?


    Wilma, twisted by grief, eximed, ¡°If something¡¯s happened to Tammie, I¡¯ll make that bitch Paulina


    pay with her life!¡±


    Luna cried bitterly, ¡°Not just Paulina, but that useless Anthea too! What does she know about


    medicine? It was her and Paulina who killed Tammie! Tammie¡¯s death was wrongful, you must seek


    justice for him!¡±


    Since Anthea was showing signs of trying to turn over a new leaf, Luna was determined to ensure


    Anthea would never rise again.


    Being tainted with a death, Anthea would likely face a lifetime behind bars.


    Reba might not care about Anthea, but that didn¡¯t mean Luna was indifferent.


    Luna was meticulous in her thinking and wouldn¡¯t let anyone who could threaten their future off the


    hook.


    With her and Reba in charge, Cloudcrest would eventually be theirs for the taking!


    ¡°Yes! And Anthea! Those wretches! They will pay for Tammie¡¯s life!¡±


    05:32


    They rushed to the house where Tammie and Paulina had been living.


    The vi¡¯s gate was closed, and not a soul was in sight.


    The doorman was gone. The bodyguards were absent.


    It was eerily silent.


    This only confirmed Luna¡¯s suspicions.


    Luna turned to Wilma and Baily with a hoarse voice, ¡°Could Paulina have run off?¡±


    ¡°That bitch! After all the love Tammie showed her! He was devoted to her and this is how she


    repays him! She must have run off with a fortune!¡±


    Baily darkened his face. He had always thought of Paulina as a good girl, a suitable wife for


    Tammie, which was why he hadn¡¯t intervened when she insisted on giving Tammie those


    medications.


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


    He believed Paulina would never harm Tammie.


    But now, after all these years, to realize he had been so mistaken!


    If he had known it would end like this, he never would have allowed Paulina to medicate


    Tammie.


    Baily kicked the vi¡¯s gate with force.


    As the gate burst open, it seemed like something exploded overhead.


    Countless petals began to fall from the sky, creating a cascading shower of flowers.


    At the other end of the gate stood two figures.

 Chapter 111

    There stood a figure at the doorway, all too familiar. It had to be no one other than Tammie.


    Tammie was alive! He was perfectly fine! There he stood, as if nothing had ever happened.


    Was this some sort of illusion?


    After all, Tammie had been bedridden for nearly a year.


    Luna''s hand, hidden in the sleeve of her blouse, clenched into a fist, her face ghostly pale.


    Hadn''t Tammie passed away? Had Anthea cured him? How was that possible?


    Anthea was considered a good-for-nothing, wasn''t she?


    Luna had seen that prescription Anthea concoctedst time, which was useless for Tammie''s


    condition.


    What in the world was going on?


    Tammie took steps forward and knelt before the couple, "Mom and Dad! I''ve caused you so much


    worry."


    Only then did the reality sink in for the couple. They copsed to the floor, embracing Tammie,


    "Tammie! Is that really you?"


    It wasn''t until they were holding Tammie in their arms that Baily and Wilma could believe it was true.


    Their son was back!


    "Tammie! Are you really alright?" Wilma scanned her son, feeling as though she was in a dream.


    Just a month ago, he had been too weak to even speak from his bed. And now, not only was he


    alright, but he was standing!


    Baily was equally incredulous, examining Tammie from every angle.


    Tammie stood up and spun around, "Look at me, I''mpletely fine now!"


    He was still skinny, but it was clear his spirit was high.


    Where was the sickly young man they knew?


    Even Baily, a man not easily moved, found himself wiping away tears.


    The days of Tammie''s illness had taken a toll, although he never showed it, he worried every day.


    After all, Tammie was the only heir to the ck family fortune.


    Baily had lost his fertility in an ident years ago.


    If Tammie were gone, their line would end.


    Wilma, her hands sped together fervently, knelt and prayed, "Blessings! It must be a blessing!


    Thank the Lord! Thank you for giving my Tammie back!"


    "Mom!" Tammie chuckled, helping her up, "I got better because of Ms. Yeager''s medicine. What


    does it have to do with saints or the Lord?"


    At that, Tammie pulled Paulina to his side, "If Paulina hadn''t insisted I take Ms. Yeager''s medicine, I


    might have given up on myself!"


    Wilma grabbed Paulina''s hands, tears in her eyes, "My dear girl! I was wrong. I''m so sorry! I nearly


    hurt you, Paulina. Can you forgive me? I promise I''ll never do that again!"


    Remembering the past, Wilma was filled with shame and regret.


    She wished she could p her former self for not persisting with the medicine for Tammie. She


    couldn''t bear the thought of what might have happened.


    It was all her fault!


    "I¡¯m sorry too." Baily, recalling how he had burst through the door in anger, was filled with regret. He


    shouldn''t have been so quick to me Paulina.


    Upon hearing this, all the recent hassles seemed worth it for Paulina. With a smile, she replied,


    "We''re family. There''s no need for apologies between us. I know you both wanted only the best for


    Tammie. I''ve never held it against you."


    At that, Wilma felt even more shame.


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    Paulina was so gracious, and yet Wilma had not even half of her magnanimity.


    Wilma had been so wrong!


    Wilma resolved to treat Paulina as her daughter from then on.


    Pulling Paulina into a hug, Wilma was choked with emotion, "My dear, Tammie is lucky to have you!"

 Chapter 112

    After that, Wilma and Baily decided to pay a visit to the Yeager family to properly thank Anthea.


    Without Anthea, where would Tammie be now? Anthea didn''t just save Tammie but saved the entire


    ck family.


    Regret washed over Wilma. She should''ve never bought into the hearsay.


    Even esteemed doctors were at their wits'' end with Tammie''s illness, yet Anthea had cured him


    within a month. How could such a person be worthless?


    Luna stood aside, feeling like an outsider with a chill running through her limbs.


    Her mind drifted back to that night years ago. With her father and mother both gone, she was an


    orphan that nobody seemed to want.


    Why hadn''t Tammie died? As long as Tammie lived, there was no ce for her in the ck family.


    The ck family fortune was hers, the ck Group was hers. No one could take away what


    belonged to her!


    Just then, Wilma turned to Luna, "Luna, you go on home. Baily and I are heading over to Ms.


    Yeager''s!"


    Luna forced a smile, "Let mee with you. I''ve had some misunderstandings about Ms. Yeager


    before, and I''d like to apologize to her in person."


    This time, she was determined to uncover all there was to know about Anthea!


    Wilma nodded, "Alright, let''s go together."


    Anthea usually wasn''t home during the day, but today she had to register at school in the afternoon,


    so she didn''t help out at the diner.


    She changed into her school uniform, ready to leave when Tammie and Paulina arrived.


    At the sight of Tammie and Paulina, Anthea was taken aback, "Mr. and Mrs. ck?"


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


    "Ms. Yeager," Paulina said with a smile, "My parents insisted on thanking you in person, so here we


    are again."


    As soon as she finished speaking, Wilma stepped forward, gripping Anthea''s hand with emotion,


    "Ms. Yeager, thank you for curing my son. You are our savior!"


    Baily approached, removing his hat and bowing deeply, "Ms. Yeager! Thank you!"


    "There''s no need for such formality! Tammie and Paulina thanked me yesterday." Anthea then


    invited everyone inside.


    Luna followed at the back, subtly taking in the details of the house''s interior.


    Once inside, Wilma and Baily had many grateful words for Anthea.


    Luna stepped forward at the right moment to apologize, "Ms. Yeager, I''m sorry for the


    misunderstandings I had about you before and for questioning your medical skills. It was wrong of


    me, please forgive me!"


    Anthea smiled faintly, "Everyone makes mistakes. Ms. Lewis, don''t worry about it."


    Luna breathed a sigh of relief.


    She was forgiven so easily.


    It seemed Anthea wasn''t as clever as she''d thought.


    Changing the subject, Anthea looked at Wilma, "There are a few more things I need to discuss with


    you about Mr. ck''s illness. Could you pleasee with me?"


    "Of course," Wilma and Baily immediately stood up, following Anthea.


    Once inside Anthea''s bedroom, she closed the door behind them.


    At the sight of this, a sense of foreboding struck Wilma, "Ms. Yeager, is it that Tammie''s condition


    has worsened again? Please tell me, I can handle it..."


    Anthea shook her head, "Don''t worry, Mr. ck''s condition is no longer a concern, but..."


    She paused, her tone shifting as she continued, "His illness was absolutely no ident. Anos


    Syndrome has only been recorded once before globally. If you don''t deal with the traitor in your


    house, I can assure you Mr. ck will not live past thirty-five!"

 Chapter 113

    Couldn¡¯t live past thirty-five?


    Tammie had just turned thirty-two this year. If he couldn''t live past thirty-five, didn''t that mean he


    only had a few years left?


    Hearing this, Wilma turned ashen as she clutched Anthea''s hand, "Ms. Yeager! Please, you have to


    save Tammie!"


    Anthea continued, "Madam, if we don''t root out the traitor within, not even the greatest doctors


    could save Mr. ck."


    Baily frowned slightly, "Ms. Yeager, are you suggesting there''s a traitor in our family? Is Tammie''s


    illness intentional?"


    Anthea nodded. From the start, Anthea had felt there was something off about Tammie''s illness.


    Because the condition was just too rare.


    And after seeing Luna today, she was even more certain of her suspicions.


    There was definitely something fishy about Luna!


    It was then that Wilma also realized the gravity of the situation, her heart skipping a beat, "Who is


    out to harm Tammie?"


    Anthea replied calmly, "After Mr. ck''s mishap, whoever stands to gain the most is the traitor."


    Wilma knitted her brows tightly.


    Currently, there were only five members in the ck family. She and Baily would never harm their


    own child. That left only Luna and Paulina.


    Baily also came to the same conclusion, "Could it be Luna and Paulina?"


    Wilma turned pale at the thought.


    One was her daughter-inw, and the other her niece...


    Could it be one of them?


    Anthea continued, "Mrs. ck has no children of her own. Killing Mr. ck would bring her no


    advantage. Besides, if she wanted to harm Mr. ck, she wouldn''t insist on using my prescriptions.


    Moreover, I can see in her eyes that she values Mr. ck more than her life."


    It was clear Paulina was not the culprit.


    "Then..." Wilma felt a chill run down her spine, "Could it be Luna?"


    Anthea went on, "Ms. Lewis is your blood niece. If anything were to happen to Mr. ck, she would


    be the only kin you have left in this world. And if I''m not mistaken, Ms. Lewis must have been quite


    certain that Mr. ck was already dead, right?"


    Wilma and Baily sank their hearts at her words.


    Because Anthea was spot on.


    Just earlier at the ck family, Luna kept insisting on offering condolences, as if she had


    deliberately led them to believe Tammie was already gone. Luna acted as if she had been prepared


    all along.


    Plus, ever since Tammie got sick, they had indeed toyed with the idea of letting Luna take the reins


    of the ck Group. So just as Anthea had said, with Tammie''s death, Luna would be the direct


    beneficiary.


    "She was so young when she lost her parents, and I raised her with my hands! How could she do


    this to me? How could she do this to Tammie? I''m her aunt!" Wilma burst into tears.


    Baily''s face was taut, his eyes clouded with anger. Although he had no blood rtion to Luna, he


    had treated her as his daughter.


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


    How could she!


    "A wolf in sheep''s clothing can never be tamed," Anthea gently patted Wilma''s back,forting her,


    "Fortunately, Mr. ck is safe now. It''s not worth it to grieve over Luna."


    Despite Anthea''s words, Wilma was still heartbroken. She couldn''t understand why Luna had turned


    out this way.


    "I''m going to confront her! I want to ask her why she would do such a thing to Tammie!" Wilma


    stormed out in a fury.

 Chapter 114

    Anthea firmly held Wilma''s hand, stating, "Madam, you''re jumping the gun!"


    Wilma looked at Anthea, puzzled.


    Anthea continued, "We don''t have any proof right now. If she denies everything, we might just end


    up alerting her."


    Baily nodded in agreement. "Ms. Yeager is right, Wilma, you''re acting on impulse."


    As the words settled, Baily gave Anthea a bow. "Thank you for your guidance, Ms. Yeager. I know


    what to do now."


    After all, Baily was a businessman. There''s no substitute for experience. Handling someone like


    Luna shouldn''t be too difficult.


    "As long as you''ve got a n."


    When they returned to the living room, both Wilma and Baily had regained theirposure,


    showing no sign of the turmoil that had just taken ce.


    Luna approached them anxiously. "Auntie, is Tammie okay?"


    Wilma smiled and shook her head. "It''s nothing serious, Luna. You don''t need to worry."


    "I''m so relieved. You had me scared to death just now," Luna said, patting her chest.


    Wilma looked up at her niece, feeling a stranger''s chill.


    All these years, she had been nurturing a venomous snake in her bosom. Thankfully, they had


    caught on in time.


    There was still time to set things right.


    ssroom 606 of Northbridge High School.


    Today marked the beginning of the school year, and everyone had arrived early.


    Anthea''s seat was the only one still empty, and the buzz of spection grew among the students.


    "Where could Anthea be?"


    "She¡¯s just a fake princess. She should take a good look at herself!"


    "Our school''s beauty, Reba, is a hundred times prettier than her. Anthea can''t even hold a


    candle to Reba. I''d be too embarrassed to show up if I were her."


    "Anthea is so shameless, pretending to be Ms. Morris. Disgusting!"


    Lizzie, sitting at her desk, was fuming with anger upon hearing these words. Unable to contain


    herself any longer, she mmed her hands on the desk and stood up. "Stop it! It''s not Ann''s fault


    she was switched at birth. She was just a baby. What could she have done about it?"


    "Lizzie, who do you think you are? Anthea is disgusting and shameless! She must have done it on


    purpose! Otherwise, why wouldn''t she dare toe to school?"


    "Yeah, exactly!"


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    Just then, the squeak of the door cut through the chatter.


    "Sorry to disappoint, but here I am," a voice dered.


    The ssroom, once abuzz, fell silent. All eyes turned towards the door.


    There, a slender figure walked in gracefully.


    Anthea was dressed in a pristine white uniform, her ck skirt emphasizing her long, straight legs.


    Her face, untouched by makeup, was pure and spotless.


    Her silky hair was tied up into a neat bun, revealing her graceful and swan-like neck. She had an air


    of quiet elegance with an undercurrent of yful charm, outshining even the celebrated Reba.


    Wow! She was stunning, even prettier than the school''s beauty, Reba.


    Was she a new transfer student?


    The students'' gazes followed Anthea as she walked over to her seat.


    As Anthea sat down nonchntly in what used to be her chair, a collective gasp filled the air.


    Was that Anthea? No way.


    "I think you might be in the wrong seat," Lizzie finally managed to say tentatively after a long pause.

 Chapter 115

    "No mistake." Anthea nced back with a slight turn of her head, her clear eyes free of any


    imperfection. "I''m Anthea. Don''t tell me you don''t recognize me, Lizzie?"


    The original Anthea was known for her vulgar tastes and foolish behavior, a social pariah despite


    her family''s fortune. Heavy makeup was her armor. Though she was an heiress, her ssmates


    looked down on her, with no one willing to associate with her. Lizzie, her deskmate, was the only


    friend she had in ss.


    Far from shunning Anthea, Lizzie always stood by her, ready to leap to her defense whenever


    someone tried to bully her.


    Holy smokes! Stunned, Lizzie could only gape.


    That voice was unmistakably Anthea''s, but that face...


    Lizzie swallowed hard, with her eyes wide with disbelief. Anthea always caked on makeup and


    never seemed to care for the dress code, but without her mask of cosmetics, she was strikingly


    beautiful.


    Not only was Lizzie thrown for a loop, but the whole ss was also shell-shocked upon catching a


    glimpse of Anthea''s makeup-free face for the first time in nearly three years.


    "Ann, you look stunning without makeup!" Lizzie eximed. "I always told you that you''d be


    gorgeous in nature, but you never believed me!"


    As Anthea''s close friend, Lizzie had repeatedly urged her to forgo makeup, to no avail. But now,


    after a summer break, Anthea had embraced her natural look.


    "Yeah," Anthea nodded, "I''m done with makeup for good."


    "For real?" Lizzie lit up her face.


    "Absolutely!"


    Lizzie grinned. "That''s more like it! You''re even prettier than the school¡¯s beauty now. I bet you''ll


    dethrone her in no time!"


    Just then, a subtle sound filled the air.


    Anthea twitched her ears. With anguid grace, she stood up, her long legs carrying her to the front


    of the fourth group. Resting her hands on the desk, she towered over the boy who had just tried to


    snap a photo of her with his phone.


    "Hand it over."


    Under her gaze, the boy squirmed ufortably, his ears turning a bright shade of red. "Hand over


    what?"


    "Your phone," Anthea said evenly.


    With trembling hands, the boy fished out his phone and handed it to Anthea.


    She deleted the picture and handed the phone back to him. "Don''t take photos of me without


    permission, got it?"


    "Got it," the boy mumbled, taking back the device.


    It was only after Anthea returned to her seat that he realized he hadn''t told her the password. It had


    been locked!


    How on earth Anthea unlocked his phone and deleted the photo? Holy cow!


    "Dude, Anthea, you were so cool just now!" Lizzie wrapped her arm around Anthea''s as she


    returned.


    "Handsome and beautiful?" Anthea raised an eyebrow yfully.


    "Yeah!" Lizzie suddenly caught herself. "Oh my gosh, Ann, since when did you be so vain?"


    Casually pulling out a textbook, Anthea replied, "Am I not stating the obvious?"


    Lizzie was speechless.


    That was when the ss president approached. "Anthea, the homeroom teacher wants to see you."


    "Alright." Anthea stood and made her way to the office.


    Bain, the balding middle-aged homeroom teacher, looked up from his grading as she entered.


    "Mr. Bain, you wanted to see me?" Anthea stood at the doorway.


    Bain, puzzlement crossing his face, looked up. "Who are you?" He couldn''t recall such a student in


    his ss.


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    "It''s me, Anthea." replied Anthea.


    Bain stared in disbelief, his expression a roller coaster of emotions.


    After a long moment, he handed her the previous semester''s report card. "Take a look at your final


    grades."


    Anthea took the report card, her lips twitching involuntarily.


    The original Anthea''s grades were abysmal.


    No wonder Bain looked so displeased.


    "I''ll study harder from now on and won''t drag the ss down," Anthea assured him. In her past life,


    she had been a top student. High school subjects were a breeze.


    Study harder?


    Bain gave her a skeptical gaze. That''s easier said than done, especially for a senior saddled with


    rock-bottom grades.


    "Anthea, you''re aware of our ss'' standing. Students in our elite ss earn their ce here. Even


    the second-tost student is much better than you. The gap is too wide," Bain said, pausing before


    delivering the blow. "You''ll transfer to ss 7. I''ve already spoken to the principal."


    ss 7 was a regr ss, fitting for Anthea''s grades.


    The Morris family, though disapproving of Anthea, had paid a hefty price to ce her in the elite


    ss for the sake of their reputation. Now that she was no longer Ms. Morris, there was no reason


    to keep her there.


    Bain was confident he could produce top students this year, and Anthea''s dismal performance was


    a setback.


    How could a teacher of his caliber, one who prided himself on nurturing top scorers, justify the


    presence of a student who barely scraped together fifty points?


    He expected Anthea to protest, but she smiled. "Understood, Mr. Bain. I''ll make the necessary


    arrangements."

 Chapter 116

    Anthea was so easy to talk to that Bain was taken aback. He continued, ¡°Then go see the


    homeroom teacher of ss 7ter, okay?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Anthea nodded.


    When she got to the ssroom, Lizzie asked with curiosity, ¡°Ann, what did Mr. Bain want with you?¡±


    Anthea ryed Bain¡¯s message to her.


    Hearing this, Lizzie frowned and said, ¡°Why¡¯s Mr. Bain gotta be like that? We¡¯re in our senior year


    and he¡¯s making you switch sses!¡±


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    As she spoke, Lizzie wrapped her arm around Anthea, ¡°Ann, I can¡¯t bear the thought of you


    leaving!¡±


    Anthea chuckled andforted her, ¡°Lizzie, I¡¯m just moving to another ss, not transferring to a


    new school. Besides, I¡¯ll be right next door in ss 7. We can still hang out at lunch together!¡±


    ¡°That kinda makes sense.¡± Lizzie helped Anthea pack her things.


    Just then, Anthea seemed to remember something and pulled out a greaseproof paper bag from


    her backpack, ¡°Oh Lizzie, here¡¯s your favorite sandwich, my mom made it herself. Tell me if it tastes


    good.¡±


    Anthea had brought it, especially for Lizzie. After all, Lizzie was the only one who had been truly


    kind to her.


    ¡°Thanks, Ann.¡± Lizzie lit up her eyes at the mention of food.


    After packing up, Anthea followed the homeroom teacher, Mr. Waldron, to ss 7.


    Though only a wall separated ss 7 from the prestigious elite ss, the discipline was notably


    looser. As they approached, the sounds ofughter and chatter spilled out.


    ¡°Holy smokes! The teacher has arrived!¡±


    Someone quipped, and the previously noisy ssroom fell silent in an instant.


    Makeup was stashed away, mirrors snapped shut, phones disappeared, and everyone busied


    themselves.


    Waldron shoved the ssroom door open and strode to the podium, pping his ruler down with a


    sharp crack, ¡°My goodness! Our ss must be the quietest in the whole grade! How wonderfully


    behaved you all are! Such ster students and so self-disciplined! Oh, you¡¯re just the cream of the


    crop, the finest group I¡¯ve ever taught!¡±


    Waldron had a knack for sarcasm as evidenced by his current speech. The students, well-versed in


    his ways, were silent as mice.


    Anthea stood outside the ssroom, a slight smile ying on her lips.


    This new teacher had a sense of humor.


    Waldron surveyed the students and then announced, ¡°Today, we have a new student transferring to


    our ss. Let¡¯s give her a warm wee with a round of apuse!¡±


    At this, a wave of enthusiastic pping, and even some whistling, filled the room.


    Anthea, with her backpack slung over her shoulder, walked in from outside.


    Waldron turned to Anthea, ¡°Please introduce yourself to the ss.¡±


    Anthea nodded slightly and approached the podium, ¡°Hey everyone, I¡¯m Anthea Yeager. I¡¯ll be with


    you for the uing year. I¡¯m looking forward to getting to know you all.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, check out the stunner!¡±


    ¡°Wee to the ss!¡±


    ¡°I heard she¡¯s the Anthea from the elite ss next door!¡±


    ¡°Dude! The one from the Morris family, the faux heiress?¡±


    ¡°Alright! Quiet down, everyone!¡± Waldron rapped the ruler again and then pointed to an empty seat,


    ¡°Anthea, you can take that seat over there.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Anthea carried her backpack to her new seat, next to a somewhat plump girl who quickly stood up


    to offer her the spot.


    ¡°Thanks a lot.¡±

 Chapter 117

    Anthea slid into the booth across from her newb partner and extended her hand with a friendly


    grin. "Hey there, I''m Anthea Yeager. We''re gonna be deskmates for a while. Let''s make the best of


    it, okay?"


    Her deskmate looked up, clearly taken aback by the gesture, but quickly recovered and shook her


    hand with a grip as delicate as a whisper. "I''m Tanya," she squeaked.


    Meanwhile, across town in Capital City within a stately vi.


    "Boss, the results from the DNA tests you ordered are in." The assistant handed out two envelopes


    to Jonah Lindsay.


    Jonah trembled his hands as he tore open the envelopes, his eyes searching for answers amidst


    the typed letters. As he read, the light in his eyes dimmed rapidly, and the papers slipped from his


    grasp onto the floor.


    Just then, footsteps approached from outside. Before Jonah could scramble to collect the fallen


    papers, the door swung open and in strolled J - Jonah''s mom. She bent down and picked up


    the DNA test results. "You had tests done abroad? Do you think I would deceive you? In your heart,


    do you see me as a liar? If Reba is indeed your daughter, wouldn''t I acknowledge her?"


    J was beside herself with frustration.


    Even now, Jonah still harbored illusions about Carole.


    J had vehemently opposed Jonah''s rtionship with Carole from the beginning. The social


    chasm between them was, after all, immense.


    When Carole gave birth, J knew nothing of the twins. She had taken the firstborn child and it


    wasn''t until seventeen yearster that she identally discovered Carole had been pregnant with


    twins.


    But upon seeing the other child, J thought the child looked nothing like Jonah, nor like his twin


    brother.


    Seeking confirmation, she consulted a doctor.


    The doctor had exined that fraternal twins could have different fathers, and to prevent any


    unforeseen consequences, J had secretly had a DNA test conducted. Her intuition had been


    correct. The results confirmed Reba was not Jonah''s child.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    It meant Carole had been unfaithful.


    When Jonah first saw the results, he was in utter disbelief. Carole, in his memories, was a beautiful


    and kind soul.


    So, three months ago, he went to Cloudcrest himself, and managed to get a sample of the child''s


    hair to ensure no tampering from J back home. He had tests done in five different countries.


    All five reports came back the same. The child shared no gic ties with him.


    J sighed deeply, "Jonah, listen to me, please. Carole was a charmer, not worth your agony. You


    loved her so deeply and gave her so much. What did you get in return? It''s been years and it''s time


    you lived for yourself!"


    "Mom, enough," Jonah was unreadable. "I know what I''m doing."


    J persisted, "Gerard needs a mother, and you need a wife. I think Edna would be a good match.


    She''s been loyal to you for years."


    "Mom, I don''t have those kinds of feelings for Edna. If you don''t want history to repeat itself, please


    stop bringing this up."


    With that, Jonah turned and walked away. His gait was unusual. A keen observer would notice his


    right leg was a prosthetic.

 Chapter 118

    J gazed at Jonah''s retreating figure and let out a heavy sigh.


    Jonah had so much going for him, if only he weren''t so hopelessly devoted!


    Unfortunately, he had given his heart to the wrong person. Carole wasn¡¯t worth his unwavering


    loyalty.


    Just then, there was a knock at the door.


    "Madam, Edna Fletcher is here."


    At the mere mention of the name, J''s face brightened and she promptly bee-lined for the living


    room.


    "Edna."


    "J." Edna walked in, carrying a thermos. "I''ve made you some bone broth, with some herbs for


    wellness. You should drink it while it''s hot."


    Edna was 39 but looked after herself so well that she could pass for a woman in her early twenties.


    With her radiant beauty and graceful demeanor, she was always seen with a polite smile, never


    seeming to get upset about anything.


    Edna and Jonah had grown up together, childhood sweethearts through and through.


    She had always had a special ce in her heart for Jonah.


    Their families had even verbally agreed to a marriage between them when they were both children.


    But it was a case of unrequited love.


    When Edna found out that Jonah had forsaken her for a woman as in as theye, she married


    a suitable man in a fit of pique.


    Sadly, her husband died in a car ident not long after they wed.


    At that time, Edna was pregnant.


    J had always felt guilty about it and believed their family had wronged Edna. If Jonah hadn''t


    broken the engagement, Edna wouldn''t have been widowed so young.


    After her husband''s death, Edna didn¡¯t remarry. She waited for Jonah, which made J very fond


    of her. She had long considered Edna Jonah¡¯s future wife.


    "In this sweltering heat, you shouldn''t have troubled yourself."


    Ednadled a bowl of the broth and handed it to J, "Nonsense, you''ve looked after me for


    years. It''s the least I can do."


    J took the bowl and tasted the broth, "By the way, where¡¯s Darleen today?"


    Darleen was Edna''s daughter, born posthumously.


    After her husband''s death, Edna chose to keep the baby.


    Edna smiled, "Darleen started school today."


    J nodded.


    Edna nced at J hesitantly, "J, my mother passed away when I was young, and I''ve


    always seen you as my mother. There''s something I¡¯m not sure I should say."


    "Edna, speak your mind. There''s no need for formalities."


    With that encouragement, Edna carefully considered her words, "I''ve heard rumors that Gerry''s


    mother was carrying twins. No matter what happened back then, that child is still part of the Lindsay


    family. Can you bear to let them fend for themselves?"


    Edna grasped J''s hand earnestly, continuing, "As a widow and a single mother, I know how


    hard it is for a woman to raise a child alone. Please, forgive Carole. It''s clear that Jonah still loves


    her."


    "You''re too kind-hearted," J patted Edna''s hand, "But don''t be fooled by Carole. Do you think


    I''m heartless? If that child was Jonah''s, wouldn''t I do everything to bring them back?"


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The Lindsay family had a tradition of only having boys.


    J had five sons, eleven grandsons, and three great-grandsons, but not a single granddaughter.


    She had always dreamed of having one.


    When she learned there might be a granddaughter out there, she was over the moon.


    But then all her excitement had been for nothing.


    Edna, shocked, asked, "What do you mean?"


    J sighed, "That child isn''t Jonah''s."


    "No way!" Edna pped her hand over her mouth in disbelief, "I''ve met Carole. She could never be


    that sort of person! You must be mistaken."


    "I''ve had a DNA test done at the hospital," J continued. "Jonah, like you, didn''t believe me and


    secretly had five more tests done abroad. The results were all the same."


    "But aren''t the child and Gerry twins?"


    "The doctor told me they could be fraternal twins with different fathers."


    Edna was stunned but still defended Carole, "I''m certain Carole isn''t that type of woman!"


    J turned cold, "Enough, Edna! Don''t speak well of her. Carole is a flirtatious woman, not worthy


    of your defense. In my eyes, only you are suited for Jonah!"


    Hearing this, Edna smiled sadly, "J, just being by your side and Jonah''s is enough for me. I


    never had false hopes of marrying him. Love is about giving, not possessing. I just want Jonah to be


    happy."


    Edna never wavered her kindness.


    She never resented Jonah.


    Even after her husband''s death as she lived as a widow, she neverined. Instead, she often


    spoke in favor of Carole to J.


    "My dear girl," J tapped Edna''s forehead, "You need to be a little selfish in life! You''re too good.


    That''s why Carole stole Jonah from you. But in my heart, you are my daughter-inw and Darleen is


    my granddaughter. Our family has longed for a girl for years. Darleen will be our precious gem!"

 Chapter 119

    Edna shimmered with a glint of defiance, fleeting yet unmistakable, "J, you shouldn''t joke with


    me like that."


    "I''m dead serious, Edna. No joke," J replied with a stern look.


    Just then, a subtle tread of footsteps echoed in the living room.


    Edna turned to look.


    A tall figure approached, backlit by the fading sunlight.


    At thirty-nine, the man had shed any trace of youthful impatience, exuding an air of quiet assurance.


    Jonah, having helmed the Lindsay family for years,manded a presence that was both noble


    and intimidating. Such a man was undeniably captivating.


    His limp, the result of a missing right leg, did not detract from his charm but added a unique allure.


    Throughout Capital City, a slew of debutantes were itching to get in good with Jonah, but over the


    years, no one had managed to snag his attention.


    A blush crept onto Edna''s cheeks as she rose to her feet, "Jonah, I''ve simmered a pot of stew for


    J. Would you care for some?"


    "No thanks," Jonah replied curtly, striding past her.


    He was always like this with her.


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


    Once, Edna thought it was just his way.


    Until one afternoon, she caught a glimpse of Jonah with Carole, his demeanor entirely different.


    That was when Edna realized he wasn''t naturally so detached.


    But now, with Carole''s betrayal, was Edna still less in his eyes than a fickle-hearted woman?


    J chuckled, "Don''t mind him, Edna. Jonah''s always been like that. If he doesn''t want your


    delicious stew, more for me! His loss, really!"


    Edna''s smile remained undimmed, "J, Jonah and I grew up together. No one knows him better


    than I do. How could I be upset with him?"


    Patting Edna''s hand, J added, "That''s why I''ve always said you''re the best match for Jonah."


    Edna was kind-hearted and generous, deeply familiar with his ways, and she had an adorable


    daughter to boot.


    J truly approved of her.


    In Cloudcrest.


    Anthea had spent the entire day at school.


    By the end of the day, her drastic transformation was the talk of the entire campus, with students


    from other sses flocking to see the spectacle during breaks.


    Since it was her first day in the new ss, Anthea hadn''t touched her phone, instead paying close


    attention to the lessons.


    After school, she fired up herputer to tackle some coding tasks.


    The OS System was now two-thirdsplete.


    The rest could be managed on her phone.


    While coding, Anthea took moments to reply to her client''s messages.


    Noticing it was eight o''clock, the peak of the dinner rush, she shut down herputer to help out in


    the family diner.


    Meanwhile, Daniel closed hisptop and turned to Sherman, "Sherman, I just got word from our


    tech wizard. The OS System will be ready next week!"


    Sherman lounged on the couch, one hand propping up his head, the other idly twirling a pen


    between his long fingers, his expression unreadable.


    At Daniel''s news, Shermanzily lifted his eyelids, revealing deep-set eyes, "Have we identified


    Phoenix yet?"


    "Not yet," Daniel shook his head.


    The wizard was a tough nut to crack.


    Changing the subject, Daniel perked up, "Forget that for now. Sherman, I found a good joint that


    serves up the bestfort food. You¡¯ve got to try their specials! Let''s hit it up tonight! They''ve also


    got a vegetarian sd that''s to die for. I bet you''ll be hooked after one taste!"


    On the other side.


    Upon learning of Daniel''s whereabouts, Reba immediately set off to Yeager''s Delicacies with


    Alicia and Mae in tow. After all, it was the modest background that highlighted the true beauty of


    Reba.


    Reba never went anywhere without Alicia and Mae.


    Once they arrived, Reba was surprised to find Anthea working as a waitress again, despite the


    ce being called Yeager''s Delicacies. She couldn''t fathom that Anthea had any real connection to


    the establishment.


    Anthea, a nobody, running a diner was ludicrous to even consider.


    But Reba''s focus wasn''t on Anthea today. She quickly spotted Daniel and another man sitting


    across from him.


    The man''s back was to her, his face obscured.


    Yet, just the sight of his silhouette sent a shiver down her spine,manding and regal.


    If the system''s information was right, Daniel was tight with Mr. Christensen. Could this man be him?


    Who else could radiate such an aura if not Mr. Christensen?


    It seemed her trip wasn''t in vain.


    Curling her lips into a sly smile, Reba signaled to Mae and Alicia, "Let''s sit over there."


    "Sure."


    They took a table next to Daniel''s. "Waitress, we''re ready to order!"


    Anthea jogged over, "What can I get for you three?"


    It was then Anthea realized they were familiar faces.


    Here to stir up trouble again? She arched an eyebrow, unfazed.


    Reba asked, "Could you rmend some of the house specials?"


    Anthea mentioned, "The roasted rabbit is quite popr. You might enjoy that."


    If her memory served right, Mr. Christensen was a vegetarian.


    Reba wouldn''t miss an opportunity to impress Mr. Christensen, feigning shock, "Rabbit? Those


    poor, adorable creatures. How could we possibly eat them?"


    Anthea''s smile was light, her eyes twinkling mischievously, "Rats aren''t nearly as cute. Shall I bring


    one out for you?"

 Chapter 120

    "Whoops!" At the back table, Daniel was sipping his water when he heard the remark. He couldn''t


    hold back, and the water burst out of his mouth in an uncontroble spray.


    Thateback was epic!


    Sherman lifted his gaze slightly upon hearing the words. A faint smile seemed to spread across his


    face. Amidst the food fog, that smile seemed even more unearthly and bone-chilling.


    His slender fingers slowly twirled the polished cross, which was in stark contrast to his pale and


    detached hands.


    Thatdy sure had a sharp tongue.


    She was not someone to be trifled with.


    Reba knew she was in a tight spot. She had hoped to curry favor with Mr. Christensen by


    discussing his vegetarianism, but Anthea had turned the tables on her.


    Reba narrowed her eyes and continued, "I''ve been a vegetarian for years! We should respect


    life and not harm it needlessly. Don''t you think your actions are too cruel? Consuming meat is a


    deep sin. I suggest you rece all the meat in your restaurant with vegetarian options!"


    Reba thought, ¡°After all, Mr. Christensen was a vegetarian. Surely, this would resonate with


    him!¡±


    Anthea frowned slightly. What was Reba ying at? Suddenly the saintly one?


    "Everyone has their beliefs. I respect your choice to be a vegetarian, but you can''t attack those who


    choose to eat meat. If not being a vegetarian means not respecting life, then vegetarians are also


    disrespecting life! Don''t nts have life too? Everything in this world has life. True faith is in one''s


    heart, not on their lips. If you respect life that much, then perhaps you should give up pasta as well,


    and oh, stop drinking water. After all, water is the source of all things. If you drink one more


    mouthful, the Earth loses that much water. As kind-hearted as you are, you can''t bear the thought of


    an animal dying of thirst?"


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Reba was incredulous as she looked at Anthea. What had happened to this nobody?


    When had her words be so sharp?


    Reba had wanted to highlight her kindness and generosity through her vegetarianism to show


    Mr. Christensen that she was his kindred spirit, but now Anthea had turned it into a sin to even drink


    water!


    And worse, Anthea''s argument was sopelling that Reba couldn''t refute it.


    No, she couldn''t let Mr. Christensen''s attention be drawn away by Anthea. In a fit of agitation,


    Reba grabbed Anthea''s hand as if she had just recognized her, "Oh, it''s Anthea! I almost didn''t


    recognize you with this new change. I apologize if I seemed taken aback by your meat dishes. I''m


    just not used to it, please don''t mind me. If I''ve spoken out of turn, I''m sorry."


    The underdog always got the most attention, and so Reba took the opportunity to apologize.


    It was a ssic move from the ybook of a maniptive innocent.


    After her apology, Reba softened her tone, "My dear sister, I know you''ve never liked me and


    you have a lot of misunderstandings about me. But I believe that in time, you''lle to ept me


    as your sister!"


    "You must be kidding," Anthea said with a faint smile.


    A maniptive innocent would always remain so!


    Reba stiffened her smile for a split second. She wanted to p Anthea, but she had to contain


    herself. She couldn''t ruin the image she had cultivated in Mr. Christensen''s mind!


    "Are you still working? Then I won''t keep you. We''ll just have a full vegetarian sd, please. Oh,


    and do you have any drink rmendations?"


    "Water would be perfect for you," Anthea replied with a half-smile that didn''t quite reach her eyes,


    "I''m busy and I¡¯m not interested in ying drama with you."


    Anthea''s words wereced with double meaning and barbs, leaving Reba no room to retaliate,


    only to hold back her anger and respond with forced sweetness, "If you dislike it, I won''t say it


    anymore."

 Chapter 121

    After Anthea left, Alicia turned to Reba and said, "Reba, can you believe the nerve of


    Anthea? Do you want me to set her straight?"


    Reba frowned, her voice tinged with annoyance. "Alicia, how can you talk like that? Ann may not


    give me respect, but I''ve always seen her as my little sister! No one gets to bully her on my watch!"


    Alicia heaved a sigh, "Reba, you''re just too sweet. When you''re too nice, you end up on the


    bottom."


    "It''s okay," Reba said with a smile, "Sometimes, taking the short end of the stick can be a


    blessing."


    While ying the role of the gracious older sister, Reba discreetly surveyed her surroundings.


    Mr. Christensen had been sitting at the next table this whole time. That meant he must have noticed


    her.


    After all, in this day and age, there weren''t many girls who''d opt for a veggie burger over a juicy


    steak.


    She resolved to mind her manners while eating, determined to reim the dignity she''d lost earlier.


    With that thought, Reba instinctively straightened her posture, not allowing herself a moment of


    ck.


    Daniel had been watching Reba the whole time. He whispered to Sherman, "Hey, Reba is


    just like you! She''s a vegetarian too! I bet she''s just used to not eating meat and couldn''t bear the


    thought of it. You two might have more inmon than you think."


    If it were anyone else, Daniel would have thought they were putting on an act.


    But this was Reba! She was too kind-hearted for such pretenses.


    Sherman turned his head slowly, his gaze deep. "Don''t you think thatpared to Reba, Anthea


    fits the bill of a high-societydy a bit more?"


    In terms of demeanor, appearance, or even the way they carried themselves in conversation,


    Reba didn''t hold a candle to Anthea.


    Forget Reba, even the young women from the most prominent families in the Capital City


    couldn''t match up to Anthea.


    Daniel furrowed his brows. "Sherman, don''t let Anthea fool you! Whatever happened earlier


    might''ve been an act. Everyone in Cloudcrest knows about her reputation." He pondered for a


    moment, convinced that Anthea couldn''t have been genuine. She was ying hard to get!


    "Since when have you been so blind?" Sherman twirled his lighter, his voice low and tinged with


    frost, "The one who''s putting on a show here is Reba. But clearly, she underestimated Anthea."


    If Anthea were as foolish as the rumors suggested, then Reba wouldn''t have been the one at a


    disadvantage tonight, it would have been Anthea.


    "Sherman, you''ve got Ms. Morris all wrong!" Daniel insisted. "You don''t know her at all. Last week, I


    saw her feeding a stray dog. The week before, she helped a lost kid find his way home. And the


    time before that..."


    "Howe you always happen to be around to see all this?" Sherman lit a cigarette, the smoke


    curling up, concealing the expression in his eyes, "Use your head a bit more."


    A coincidence once was fine.


    But these frequent coincidences, especially all happening under Daniel''s nose, were obviously no


    ident.


    "Sherman, do you think I''m a fool?" Daniel sounded exasperated, wondering if he couldn''t even


    distinguish right from wrong and why Sherman kept defending Anthea.


    Sherman exhaled a smoke ring, which dissipated to reveal his chiseled features. After a moment,


    his lips parted lightly, "You really are.''"


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Daniel''s only w was his naivety, especially when it came to women.


    "Sherman, please don''t fall for her tricks!"


    Daniel was so agitated that he identally knocked over a coffeepot on the table. The pot was


    about to crash to the floor, threatening to shatter and soak everything in coffee.


    "Careful." A pale and delicate hand swiftly caught the pot, setting it back on the table with ease.


    "That''s freshly brewed coffee. It¡¯s quite hot!"


    Following the hand led to Anthea''s unnaturally calm face.


    Sherman looked up slightly, his eyes meeting hers. His voice was low and deep as he


    acknowledged, "Nice reflexes."

 Chapter 122

    She handled the coffeepot with the grace of a ballet dancer from grabbing it to setting it down on the


    table, the entire act didn''t take more than 20 seconds.


    To an onlooker, it might have seemed like just a brief moment, but only someone like Sherman, a


    connoisseur of poise and precision, could appreciate the difficulty of such a feat.


    Moreover, the pot was filled with scalding hot coffee, yet she managed not to burn herself, nor did


    she spill a single drop.


    Her movements flowed as elegantly as a river, a testament to her skill.


    "Thank you," Anthea said, slightly lowering her gaze to meet Sherman. Sparks flew in that fleeting


    encounter, ripples of a potential beginning, but they vanished just as quickly as they had appeared.


    Anthea had an excellent memory.


    At the sight of those eyes, she promptly recalled the man she had seen at the Morris family g the


    other night.


    Considering Reba''s recent behavior, it dawned on her that the little performance was probably


    for his benefit.


    This man had the air of someone born with a silver spoon in his mouth, someone not to be taken


    lightly.


    Reba was clearly aiming high.


    Sherman paused for a moment, momentarily taken aback.


    Back in his youth, he had made a name for himself with a steely resolve, and although years of


    charitable work and clean living had softened his edge, few could hold his gaze for more than three


    seconds, not even his business associates who often deliberately avoided eye contact with him.


    Yet today, he had found an exception. And she was just a teenage girl.


    "Ann!" At that moment, Nana came dashing over.


    "What''s up?" Anthea turned her head away smoothly, breaking eye contact.


    Nana handed her a phone, "Ann, your phone''s ringing!"


    "Oh, thanks." Anthea took the phone and stepped aside to a quieter spot for the call.


    Sherman watched her go, then took a sip of his drink, his right hand absently tracing the contours of


    a silver cross.


    "Sherman, you''re not falling for Anthea, are you?" Daniel asked with a hint of concern.


    Sherman remained silent, his features bathed in the warm light, looking every bit the aristocrat,


    cloaked in mystery.


    "Sherman! Anthea is ying tricks. You can''t fall for her act!"


    Daniel was genuinely worried, fearing Sherman might be duped.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    As the sole heir to the Christensen family, Sherman was a catch. There were plenty of women


    scheming for his attention.


    Not everyone was as innocent and pure-hearted as Reba, who seemed utterly unfazed by


    Sherman''s prestigious status.


    "You think too little of Anthea who doesn''t need to y games," Sherman said coolly. "Besides, I''m


    a bachelor by choice."


    If he were like any other man, Anthea would be an excellent match indeed, but he wasn''t. Marriage


    and children were never his objectives.


    There was no telling if those were Anthea''s goals either.


    She was just a bit young.


    If she were older, they might have made good confidants.


    At this point, Mr. Christensen had yet to realize that no woman had ever yed such a role in his


    life.


    Daniel was on the verge of tears.


    Sherman was usually so astute. Why couldn''t he see through Anthea''s charade?


    He used the good-natured Reba of putting on an act, yet he couldn''t recognize the real


    performer.


    What a ssic case of being too clever by half! Daniel sighed.


    Soon the vegan sd arrived.


    Arge pot full of veggies looked just like any other vegan feast.


    Sherman lost his appetite at the sight, not that he was ever one to indulge in sensory pleasures.


    Daniel picked some greens with the serving forks and urged, "Try these, Sherman. I guarantee


    they''ll exceed your expectations."


    At the sight of Daniel''s enthusiasm, Sherman gave the greens a taste. The crisp texture and the


    vor impressed him, even though he was a veteran of countless state dinners.


    The sd burst with vor at the slightest bite, leaving a tangy and spicy aftertaste that was


    surprisingly appetizing.


    "How is it, Sherman? Good, right?"


    Sherman nodded slightly, "Indeed, it''s quite good."


    Coming from Sherman, whose praise was rare, this was a significantpliment.


    During the meal, Reba was the picture of elegance, managing to finish the sd while


    maintaining herposure.

 Chapter 123

    She was afraid that if she ate too little, Sherman might think she was being too pretentious. After all,


    many young girls these days nibbled at their food in the name of dieting.


    She wanted to show Sherman that she wasn''t just another health nut. She was different from the


    rest of the crowd!


    But Sherman never gave her a second nce from start to finish, while Daniel kept marveling at


    how Ms. Morris stood out from the others.


    Sherman stopped eating when he was about eighty percent full and set down his knife and fork, "I''m


    heading back."


    Daniel stood up to follow.


    "There''s no need for you toe with me," Sherman said.


    Daniel hadn''t had his fill either, "Well, take care on your way, Sherman."


    With a slight nod, Sherman left.


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


    It wasn''t until Sherman passed by that Reba got a clear view of his profile, stunning as a Greek


    god.


    She could feel her heart banging against her chest.


    She was determined to make Mr. Christensen fall at her feet!


    Back home in the evening, Anthea took a bath and then started her live stream, ying a game.


    But today, she wasn''t ying League of Legends but chose chess instead.


    Anthea had always loved it, both in the past and present.


    What surprised Anthea was that her stream attracted about a dozen viewers.


    "Whoa! The streamer is an advanced chess yer!"


    Normally, it was tough to reach an advanced level unless you were a professional chess yer,


    especially for a girl.


    "Is thedy streamer using a stand-in?"


    Anthea nced at the chat, replying, "An advanced yer needs a stand-in?"


    "Wow, the streamer''s voice is so nice."


    "Show us your face!"


    "Skill doesn''t need to lean on good looks." replied Anthea.


    "Don''t boast now!"


    While replying nonchntly to the chat, Anthea''s fingers danced across the mouse and keyboard.


    Though she sounded casual, her moves were quick, almost as if she didn''t need to think.


    Her slender and jade-like fingers against the stark ck keys of the keyboard created a strikingly


    beautiful scene.


    The game intensified.


    Both sides appeared to be in a deadlock, neither willing to give any quarter.


    Clearly, her opponent was a master too.


    "Go on, streamer! Watch out, or you''ll lose the whole match!"


    But Anthea remained unfazed, "Let him take another piece, and I''ll checkmate him in three moves!"


    "They''re about to checkmate you!"


    "Boasting again!"


    "Good-looking people don''t need to boast!"


    Just then, the game ended, and the screen disyed: ¡®Checkmate! ck wins!¡¯


    Anthea was ying the ck pieces.


    "Whoa, streamer is insane!"


    "That move was brilliant!"


    "ThorHammerStriker has sent a sports car!"


    "SwiftArrow has sent a piercing arrow!"


    After two games, Anthea''s stream grew from single to triple digits.


    With just over three hundred viewers, Anthea had gained over two hundred new followers and


    earned three hundred bucks.


    "One more game, streamer!"


    Checking the time, Anthea said, "No more, it''s time for bed. You all should sleep too."


    After that, she ended the stream.


    Elsewhere.


    ¡®Defeat! ck wins!¡¯


    Sherman furrowed his brow at the sight of those words on hisputer screen. He picked up a


    lighter beside him.


    A soft blue me leapt into the air, making his already cold demeanor seem frostier under its glow.


    Apart from his meditation and spiritual practices, chess was Sherman''s greatest passion.


    In both the real world and the digital realm, he had always been unbeaten until today, when he met


    someone who bested him not once, but twice.


    Sherman was used to being in control, and ustomed to having everything under hismand.


    Losing to a stranger, a worthy opponent, unsettled him.


    Lighting a cigarette and holding it between his thin lips, he fiddled with a cross with one hand and


    clicked open the profile of his opponent with the other.


    Gamer tag: Griffin¡¤YC.


    For some reason, Sherman thought of Phoenix¡¤YC.


    Could it be the same person?

 Chapter 124

    Was it the same guy? Sherman couldn''t be sure.


    The two usernames were simr, sporting only different prefixes.


    But Phoenix¡¤YC was up to his ears in developing OS Systemtely, so gaming should be thest


    thing on his mind.


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


    How did Phoenix¡¤YC, a tech mogul, waste his time ying chess? No way, it had to be a


    coincidence.


    Sherman clicked to send a friend request in the game.


    After a long wait without a response, Sherman was itching for a rematch, but with the silence


    dragging on, he reluctantly shut down hisputer.


    In the Morris family.


    Reba sat in her bedroom, firing up her system, "Can you check Mr. Christensen''s current


    approval rating?"


    ¡°I cannot¡±, the system''s voice echoed back, ¡®However, Daniel''s approval rating has reached eighty


    percent.¡¯


    A sly smile curled on Reba''s lips. She couldn''t get a read on Mr. Christensen''s feelings, but


    knowing Daniel''s was just as good.


    After all, Mr. Christensen and Daniel were best buds.


    They were bound to have simr tastes.


    It was safe to assume Mr. Christensen had a pretty good impression of her too!


    Perhaps Mr. Christensen was even now digging into her background, just like she was.


    "Can you find out Mr. Christensen''s hobbies?" she inquired further.


    The system paused for a moment.


    Soon after, a line of text appeared on the air control panel.


    ¡®Unable to retrieve his hobbies.¡¯


    "Then try looking up Anthea," Reba continued.


    ¡®I''m sorry! I cannot retrieve information on Anthea.¡¯


    Reba''s brow furrowed. "How can that be?"


    It was one thing for the system to not have information on Mr. Christensen given his status, but


    Anthea''s information should be avable. What was going on?


    Considering Anthea''s reaction earlier that evening, a sense of unease began to creep into


    Reba''s thoughts.


    Could it be Anthea, that waste of space, had actually changed?


    Just then, Reba thought of Luna.


    Of course! She had the advantage of being reborn, and able to connect with influential people she


    couldn''t have dreamed of reaching in her past life!


    Who cared if Anthea had changed? She could still trample her underfoot without breaking a sweat.


    Reba dialed a number, intending to discuss her next moves with Luna.


    "The number you have dialed is switched off¡­" The cold electronic voice filtered through the phone.


    Reba deepened her frown. Luna''s phone was never off as far as she knew.


    And then it dawned on her that she hadn''t been in touch with Luna for over a week.


    Could it be because of Tammie''s passing? Was Luna tied up with funeral arrangements? That had


    to be it. Tammie''s illness was beyond saving.


    With that thought, Reba breathed easier. She''d reconnect with Luna after Tammie''s funeral


    arrangements were settled.


    After all, not everything was pressing.


    The next morning, Antheaced up her running shoes and was out the door by 5:30 AM.


    By 7:20 AM sharp, she was at school, which was unusually quiet since she was among the first to


    arrive. Her deskmate, Tanya, was already there.


    "Good morning, Tanya," Anthea greeted her proactively.


    Tanya blinked in surprise, her cheeks flushing pink. "Are you talking to me?"


    "Yeah," Anthea nodded. "Isn''t your name Tanya?"


    "Good morning," Tanya replied shyly, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Though named Tanya, she was anything but tiny.


    Her 160cm frame carried a solid 170 pounds, a good-hearted girl gued by perspiration and the


    apanying self-consciousness. In the heat of summer, her scent drew mockery rather than


    friends. Nicknames ranged from cruel to crude.


    Some went so far as to call her Peppa Pig.


    Yet for the first time, someone had used her actual name. It felt strange.


    Tanya wasn''t one to wallow in self-pity. The taunts usually rolled off her like water off a duck''s back,


    but this simple act of kindness made her nose tingle.


    She had braced herself for snobbery from her new, beautiful deskmate with a figure to die for, but it


    turned out that the prettier the person, the lesser the airs.


    Anthea sat down, unwrapping a breakfast sandwich. "You had breakfast, Tanya? Wanna try my


    sandwich?"


    Tanya pulled out her own breakfast. "I brought something."


    Anthea nced over, "Is that any good? Gimme a taste."


    Tanya paused, about to ask if Anthea didn''t mind sharing with her, but Anthea had already reached


    over and pinched off a piece of her cake. It was chewy and sweet, and Anthea savored it with her


    eyes closed in delight.

 Chapter 125

    "Yummy," Anthea said, stuffing a tiny burger into Tanya''s hand.


    Tanya looked down at the burger in her hand, realizing that her new deskmate didn''t share the usual


    disdain she was used to.


    Mentally thanking her, Tanya took a big bite and chewed alongside Anthea.


    First up was math ss.


    The teacher droned on like a luby, and Anthea¡¯s eyelids grew heavy. Soon enough, she was


    snoozing away.


    "The student who''s sleeping,e up here and solve this problem," the math teacher said, and


    every gaze in the room swiveled to Anthea.


    Tanya nudged Anthea and whispered, "Ann, the teacher is calling you to the front."


    "Me?" Anthea lifted her head, eyes misty with sleep.


    "Yep," Tanya nodded.


    Anthea stood up and walked to the front of the ss.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    The math teacher, looking exasperated, said, "You''re seniors! What''s with this cking off? If you


    want to sleep, go home!"


    Anthea picked up the chalk and started to write a solution, then paused.


    "Look at that, stumped, aren''t you? That''s what you get for sleeping in ss. If you can solve this,


    you can sleep however you like in my sses from now on!" the teacher challenged.


    "Really?" Anthea asked, a hint of a smile in her voice.


    "If you can''t, you''re standing for the rest of my sses!"


    With a slight grin, Anthea retorted, "A gentleman''s agreement, then?"


    The teacher was speechless. This kid''s talk was as whimsical as a dream.


    This was a mind-boggling math olympiad problem ¨C the sort even the geniuses in the top-tier ss


    would have a tough time with!


    Teaching was so tough these days.


    The teacher turned back to the ss and said with all the patience he could muster, "Senior year is


    a turning point in your life. I hope you all put in the effort and fight for a bright future. Once you''re in


    college, you can have all the fun you want. Don''t be like this unambitious student, sleeping through


    sses and learning nothing. You''ll regret it."


    That was when Anthea started to solve the problem. The ss watched, ck-jawed.


    Holy cow! Was this the same Anthea who struggled with everything?


    The teacher thought his words had sparked some drive in these kids and nodded, satisfied.


    Maybe they weren''t beyond redemption after all.


    "Done," Anthea announced.


    Already? That quickly? The teacher was sure she had just scribbled nonsense.


    He turned around to a surprise. Her solution was perfect, and her handwriting was even more


    elegant than his.


    Was he seeing things?


    Rubbing his eyes, the teacher still found the same sight before him.


    Anthea added, "This problem was a bit advanced, so I used a method you''d learn in college


    calculus."


    "You did this?" the teacher asked, incredulous.


    Anthea nodded, "Can I sit down now?"


    "Wait!" He scribbled another problem on the board. "Solve this."


    He didn''t believe Anthea had really solved the first one. It was too advanced.


    Had she somehow cheated while he wasn''t looking?


    Anthea took the chalk. "Sure."


    The teacher watched her like a hawk, not blinking until she finished.


    Incredible! This was unbelievable!


    Trying to contain his excitement, the teacher asked, "What''s your name?"


    "Anthea."


    "So are you the student who transferred from the elite ss?"


    Anthea nodded slightly, "Yes."


    The teacher had heard of Anthea, but he''d thought she was a lost cause.


    If she was a lost cause, what did that make him? He was floored!


    If Mr. Bain, the elite ss teacher, knew he had cast aside a diamond thinking it was mere ss,


    he''d be gutted with regret!

 Chapter 126

    Not a single teacher disliked a star student.


    Right now, the way the math teacher looked at Anthea was like a parched traveler who had just


    spotted an oasis.


    "Anthea, you can go back to your seat. From now on, if you want to take a nap during my ss, you


    can."


    "Thank you." replied Anthea.


    As Anthea made her way back to her desk, the teacher continued, "If any of you can be as brilliant


    as Anthea here, solvingplex problems in your sleep, then you can do whatever you like in my


    ss too! I''ll turn a blind eye even if you start daydreaming about space! But if you can''t, then pay


    attention! I believe that one day, you''ll all be just as amazing!"


    The students sat as silent as mice, their curiosity piqued. How had Anthea suddenly be so


    formidable?


    When lunchtime arrived, Anthea invited Tanya to join her in the cafeteria, "I''ve got a friend I want


    you to meet."


    Tanya hesitated, then nodded, her heart fluttering with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.


    Given her weight, would Anthea''s friend ept her?


    It turned out that Tanya''s worries were unfounded.


    Lizzie didn''t show the slightest bit of disdain toward Tanya, and the three girls chatted andughed


    their way to the cafeteria.


    The ce was bustling, and they had to line up to get their food. Just as it was almost their turn, two


    girls approached, led by one with long flowing hair and a makeup job that could only be described


    as a work of art. She had customized her school skirt to a daringly short length.


    "Out of the way,rd bucket!" she barked.


    Tanya shivered at the sight of her, about to step aside.


    Anthea nced up, took a step forward, and stood by Tanya''s side. "What''s the problem here?"


    "I''m talking to this tub ofrd, not you! Move aside if you know what''s good for you and don''t block


    my way!"


    "Ann, it''s okay, I''ll just let them through," Tanya murmured, tugging at Anthea''s sleeve, the very


    picture of someone ustomed to being bullied.


    "Don''t be scared! I''m here, and they won''t dare touch you!"Antheaforted her.


    The long-haired girl was brimmed with scorn, clearly not taking Anthea seriously.


    "Move now, or don''t me me for what happens next!" she said, flexing her arms threateningly.


    "Well, I''d love to see what you''ve got," Anthea replied, her gaze never leaving the girl''s face.


    The girl twisted her face with anger as she raised her hand to strike Anthea, but in the next instant,


    her hair was firmly grasped.


    Anthea held the girl''s hair with one hand and lifted her chin with the other, her eyes gleaming with a


    devil-may-care light. "Apologize to my deskmate," shemanded, the sunlight streaming through


    the windows casting a gentle glow on her porcin skin.


    Themotion drew a crowd of onlookers.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "Whoa, who is she? So badass!"


    "I know her, that''s Anthea from senior ss 7!"


    "Whoa, I''ve heard of her. Wasn''t she supposed to be, like, not that pretty?"


    "She''s gorgeous!"


    "Totally crushing on her!"


    The long-haired girl was petrified. Anthea might have been smiling, but there was not a hint of


    humor in those eyes, and the pain at her scalp was excruciating.


    If she''d known Anthea was this fierce, she would never have messed with Tanya!


    When did this girl even get such a strong protector?


    "Apologize!" Anthea said again.


    With a sharp gasp of pain, the girl stammered, "I... I''m sorry."


    "To whom? Louder, I can''t hear you!"


    The girl, clutching at the pain, raised her voice, "I''m sorry, Tanya. I won''t ever do it again, please


    forgive me."


    "Tanya," Anthea turned to her desk mate, "Can you forgive her?"


    Tanya,pletely stunned by the unfolding events, nodded dumbly.


    Could it be that her deskmate was this formidable?


    Only then did Anthea slowly let go of the girl''s hair. "Next time you mess with Tanya, I''ll make sure


    you leave here bald, you believe that?"


    The girl, pale as a ghost, bolted as soon as Anthea let her go.

 Chapter 127

    "Holy smokes! Ann, you''re the coolest!" Lizzie gazed at Anthea, her eyes practically sparkling with


    admiration.


    Sitting next to Anthea for so long, it was the first time Lizzie realized just how awesome she was!


    Anthea responded with a modest smile, "Not a big deal."


    As she finished her sentence, Anthea turned to Tanya, "Hey, if anyone ever gives you trouble again,


    just tell me. I''ll take care of them for you!"


    Tanya nodded.


    Anthea slung an arm around Tanya''s shoulders, speaking earnestly, "But you gotta learn to stand


    your ground, ya know? Being nice is cool and all, but if they step on your toes, you gotta be ready to


    smack back!"


    Tanya just stared at Anthea, slightly dazed.


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


    Even yearster, she would remember this moment vividly.


    Anthea had shown her a light in life, a spark of hope that filled her days with possibility.


    In Capital City.


    It was Gerard''s birthday.


    Edna and his daughter Darleen made a special trip to the Lindsay family to celebrate Gerard''s big


    day.


    The eighteen-year-old boy had grown into his features, handsome and distinguished, strikingly


    reminiscent of a young Jonah.


    "Happy Birthday, Gerry," Darleen said, handing him a beautifully wrapped gift box.


    Gerard responded with a cool indifference, "Thanks, but I don''t need it."


    Gerard was mysterious, mature beyond his years and reserved. The type who could hold his peace


    like it was a state secret.


    By all ounts, he and Darleen, having grown up together, should''ve been close.


    But he could never quite warm up to Darleen, who had a penchant for tears since his childhood, an


    unfortunate trigger for Gerard''s severe neat-freak tendencies.


    Moreover, Darleen had a temper. Knowing J favored her, she would often use it to bully others.


    Because of Darleen, Gerard harbored a general distaste for girls.


    J chided Gerard with a nce, "Gerry, how can you be so rude? That''s a gift from your sister!


    Apologize to her this instant!"


    Silent, Gerard pressed his lips together, saying nothing.


    Ednaughed it off to smooth things over, "It''s fine, J. They''re just kids. Don''t sweat it."


    Darleen with Edna¡¯s cunning, clung to J''s arm and cooed, "Grandma, it¡¯s okay. I know Gerry is


    all icy but warm-hearted on the inside. I''m not upset! Oh, make sure you try the cake mom made,


    okay?"


    Gerard was J''s youngest grandchild. As she had raised Gerard herself, she doted on him


    immensely.


    Darleen''s words struck a chord.


    "Darleen''s got sense, unlike that brat!" J eximed.


    Edna ced the candles carefully and lit them, "Come on, Gerry, make a wish."


    The living room lights dimmed, the help standing by.


    Edna and Darleen sang the birthday song together, creating a seemingly warm atmosphere.


    Yet, Gerard remained expressionless, devoid of any smile as he blew out the candles. He then cut a


    piece of cake for J, "Grandma, I''ve got ns with my friends. It''s time to head out."


    This was precisely why J adored him so much.


    Despite his somewhat stoic nature, he always remembered J.


    J waved him off with a smile, "Go on, just call ahead so the driver can pick you upter."


    "Okay."


    Edna gave Darleen a nudge.


    Darleen stood up, "Can Ie with you, Gerry?"


    He nced back at her, "Not this time."


    Darleen instantly reddened her eyes, on the verge of tears.


    Beautiful and usually the center of attention, she was coddled and chased after by everyone, except


    Gerard.


    Edna patted Darleen''s shoulder with augh, "Gerry''s pals are all guys. Cut the drama, there''s no


    need to y the victim here!"

 Chapter 128

    J couldn''t stand to see Darleen get the short end of the stick. She took Darleen''s hand firmly


    and said, "Don''t you worry, Darleen. When Gerry gets back, I''ll give him a piece of my mind."


    Gerry was indeed a bit thoughtless, J thought.


    His words were too harsh, but thank goodness Edna was kind-hearted enough not to hold it against


    the kid.


    Then there was Jonah who couldn''t evene back for Gerry¡¯s birthday.


    Who knew what he was so busy with?


    Edna chuckled and said, "J, you shouldn''t spoil Darleen so much. You''re going to ruin her!"


    J held onto Darleen''s hand tighter. "Girls need a bit of spoiling. Gerry is bing more and


    more of a recluse..." J''s voice trailed off, her face clouded with worry.


    Edna reassured her, "J, I think Gerry''s a sensible boy. A quiet nature in a boy isn''t a bad thing.


    Don''t fret over it."


    "You''re the only one who lets it slide."


    Outside the estate, Gerard made his way to the roadside and spotted his ssmate, Healy, waiting


    for him.


    "Gerard, over here!" Healy called out, waving his hand.


    Gerard jogged over. "Have you been waiting long?"


    Healy shook his head. "Just got here a bit ago."


    After a brief pause, Healy continued, "So, your sister didn''te with you today?"


    It wasmon knowledge that Gerard always had a little shadow following him around.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Gerard replied coolly, "She''s not my sister. Why should she follow me?"


    Healy teased with a grin, "Well, you never know. If her mom bes your stepmom one day, she''ll


    officially be your sister."


    Gerard pursed his lips, a mysterious veil cast over his youthful face by the shadow, "What about


    that matter I asked you to check on?"


    "No word from Zack yet," Healy replied. "But I''ll let you know the moment I hear anything. Let''s get


    moving. Kearney and the others are already there!"


    Gerard nodded in agreement.


    Before long, the winding mountain road was lit up by the bright headlights of several speeding


    motorcycles.


    A small car passed by them.


    Edna and Darleen were in the back seat.


    Darleen pouted, "Mom, aren''t things fine as they are? Why do you keep trying to ingratiate yourself


    with J and Gerard?" It was bad enough that Edna was doing it, but to drag her into it too...


    Edna turned away from the window and poked Darleen''s shoulder. "My silly girl! Who do you think


    I''m doing all this for? It''s all for you! Everything we have is thanks to the Lindsay family, without


    which we might as well be left out in the cold!"


    "We live off grandpa''s fortune. What does that have to do with the Lindsay family?" Darleen argued.


    "Do you think your grandparents would''ve let us stay for eighteen years without the Lindsay family?


    Once your father passed and thepany tanked, I was left alone with just you. If not for the


    Lindsay family''s clout, your grandparents and uncle would''ve lost patience with us a long time ago!"


    Their hope was for Edna to be the hostess of the Lindsay family, which would elevate the


    Fletcher family in Capital City by leaps and bounds.


    Edna continued, "It''s precisely because you''re the Lindsay family''s heiress that your grandparents


    dote on you so."


    In other words, without the Lindsay family, they would be nobodies.


    Darleen was stunned. Had her beloved grandparents'' affection been conditional all these years?


    Edna spoke with gravity, "Darleen, you must be obedient and make us proud. Don''t let your


    grandparents down. Once I marry into the Lindsay family, you''ll be the sole granddaughter. The


    Christensen family and the Lindsay family have always been close. I''ve heard the Christensen


    family have called off their engagement with the Morris family. The Christensen family would be a


    perfect match for you. Then, you''ll be the hostess of the Christensen family!"


    In a family that historically only had sons, Darleen would indeed be a precious gem.

 Chapter 129

    When the time came, what wouldn¡¯t she have at her fingertips?


    Anytime Mr. Christensen was mentioned, a faint blush would dance across Darleen¡¯s cheeks.


    She had the fortune of catching a distant glimpse of Mr. Christensen at a cocktail party once.


    It was a fleeting marvel.


    Right then, Darleen had secretly decided that this was the man she would marry.


    After all, Mr. Christensen was a man of high standing and influence. Marrying him meant that she


    would rule over Capital City.


    "Okay, Mom, I get it," Darleen nodded, "Don''t worry, I''ll be good from now on."


    Edna nodded, satisfied, a sharp glint in her eyes, "That''s my girl."


    In a bedroom of the Yeager family, Anthea sat in front of herputer, her fingers tapping away


    rapidly on the keyboard, the screen casting a warm glow on her face.


    As it was gettingte, Anthea shut down herputer and headed to the living room, ready to


    make her way to the diner to help out.


    The living room was dark and the lights were off.


    Anthea pressed the wall switch.


    But, the light didn''te on.


    She narrowed her eyes slightly. A power outage?


    Just then, there was a rustling noise at the door.


    A burr? Anthea clenched her fists, ready to defend herself.


    "Happy Birthday to you, Ann..."


    Out of the darkness, Carole and Nanson appeared, holding a birthday cake aglow with candles,


    slowly walking towards her.


    The warm yellow light softly illuminated their faces.


    At that moment, Anthea was slightly stunned.


    In her past life, she was an orphan who didn''t even know her birthday, let alone have anyone


    celebrate it for her.


    This was the first time someone had prepared a birthday cake for her and had sung her a birthday


    song.


    It felt weird, almost like having a lump stuck in her throat.


    "Here''s to our Ann, Happy Birthday! May you always be happy and forever young!"


    "Ann, make a wish and blow out the candles!"


    Recovering from her daze, Anthea bowed her head, her hands pressed together, and made a


    sincere birthday wish.


    After making her wish, she blew out the candles in one breath.


    When the candles were extinguished, the lights flicked on at the same moment.


    Anthea realized then that it wasn''t just Carole and Nanson there. Latonia, Keeley, Sarah and Walter


    were also present.


    "Thank you all."


    "You silly child, there''s no need to thank your own family!"


    "Ann! Happy Birthday!" Sarah, taking Anthea by surprise, smeared a dollop of cream on her face.


    "Hey Sarah, you dare to cream me!"


    The two young girls ended up in a yful scuffle, quickly turning into a couple of frosted felines.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    This was Anthea''s first birthday in this new world, and by far the happiest.


    In just over two months, she had gained family, friendship, and many things that money couldn''t


    buy.


    After the cake, Sarah curled up on the couch to chat with Anthea, "Ann, remember I told you about


    live streaming? Have you tried it?"


    Anthea nodded, "Yeah, I gave it a go."


    "How was it?" Sarah inquired.


    "Pretty average," Anthea replied.


    Suddenly intrigued, Sarah jumped up from the couch, "Come on Ann, let''s go to your room. I want


    to see you live stream."


    "Sure," Anthea said with a small nod.


    Since she had promised her fans another live stream of chessst night, she was preparing to y


    again this evening.


    Sarah was amazed, "Wow Ann! You''re so good at chess! An experienced level already!"


    Anthea modestly responded, "Keep it down."


    Just then, a system message popped up on the chess game.


    ¡®LeisureHermit requests to add you as a friend.¡¯


    LeisureHermit? Wasn''t that the same poor soul who lost to her twice in a rowst night?

 Chapter 130

    LeisureHermit, despite his unlucky streak, was still a chess ace.


    It took Anthea some serious brainpower to beat him the night before. It had been a while since


    she''d encountered such a fierce opponent.


    So, without hesitation, Anthea epted to add him as a gaming buddy,beling him a ''Loser''.


    Then she fired up her live stream.


    Thanks to the poprity from the previous night, Anthea''s channel exploded with over a hundred


    viewers the moment she went live.


    Sarah, clutching her phone, eximed in surprise, "Ann, are you not going on camera?"


    "Does a gamer need to show their face?" Anthea asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Sarah looked somewhat disappointed. Anthea was such a looker, which was a shame not to


    capitalize on that.


    The viewer count would''ve surely skyrocketed if she had been on camera.


    It was then that Sarah noticed how basic Anthea''s streaming setup was. She just had a webcam


    and aputer, not even a ring light or a sound card in sight.


    Luckily, Anthea¡¯s skin was as smooth as cream without a single w. Otherwise, the HD camera


    would be unforgiving.


    ¡®Hey, I''m here!¡¯


    ¡®Are we ying chess again tonight?¡¯


    "Yep, that''s the n." replied Anthea.


    ¡®What''s your gaming tag? I wanna challenge you. If I lose, I''ll give you more gifts! If not, reveal your


    face! You game?¡¯


    "When have I ever been scared?" Anthea shot back, giving out her gamer ID.


    Before long, she received a game invite and clicked to ept the challenge.


    Anthea casually said, "Giving you a head start, so no one says I y rough."


    ¡®OMG, She¡¯s so badass! Totally crushing on you!¡¯


    ¡®So cool!¡¯


    ¡®Don''t need a head start. I''m professional and never pick on the girls.¡¯


    Anthea, cool as a cucumber, hit the start button, "Even if you''re professional, I¡¯m gonna beat you."


    ¡®What a big talk! Add another condition. If you lose, not only a face reveal but also be my fellow.¡¯


    Anthea was never one to back down, "Sounds fair. But if you lose, you''ll be my fellow."


    ¡®Deal!¡¯


    The game began.


    Anthea yed chess and chatted with her fans. Her banter seemed random, but every word was a


    gem that left her audience grinning.


    With the stakes of a face reveal and the bet, the viewership skyrocketed from hundreds to


    thousands, and the game intensified.


    Gifts kept flooding in.


    The opponent was indeed a professional, capturing over a dozen of Anthea''s pieces in quick


    session.


    It looked grim for Anthea.


    ¡®The girl is bound to lose.¡¯


    ¡®The game streamer will show her face. Ready to snap screenshots.¡¯


    But then, in a stunning reversal, Anthea turned the tide!


    ¡®Holy cow! Streamer''s on fire!¡¯


    ¡®She¡¯s so fierce!¡¯


    ¡®What a power!¡¯


    ¡®Damn, that was thrilling!¡¯


    ¡®I didn''t even like chess before, but after watching you, I''m hooked!¡¯


    ¡®How did she do that? Is the streamer some kind of goddess?¡¯


    Many users sent online gifts to Anthea again.


    Sarah watched,pletely gobsmacked.


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


    Being an avid live stream viewer, she knew the value of those virtual gifts.


    Even after the tform''s cut, Anthea would pocket a cool three thousand!

 Chapter 131

    It was nearly a month''s sry for her.


    Tonight, Anthea had racked up more than twenty grand gifts in tips, along with a slew of other


    gifts...She was killing it!


    Meanwhile, the number of viewers in her live stream had skyrocketed from a cozy gathering of


    thirteen hundred to a bustling crowd of three thousand three hundred. The numbers were still


    climbing.


    By the time she signed off, the room was teeming with an astounding ten thousand viewers!


    Seeing that her earnings for the evening topped out at a cool eight grand, Anthea decided to treat


    her crew to a night out for some grilled delights.


    After indulging in the smoky goodness, they found themselves strolling back home close to


    midnight.


    Fresh out of the shower, Anthea suddenly remembered that the OS System was nearlyplete.


    She fired up herptop, wrapped up the remaining code, and logged onto GlobalGigaNet to


    message the other party.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "Hey, you there?"


    "Right here, master!" came the swift reply.


    "The OS System is ready. Should I send it to you now?"


    Daniel nearly dropped hisptop in surprise when he read her message. Clutching the device, he


    bolted for Sherman''s bedroom.


    "Sherman! Sherman!"


    Roused by themotion, Sherman leisurely shut down the gaming website he''d been browsing


    and nced over. "What''s up?"


    Daniel,ptop in hand, announced, "It''s done!


    "What''s done?"


    "The OS! The master finished the OS System!"


    Sherman sharpened the expression and extended a hand adorned with a cross wristband. "Give me


    theputer."


    Daniel passed theptop over without hesitation.


    Sherman saw that the chat window was still open and quickly typed a message, "Please send it


    now."


    The OS System was a hefty file and would take at least an hour to transfer under normal


    circumstances, but this file zipped across in less than three seconds.


    That was not normal. It could only mean that the OS System wasn''t actuallyplete!


    Daniel frowned as he murmured, "Is this some kind of empty file? And here I thought the master


    actually finished it."


    It made sense, after all. The OS System, a project tooplex for even a thousand-strong team,


    couldn''t be done in just one month, no matter how skilled the master was.


    With that thought, Daniel fell with disappointment.


    Sherman, however, remained stoic, his lips pressed into a thin line, fingers idly toying with the cross


    wristband as he navigated the mouse and opened the file.


    Expecting an empty package, they were bombarded with a deluge of data.


    Sherman narrowed his eyes slightly, silently taking in every bit of information. His gaze was fixed on


    the screen, but his fingers flew across the keyboard.


    At that moment, Daniel turned to a stone-like expression.


    Holy smokes! It was done!


    The master was a true legend!


    Epic!


    The master hadpressed a file of several terabytes down to this.


    Daniel had the sudden urge to drop to his knees and worship the master.


    The typing ceased. Sherman, as calm as ever, opened the chat window to reply, "File received."


    "How do we handle the payment?" came the prompt response.


    Sherman methodically typed, "The fee is substantial. How about we meet in person?"


    The idea of sitting across from such a legend aroused his curiosity.


    Anthea hesitated for a moment before replying, "I''m in Cloudcrest. Where are you?"


    "Holy cow! The master is in Cloudcrest too!" Daniel eximed, jumping up in excitement. "Sherman,


    you gotta take me with you when you meet!"


    He needed to pay homage to the legend. He wanted the master¡¯s autograph. And he even had


    ns to line up a date for the master


    The more Daniel thought about it, the more excited he became.


    Sherman, face still a mask of neutrality, continued to type, "Coincidentally, I''m in Cloudcrest too. You


    pick the time and ce."


    After a moment of thought, Anthea tapped out a response, "How about this Saturday at eleven in


    the morning at the Comfort Cafe? Any issues with that?"

 Chapter 132

    "No problem." replied Sherman. After a moment of thought, Sherman typed out another message,


    "What''s your number? It would make it easier to get in touch."


    The reply came quickly, along with a string of digits, "What''s yours?"


    Sherman pulled out his phone and meticulously saved the number, triple-checking it before sending


    his own in return.


    The reply was swift, "See you Saturday."


    Daniel stared at the screen before saying, "Sherman, what do you reckon Phoenix is like? Got a


    girlfriend? If he''s single, I''m setting him up with my sister! She''s been wanting to visit Cloudcrest


    anyway!"


    In his mind, Phoenix could potentially be his brother-inw. The more Daniel thought about it,


    the more excited he became, as if Phoenix was already part of the family.


    Sherman twirled his pen, "So sure Phoenix is a guy?"


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    "Has to be a dude! No way a chick''s that awesome! Not to sound sexist, but when did you ever see


    a girl at the top of our ss? Or a woman winning the top prize in any contest?"


    Some women scream at the sight of a caterpir or a cockroach! Too timid!


    Would a guy be scared of those?


    In Daniel''s mind, women could never measure up to men. He saw women as the delicate types,


    who couldn''t stand on their own without a man.


    Phoenix was too incredible to be a woman.


    Sherman, ying with the tassel of his pen, said, "You''re stereotyping. In the current world, equality


    is key. Your thinking is outdated."


    Sherman had no ns for marriage himself, but he never looked down on women.


    All humans were equal.


    Daniel paused, "Wait, so you''re saying Phoenix could be a woman?"


    Sherman nodded slightly.


    Danielughed out loud, "No way! Let''s bet on it. If Phoenix is a guy, you have to get back with Ms.


    Morris!"


    Daniel wanted the best for Sherman and couldn''t bear to see him miss out on a catch like Reba.


    "Sherman, you game?"


    Sherman squinted his eyes, "Fine! If you lose, you stop disrespecting women."


    "Deal!" Daniel said, eager to shake on it.


    ¡°Sherman, you¡¯re bound to lose!¡± he thought.


    Daniel was thrilled at the thought of Sherman rekindling things with the kind and vegetarian


    Reba, his perfect match.


    Sherman picked up his wristwatch from the table, fastening it with deliberate care. "Let''s get ready.


    We''re heading to Capital City."


    Tuesday today, four days till the meet-up.


    Four days were enough to wrap things up at headquarters.


    "Got it!" Daniel nodded.


    That evening, they boarded a private jet to Capital City.


    At a courierpany.


    "Nanson, let''s break up," a pretty young woman said after hesitating for a while.


    "Ileana, you kidding? You haven''t eaten yet, right? Let''s grab some food!" Nanson had just finished


    his deliveries, not even having had a sip of water.


    He and his girlfriend Ileana had met in an online game. After three years of virtual friendship and


    one year in real life, their rtionship was strong.


    Just as they were getting serious, Ileana dropped the breakup bomb out of the blue.


    So, when he heard the news, Nanson thought she must be joking.


    Ileana nced at Nanson, "This isn''t the ce to talk, let''s find somewhere quiet."


    "Alright," Nanson agreed.


    They walked into a nearby smoothie shop.


    Nanson, out of habit, ordered Ileana''s favorite beverage.


    "Just drink it yourself," Ileana said, refusing the drink Nanson offered.


    Nanson chuckled, "Since when do you not like this beverage?"


    "People change," Ileana said, looking him in the eye, "Nanson, let''s break up."

 Chapter 133

    Staring at Ileana, Nanson couldn''t believe his ears, "Why?" he asked.


    Instead of answering, Ileana shot back a question. "Nanson, I heard you cut ties with your folks and


    your sister, is that true?"


    "Yeah," Nanson nodded, a pained look crossing his face. "Ileana, if you''re breaking up with me over


    this... I can exin. I''m not disloyal or a bad son."


    "No need to exin," Ileana interrupted, raising her hand to stop him. "Nanson, we''re just not right


    for each other. Dragging this out will only hurt us both more. Better to end things now."


    Nanson had treated her like a queen, catering to her every whim, but Nanson had severed ties with


    his family.


    Ileana had been drawn to Nanson because he was a local with several houses to his name and his


    older sister, ine, was high society royalty.


    Now that Ileana knew the truth that Nanson was the ck sheep of the Yeager family and had been


    kicked out, there was no point in continuing their charade.


    Nanson didn''t even own a single house. What kind of future could he offer her?


    "Ileana, even if we''re breaking up, I deserve a reason. Tell me what I did wrong, and I''ll change!"


    Nanson had been sincere, even nning out their future together.


    "There''s nothing left to say! Nanson, let''s just call it quits!" With those words, Ileana turned and


    walked away.


    Nanson hurried after her, grabbing her hand, eyes brimming with tears. "Ileana! I don''t ept this


    breakup!"


    That''s when a sleek ck Volkswagen pulled up at the curb, and a man stepped out. "Ileana is my


    girlfriend!" He dered, pushing Nanson aside to envelop Ileana in his arms and smirking at


    Nanson with a triumphant grin.


    "Is he telling the truth?" Nanson asked, his voice trembling as he looked up at Ileana.


    "Yes, he''s my boyfriend!" Ileana snuggled into the man''s portly waist.


    The man, Lance, swelled with pride. "Boy, look at yourself. Do you think you deserve Ileana? Dream


    on!"


    Lance might not have had the looks, but he had wealth with five houses and a car. He was the


    ultimate property prince.


    "You''re lying! Ileana, tell me this isn''t real!" Nanson''s eyes were red with anger and disbelief.


    Lance sneered at him. "Ileana, tell this loser who you love."


    Ileana kissed Lance on the cheek. "Do you need to ask? Of course, I love you!¡± Then she turned to


    Nanson and continued, ¡°Nanson, you''re nothingpared to a single hair on his head! You have no


    car, no house, no savings. How could you ever be enough for me?"


    Her cold and merciless words struck Nanson like daggers, shattering anyst hope he had.


    Three years of love lost to harsh reality. How pathetic!


    "How about that? Your former girlfriend is madly in love with me! She can''t live without me! Poor


    boy, I warn you, if you harass my girl again, you''ll regret it!" Lance spat on the ground with


    contempt.


    "Lance, let''s not waste our breath on this nobody. Let''s go," Ileana cooed.


    "Fine."


    They got into the car, leaving Nanson alone on the sidewalk, his expression numb with shock.


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Muchter, Nanson finally crumbled under the weight of reality. He copsed to the ground,


    weeping like a child.


    Passersby stared, but life had to go on.


    That afternoon, Nanson was back at his job, delivering packages.


    Work provided a temporary escape from his sorrows, but at night, the sadness returned.


    He bought a bottle of strong spirits and drowned his sorrows until he passed out.


    Anthea emerged from her room, immediately sensing something was off.


    The smell of alcohol was strong. Who had been drinking?


    Nanson never touched a cigarette or a drink, neither did Carole.


    Following the scent, Anthea knocked on Nanson''s door.


    It took a while before a drunken Nanson stumbled to the door to let her in.

 Chapter 134

    "Ha! My fabulous Anthea,e on in! Let''s have ourselves a real knees-up tonight! Nanson¡¯s face


    was as red as a boiled lobster, his eyes bloodshot.


    Staggering around, he seemed to be walking on clouds.


    Anthea steadied him with a hand, "Uncle Nanson, are you alright?"


    Nanson waved her off, "Fine! Just fine!"


    Amidst hisughter, Nanson suddenly broke into tears.


    "Uncle Nanson?" Anthea was startled.


    Aside from that time at ine''s, she had never seen him cry.


    Covering his face, Nanson crouched in a corner, sobbing uncontrobly, "Ann! I... I''ve been


    dumped..."


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


    Anthea stared at Nanson in surprise.


    She had always assumed Nanson to be a lifelong bachelor, yet here he was with a girlfriend.


    Oveing her astonishment, Anthea quickly crouched tofort him. Although Nanson was


    drunk, his thoughts were fairly coherent. It didn''t take long for Anthea to piece together what had


    happened.


    "Uncle Nanson, every cloud has a silver lining. This could be a good thing for you."


    "Good thing?" Nanson belched, "I''ve just been dumped, and you''re calling it a good thing! Are you


    really my favorite girl?"


    Nanson was on the verge of tears again.


    Anthea sat down beside him on the floor, "Look, from what you''ve told me, it''s clear Ileana wasn''t in


    love with you. She was in love with your money and your house. Now that she knows you''ve got


    neither, her true purpose has shown. Better to find out now than after getting hitched. You''ll find


    someone way better."


    Nanson hupped, looking up at Anthea as ifforted by her words, "Do you think I can do better


    than Ileana?"


    Anthea nodded slightly, "Absolutely! You will!"


    She continued, "Getting upset over her like that isn''t worth it! You have to bounce back. Imagine,


    when you hit the jackpot someday, let her have regrets! Then, we''ll make it rain so hard, she''ll wish


    she never left!"


    Nanson chuckled foolishly, "Yeah, yeah! Make it rain on her!"


    As they conversed, Nanson''s sorrow seemed to fade, his emotions steadied, and he ultimately


    sumbed to slumber right there on the floor.


    Anthea shook her head in disbelief and dragged Nanson to bed.


    Thankfully, she was strong enough to move Nanson.


    Worried Nanson might wake up and do something rash, Anthea decided not to help out at the diner


    and instead set up herptop in the living room to livestream a game of chess.


    "Good evening, streamerdy!"


    "Good evening!"


    "Congrats, streamer! Your video made the top three on the YouTube homepage yesterday!"


    "Right! I saw that too!"


    Several users had already started to gift Anthea.


    Anthea realized that her followers had skyrocketed to over fifty thousand, with the live audience


    peaking at over ten thousand.


    Justst night, she barely had ten thousand followers.


    YouTube sure seemed to work wonders.


    "Any chance you''ll show your face on camera?" someone asked.


    Anthea responded indifferently, "Beat me at chess, and I''ll show my face right away."


    That was when a challenge popped up on her screen. ¡®Mr. A has issued a challenge.¡¯


    Who was Mr. A? Anthea was about to decline when the chat exploded.


    "OMG! It''s Mr. A! Please ept, Anthea!"


    "Holy cow! Did Mr. A see your YouTube video too?"


    "You''re on fire!"


    "No, you''re already a star!"


    "How good is this Mr. A?" Anthea asked.


    "Mr. A is a major online celebrity with over sixty million followers! He used to be a professional


    chess master!"


    "I can''t believe you don''t know Mr. A."


    "That good, huh?" Anthea raised an eyebrow and epted the challenge.


    Watching Anthea ept without hesitation, the chat went wild with gifts, particrly from


    ThorHammerStriker. She teased, "ThorHammerStriker, does your family a millionaire?"


    "Ie from a family of a billionaire!" was the reply.


    "Wow, a tycoon!"


    "Look, here is a tycoon!"


    Then, the live voice chat connected.


    On the screen, Mr. A was a man in his thirties, with delicate features that sent the chat into a frenzy!

 Chapter 135

    Anthea greeted the man with a courteous nod, "Hello, Mr. A."


    "Hello," Mr. A adjusted his microphone, "Shall we begin?" His voice was warm and pleasant, a


    contributing factor to his poprity.


    "Let''s do this." replied Anthea.


    Mr. A initiated the game, "Just so you know, I''ve made it to the national finals before. I''ll make you


    easy."


    Anthea followed, "Mr. A, it''s still a game. I don''t take kindly to handouts."


    Mr. A chuckled and shook his head in resignation, "Alright, then."


    The match began, and the chatroom started buzzing with anticipation.


    ¡®Go, streamer! You can do this!¡¯


    ¡®Mr. A is professional, no shame in losing to him. Go, girl!¡¯


    On Mr. A¡¯s side, the tone was different.


    ¡®This newbie streamer is so full of herself! Does she think she can beat Mr. A? ¡¯


    ¡®This streamer is getting cocky!¡¯


    ¡®She is totally over her head.¡¯


    The tension on the board escted.


    Anthea remained nonchnt, even finding the time to joke with her fans amid the growing crisis on


    the board.


    One viewer asked Anthea what she would do if she lost.


    "Lost? You''re joking, right? Haven''t you heard my motto?"


    ¡®Miss, are you still boasting at a time like this?¡¯


    Even some of Mr. A¡¯s fans came over to mock Anthea for her hubris.


    Anthea, unbothered, spoke calmly, "Mr. A, watch out, I''m putting you in check."


    Mr. A was taken aback.


    How could he be in check when he was in control of the game?


    Anthea hinted, "My knight is about to take your king."


    Only then did Mr. A react, quickly moving his king and breaking into a sweat.


    Anthea moved her bishop, "Check."


    Mr. A was stuck between a rock and a hard ce. He had underestimated the rookie.


    Now what? If he lost, how could he save face? After all, he was a well-known influencer!


    Losing to a newbie wouldn''t look good.


    With no moves left, Anthea captured his king, "You lose, Mr. A."


    The chat exploded.


    ¡®How could Mr. A lose?!¡¯


    ¡®He must have let her win on purpose!¡¯


    ¡®Definitely took it easy on her!¡¯


    Mr. A nced at the chat and replied, going along with the sentiment, "Well, Griffin is ady after all,


    anddies first is only proper."


    ¡®My man is so chivalrous!¡¯


    ¡®Love him so much!¡¯


    ¡®What''s Griffin so smug about? If Mr. A hadn''t gone easy, could she have won?¡¯


    Anthea was about to sign off when she heard this, and she retorted immediately, "What do you


    mean, Mr. A? Could you rify? Just because I''m a woman means I can''t win against you? Are you


    implying you were holding back? I needed your charity."


    She had won fair and square. Why should anyone suggest otherwise?


    Mr. A smiled, "You do y very well, actually."


    "Very well? What does that mean?"


    "Let''s y again," Anthea cut to the chase.


    y again? Mr. A frowned.


    Griffin''s skills were formidable. Even with a rematch, victory was not guaranteed.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "It''ste. Why don''t we exchange contacts and y another time?"


    He was a top influencer, with countless female streamers eager to get his attention.


    Offering his contact information to Griffin should make her day, he thought.


    It wasn''t a privilege extended to just anyone.


    "Mr. A, either exin yourself or let''s have a rematch!"


    Mr. A still wore a smile, "It''s just a game. Why so serious?"


    "Afraid to y?" Anthea raised an eyebrow.


    ¡®This is outrageous! If you want a rematch, give her one! Don''t go easy this time!¡¯


    ¡®Teach her a lesson!¡¯


    With the fans'' fervor, Mr. A reluctantly agreed to another round.


    His assistant, sensing trouble, quickly pulled out a phone to download a guide for chess strategies.


    With the guide in hand, how could he lose?


    Mr. A rxed, and he said, "Since Griffin insists, rest assured, I won''t hold back this time."


    ¡®No need to go easy on someone who''s too scared to show her face!¡¯


    ¡®Exactly!¡¯


    ¡®Oh my god, he''s so good to his fans!¡¯


    The rematch began.

 Chapter 136

    Mr. A followed his assistant''s cues as he navigated the game.


    His moves were noticeably different from thest round, a fact that didn''t escape Anthea''s sharp


    gaze. She detected the shift in strategy, but she was in no mood for a drawn-out battle. This time,


    she was all about a swift and decisive victory. Otherwise, she would have taken great pleasure in


    leading Mr. A on a merry chase.


    Within a mere ten moves, Anthea had effectively blocked all of Mr. A¡¯s escape routes.


    "Checkmate, Mr. A."


    Mr. A turned ashen. He had been following the guide to the letter. How could he have lost?


    His assistant was equally dumbstruck. He never imagined that anyone could outsmart the


    smartphone strategies!


    ¡®Griffin is so cool and awesome!¡¯


    ¡®I''m a fan now! Love it!¡¯


    ¡®Holy cow! She''s incredible.¡¯


    ¡®Don''t be a sore loser this time, alright?¡¯


    ¡®Haha! What a smackdown! I''m cringing for Mr. A.¡¯


    Mr. A¡¯s fans quieted down in an instant.


    Their pride was smacked with a resounding p.


    Anthea didn''t waste any more time and cut off the live connection right away.


    Her match with Mr. A instantly topped the trending charts on the streaming tform.


    The video''s view count soared past a hundred thousand in just ten minutes!


    Anthea, however, was oblivious to all this fame as she logged off and dove into her video games.


    When Carole came hometer that evening, Anthea mentioned Nanson''s breakup.


    Carole paused, clearly unaware of his romantic endeavors, "It''s for the best that it ended. Imagine


    the drama if they had gotten married. The real trouble would have started then."


    A wise wife made for a peaceful life. But Ileana didn''t sound like a keeper.


    Anthea nodded, "That''s what I think too."


    After a beat, she added, "Mom, how was business at the shop today?"


    "It was booming. We had a two-hour queue in the evening," Carole replied.


    Anthea pondered for a moment before replying, "Maybe we should rent the two shops next door."


    Carole, considering the recent sales figures, suggested, "I heard the rent might be cheaper with a


    longer lease. Maybe we should wait a bit?"


    "That works," Anthea agreed with a nod.


    The following morning, after her jog, Anthea returned to find Nanson already at the breakfast table.


    Anthea and Nanson exchanged a knowing smile, an unspoken understanding between them.


    At the sight of Nanson in good spirits, Anthea felt relieved.


    After breakfast, she headed out for school.


    Just as she stepped out, she spotted Tanya waving from a distance.


    "Ann!"


    "Tanya," Anthea jogged over.


    Tanya, out of breath and covered in a sheen of sweat, greeted her.


    "Why the rush?" Anthea chuckled.


    "I was afraid you''d already left," Tanya exined. Her strict household didn''t allow her much phone


    time, so she couldn''t coordinate with Anthea in advance.


    Anthea reassured her, "I promised to wait for you, and I always keep my word."


    Tanya then pulled out a breakfast treat, saying, "My mom made these egg wraps. Try one, Ann."


    Anthea, never one to turn down food, took a bite. "Wow, this is delicious! Your mom''s got skills!"


    Tanya blushed, "Maybe it''s because we''re all foodies at home."


    After finishing the wrap, Anthea asked, "Have you ever thought about dieting, Tanya?" Being


    overweight could lead to health issues like fatty liver disease.


    Tanya hesitated for a moment.


    "You know, you''re so pretty and you''d look even better if you slimmed down!" Anthea encouraged.


    "Really?" Tanya asked shyly.


    "Absolutely," Anthea nodded. "Every chubby person is a potential stunner."


    "But I feel like I can''t lose weight," Tanya admitted. "I''ve tried dieting before, and I just ended up


    fainting from hunger without losing any weight."


    Every girl wanted to feel beautiful, and Tanya was no exception. She had tried various diets without


    sess.


    "Losing weight doesn''t always mean you have to starve yourself. I know a little secret that might


    help. As long as you can stick with it, you won''t have to starve and you''ll see results."


    Tanya perked up, "Really? Without starving?"


    "But you have tobine it with exercise," Anthea added. "I get up at 5:30 every morning to run. If


    you''re serious about losing weight, you can join me."


    5:30 in the morning?


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    It wasn''t too bad in the summer. But in the winter, that was before dawn.


    Tanya wavered.


    At the sight of her hesitation, Anthea decided to push a little harder, "Tanya, we''re in our senior year.


    We''ll be starting college soon. Don''t you want a fresh start in college life?"


    With that, Tanya turned into determination. For a new life, she was willing to go the extra mile.

 Chapter 137

    "Alright, Ann!¡± replied Anthea, ¡°I''m hitting the pavement with you for a run tomorrow!"


    Anthea nodded, "Once we get to school, I''ll jot down that home remedy for you."


    "Got it."


    The first ss in the morning was literature ss with Waldron.


    Waldron stood at the podium, clutching the essays fromst week''s exam, "Our ss is just brilliant!


    Out of the 36 regr sses in our grade, we scored third fromst! Pure genius!"


    His tone was dripping with sarcasm. The look on his face would have fooled anyone into thinking


    they''d ced third from the top.


    "My goodness! Our ssroom behavior is top-notch and our grades are still ster! You bunch of


    whiz kids are just a teacher''s dream!"


    The students sat as still as statues, muffling theirughter, not daring to make a sound.


    Waldron tapped the chalkboard, "Let''s hand back these papers."


    The papers were handed back in ascending order of scores.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "Anthea, A+."


    When Waldron got to Anthea''s paper, a genuine smile crept onto his face.


    This girl was a promising one, if only she''d apply herself a bit more.


    Anthea stood up and walked to the front to collect her paper.


    The ss''s eyes followed her.


    How did she do it? Top of the ss! How impressive!


    Holding Anthea''s paper, Waldron asked, "Anthea, do you know where you went wrong?"


    "Fill-in-the-nks from the reading?" Anthea guessed.


    Knowing where she''d messed up was a good sign.


    Waldron unfolded Anthea''s paper, for once not using sarcasm, "Anthea, you wouldn''t have lost


    these easy questions. Be careful in the next exam. Your performance in other subjects surpasses


    that in literature. Do you get something against me?"


    The ss inhaled sharply at the totals.


    Those scores could give the elite ss a run for their money!


    Anthea was nothing but sincere, "I''m sorry. I''ll do better next time."


    Waldron patted Anthea''s shoulder, "I believe in you! Let''s aim for a better performance on the


    midterms to make our ss proud!"


    The honor roll of the midterm rankings was posted for the whole campus to see.


    Usually, the elite ss hogged all the spots.


    But this time, it could be their turn!


    Anthea nodded.


    Waldron handed her the paper and continued, "The rest of you should take a leaf out of Anthea''s


    book. No more cking off. We''re in senior year! Can''t we put a little steam in our stride?"


    "Yes, sir!" The students responded enthusiastically.


    Waldron nodded, satisfied.


    Time flew. Before she knew it, Saturday arrived.


    At 5:30 a.m., Anthea was out the door for her run, with Tanya already decked out in her sports gear,


    waiting, "Ann."


    Anthea jogged over.


    After their run, Tanya asked Anthea to grab lunch with her.


    Anthea replied, "I''ve got ns at noon. How about dinner? Let''s call up Lizzie and hit up the kebab


    ce."


    "Sounds good!" Tanya agreed.


    At eleven in the morning, Anthea arrived at Comfort Cafe on time.


    She texted the other party, "I''m here. Where are you?"


    "Third floor, room L9," came the prompt reply.


    "Be right there," Anthea typed as she entered the cafe.


    Meanwhile, in room L9 on the third floor...


    The room was tastefully decorated with a vintage vibe and ssical carvings everywhere you


    looked, with the gentle breeze tinkling through bead curtains full of a serene atmosphere.


    Daniel paced excitedly. He was about to meet his hero!


    The excitement was killing him!


    "Sherman, how do I look? Am I handsome today? Is my hair cool?"


    Sherman was the picture of calm, sitting by the window, fiddling with his cross, surrounded by the


    curling smoke of burning sandalwood which made him look like a monk in meditation.


    When Sherman didn''t respond, Daniel turned to his sister and asked, "Mamie, am I looking sharp?"


    Mamie chuckled, "Handsome! You¡¯re the handsomest!"


    "That''s what I thought!" But then Daniel second-guessed himself, "No, this won''t do. What if my


    master isn''t as handsome, or as well-dressed as me, and feels inferior?"


    Mamie rolled her eyes, "Daniel, just chill. They''ll be here any minute."

 Chapter 138

    To see the master he admired, Daniel had cycled through more than a dozen outfits, trying to find


    the perfect bnce between casual and presentable.


    "Right, the master himself is about to show up, no time to waste!" In a fit of desperation, Daniel


    tousled his hair into a chaotic mess, aiming to look a bit unkempt, not wanting to outshine the star of


    the show.


    Daniel then turned to Mamie, "Listen, Mamie, Phoenix is a real deal! You''ve got to seize the


    moment when he arrives! I''m telling you these tech wizards usually don''t get out much, not around


    someone like you. With your looks, I bet you could make his heart skip a beat!"


    "Bro, you''re overthinking it," Mamie replied. "For all we know, he might already have a girlfriend.


    Plus, tech nerds usually don''t have the best hairlines. What if Phoenix is bald?"


    Given the tech wizards were staying up all night coding and losing hair, Mamie thought her concern


    was not entirely unfounded.


    Scratching his head, Danielmented, "I should''ve shaved my head! What if Phoenix feels inferior


    seeing my lush hair?"


    Mamie felt Daniel was worrying too much.


    "Daniel, someone like Phoenix must be pretty old, right? What if he''s like sixty?"


    Daniel stroked his chin and pondered for a while, then he said, "Good point. I should''ve dyed my


    hair gray! What if he gets upset seeing me younger and more handsome?"


    Mamie rolled her eyes at his baseless concerns.


    Suddenly, a knocking sound cut through the silence.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Sherman, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, opened them, revealing his deep and


    inscrutable eyes.


    "I''ll get the door," Mamie volunteered, heading toward the sound.


    "Wait!" Daniel held her back.


    "What now?"


    Daniel, trying to contain his excitement, said, "Let me do it! I''ll open the door for the master!"


    With trembling hands, he walked over and opened the door.


    There stood a slender figure in a simple white button-down shirt, one side casually tucked into a


    pair of jeans, exuding an effortless charisma. The person was tall, with an air of aloofness and an


    indefinable allure.


    But the figure was a woman.


    Daniel was taken aback, looking up at her face. And when he did, he was struck dumb.


    Disappointment washed over his face as he recognized her.


    Anthea? Why was Anthea here?


    Could she have known that Sherman was here and pursued him? Was this a bit too shameless?


    "It''s you?" Daniel was less than cordial.


    Anthea, equally surprised to see Daniel, nodded slightly, "Yes, it''s me."


    "What are you doing here?" Daniel pressed. "You''re not here for my Sherman, are you? Just so you


    know, Sherman''s already engaged..."


    Anthea took a step back.


    No mistake. This was booth L9.


    She was in the right ce.


    "I''m Phoenix¡¤YC," Anthea said. "And are you Mr. Christensen?"


    WHAT?! Daniel thought he was hallucinating.


    Anthea was Phoenix¡¤YC? Impossible!


    Phoenix¡¤YC, whoever they were, could not be Anthea! After all, Anthea was known in Cloudcrest as


    a total washout!


    At that moment, a tall figure emerged from the shadows of the room, his features obscured,


    extending a hand. "Pleased to meet you, I''m Sherman Christensen," he greeted.


    "Anthea Yeager," she replied without pretense, shaking his hand.


    Her hand was soft and smooth, not rough like a man''s. It was delicate, almost like jade.


    To Sherman, it was reminiscent of a piece of mutton-fat jade he had once acquired at an auction.


    He realized for the first time just how distinct the touch between men and women could be.


    Daniel, standing nearby, waspletely bbergasted. No, he couldn''t stand by and watch


    Sherman be deceived.


    "How could she be Phoenix¡¤YC? Sherman, don''t be fooled by her!"


    Sherman gave Daniel a chilling look that sent shivers down his spine.


    Daniel couldn''t believe how naive Sherman was being. Anyone with half a brain could see Anthea


    wasn''t a tech deity!


    Sherman then turned to Anthea, exining in a gentle voice, "He''s not quite right in the head.


    Please don''t mind him."


    Anthea nodded, indicating she wouldn''t stoop to argue with someone of unsound mind.


    Sherman gestured politely, "Please,e in."


    Anthea followed him inside.


    The room was filled with a faint fragrance, and the soft chiming of the beaded curtains contributed


    to an elegant atmosphere.


    Mamie had not expected Phoenix¡¤YC to look like this.


    Not a man! Not old! And definitely not bald!

 Chapter 139

    Mamie had seen her share of beauties in Capital City, but this young woman was something else


    altogether.


    If Anthea ever strutted down the boulevards of downtown, Mamie was sure she''d cause a sensation


    that would ripple through the city like an earthquake.


    Caught off-guard by Anthea''s stunning presence, Mamie snapped to action, bustling about to make


    coffee.


    "Please, have a seat."


    Sherman twirled a pen between his fingers, gesturing with the ease of a gentleman for Anthea to sit.


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Mamie hurried over with freshly brewed coffee, "Your coffee, miss."


    "Thank you." Anthea took a sip and set straight to business, "Let''s cut to the chase and discuss my


    fee."


    Sherman nced at his assistant, who promptly produced a pre-prepared check.


    Taking the check, Sherman slid it across the table to Anthea, "Fill in the amount you see fit."


    What confidence, fitting of a big shot!


    Anthea wasn''t shy but scribbled a number down, ready to pass the check back for his approval.


    However, Sherman didn''t bother to look, asserting confidently, "Once I say something, I never go


    back on my word. Keep it."


    How straightforward!


    Anthea tucked the check away neatly.


    Sherman pped his hands. Instantly, someone handed him aptop, "Ms. Yeager, I have some


    troubling data here. Would you mind taking a look?"


    "Of course." Anthea nodded, not one to be outdone in generosity.


    The assistant passed theptop to Anthea, who after a brief inspection said, "It''s no big deal, give


    me ten minutes."


    The room filled with the rhythm of keystrokes until Anthea paused and looked up at Sherman,


    "What''s going on with this?"


    Sherman moved closer, peering over her shoulder, "Where''s the issue?"


    Anthea pointed to the screen, and Sherman, leaning in to see clearer against the light, rested one


    hand on the table and the other near the screen, exining, "This is where multiple users are


    ovepping their datasets..."


    It was only after finishing his sentence that Sherman realized their proximity.


    They were close enough that his chin nearly brushed her hair, soft as silk with a faint fragrance.


    Anthea, focused solely on the data, was oblivious to their closeness. A mere turn of her head would


    graze her lips against his jaw.


    After resolving the data issue, Sherman straightened up and retreated to his seat, sipping his coffee


    to cool the unexpected heat within.


    Anthea, engrossed in her work, her delicate fingers dancing across the keyboard, resembled a


    beautiful and untouchable statue.


    Daniel stood by, watching Anthea in awe, as realization dawned on him.


    Anthea was indeed Phoenix¡¤YC.


    Only someone of her caliber could handle suchplex data with ease.


    Ten minutester, Anthea handed theptop to Sherman, "Any more issues?"


    Sherman checked and nodded, "All good."


    A two-month puzzle for others was solved in minutes by an eighteen-year-old. Had he not


    witnessed it himself, he''d never have believed in such prowess.


    He wondered if the Morris family would regret their decision to sever ties with Anthea, especially


    since it was Daly who had initiated the separation.


    Had they not taken such drastic steps, Anthea might have acknowledged their past kindness.


    s, her future triumphs would now have no connection to the Morris family.


    "Ms. Yeager, I''m sorry," Daniel approached Anthea, red-faced with embarrassment.


    He couldn''t believe how foolish he had been, not realizing the extent of her capabilities.


    Anthea nced at him, "It''s fine."


    Relieved, Daniel pulled out a pristine white shirt he''d prepared earlier, "Ms. Yeager, could I trouble


    you for an autograph?"

 Chapter 140

    Anthea was momentarily taken aback, clearly not expecting Daniel to ask for her autograph.


    But her surprisested only a fraction of a second before she took the pen and scribbled a line on


    the crisp white shirt.


    Phoenix¡¤YC.


    Her handwriting was bold and fluid, with a casual elegance that was quite striking.


    You could tell a person by their handwriting.


    Just from her script, you''d never guess the writer was a girl.


    Of the people Daniel had encountered, aside from Sherman, he doubted anyone could hold a


    candle to her. The thought made Daniel do a double-take.


    Anthea''s handwriting was this beautiful.


    How could anyone say she was illiterate, a waste of space? Gossip really was a killer!


    If it weren''t for those baseless rumors, Daniel wouldn''t have misunderstood Anthea, almost


    offending someone he greatly admired.


    Thinking about it now, he was full of regret.


    After signing, Anthea handed back the shirt to Daniel and turned to bid Sherman farewell.


    Leaving so soon?


    Sherman paused, his fingers interlocked, "Add me on Facebook?"


    "Sure," Anthea nodded.


    They sessfully connected on Facebook.


    Anthea picked up her backpack and walked towards the door, her posture straight and confident,


    her beauty carrying a cool detachment.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Sherman reached the beaded curtain at the entrance first, lifting it with his long fingers, his deep


    voice resonating above Anthea''s head, "Ms. Yeager, where do you live? Can I offer you a ride?"


    "No, thank you," Anthea declined politely.


    No? Sherman was momentarily stunned. He had been ustomed to high positions and ttery


    since his youth, and this was the first time someone had turned him down.


    And it was a young girl.


    So this was what rejection felt like...


    Sherman stood by the beaded curtain, watching her slender figure disappear into the elevator


    before drawing back his gaze.


    Daniel eximed, "Sherman, I never imagined Ms. Yeager was the legendary Phoenix¡¤YC." He


    wouldn''t have believed it if he hadn''t experienced it himself.


    The feeling was just too surreal.


    "So, you still think women are to be underestimated?" Sherman raised an eyebrow slightly.


    "...No way."


    Daniel really didn''t dare anymore. Today had been aplete eye-opener.


    He used to think men were capable of anything. Now he knew better.


    Women could be just as formidable as Anthea.


    "What are you talking about? I don''t get it," Mamie spoke up in confusion, "Why can''t Ms. Yeager be


    the great Phoenix¡¤YC?"


    Although Anthea was young and indeed a girl, she showed no signs of fragility. Rather, she exuded


    an assertive presence, not overshadowed even standing beside Sherman!


    In Mamie''s opinion, a master should carry that kind of attitude!


    Daniel continued, "Phoenix¡¤YC is the same person I told you about the fake heiress of the Morris


    family..."


    Mamie gasped, covering her mouth, "Mr. Christensen''s ex-fianc¨¦e?"


    Daniel nodded.


    "Holy smokes! Talk about fate!" Mamie eximed, "If she hadn''t been recognized, she would''ve


    ended up with Mr. Christensen, right?"


    Upon hearing this, Sherman stopped twisting his fingers, his thick eyshes shadowing the dark


    swirls of his eyes.


    Anthea made her way to the bank. Since it was lunchtime, the lobby was mostly empty.


    The teller was slouched in her seat. Upon seeing Anthea was a young woman, she seemed even


    less inclined to engage, asking disinterestedly, "What can I help you with today?"


    Anthea spoke evenly, "I need to deposit this check into my bank ount."


    "Alright," the teller nced at Anthea, "Please present your debit card, ID, and the check."


    Anthea handed over them.


    When the teller saw the check, her previously indifferent expression transformed into one of shock.


    Holy cow!


    Was she seeing things right?


    Ny million!


    Any trace of sleepiness vanished in an instant, and the teller was suddenly all smiles, "Ms. Yeager,


    wee! Are you interested in discussing investment opportunities? I can rmend some


    excellent products..."


    Anthea looked up slightly, "What''s the current bnce in my ount?" Apart from her earnings


    from the OS System, she hadpleted numerous small tasks over the past few days, but hadn''t


    kept track of the total.

 Chapter 141

    "Give me a second to check that for you," the teller said as she peered at the bnce on her


    screen. With a pleasant tone, she added, "Excluding the funds on hold from checks, your current


    checking ount bnce stands at $12.68 million."


    "Just skim off the change and put it into that investment opportunity you mentioned," Anthea said


    with an airy lilt in her voice.


    Change? How much change could there be?


    The teller nced at the bnce again. The change was a cool $680,000.


    "Would you like to invest this $680,000?" the teller inquired, barely concealing her astonishment.


    Anthea arched an eyebrow slightly, "Didn''t you say my ount holds $12.68 million? Use the $2.68


    million to invest."


    To Anthea, it seemed as if $2 million was no different from spare pocket change.


    Holy cow!


    To the wealthy, $2 million was indeed just a rounding error.


    "Absolutely! I''ll get that sorted for you right away!" The teller was inwardly doing cartwheels of joy.


    After months on the job, she had finally hit the jackpot with this young heiress! A $2 million


    investment would her amission of at least $20,000!


    Stepping out of the bank, Anthea hailed a cab and headed towards QuickSend Parcels where


    Nanson was currently employed


    Acquiring thispany wasn''t a spur-of-the-moment decision for Anthea.


    Having nned ahead, Anthea had already done her homework on QuickSend Parcels a week


    earlier. Thepany was a rising star in recent years, but due to the founder''s overseas


    investments going south, they were strapped for cash. The delivery service was struggling,


    teetering on the brink of copse. They had been entertaining the idea of a sale for the past two


    months.


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    But with a price tag that no one seemed to agree on and ack of industry expertise in potential


    buyers, the sale had been dragging on.


    Nanson, with a decade of experience in the courier world, was no novice.


    Anthea was convinced that he had the chops to turn thepany around!


    Twenty minutester, the cab pulled up to the main entrance of QuickSend Parcels'' headquarters.


    "Hi there, who are you here to see?" Anthea was stopped by a receptionist as soon as she walked


    in.


    With a warm smile, Anthea replied, "I''m Ms. Yeager, here to see your CEO, Bart."


    "This way, please."


    Anthea followed the receptionist''s lead. Soon, they reached the CEO''s office.


    The receptionist knocked, "Boss, Ms. Yeager is here."


    "Come in, please."


    Anthea pushed the door open and entered.


    Bart, in his fifties, had been so worried about thepanytely that it had cost him sleepless


    nights and turned his hair prematurely white. The expresspany had only been up and running


    for a year. While it had initially shown great promise, an overseas investment crisis had thrown a


    wrench in the works.


    With the market increasingly cornered by major courier firms, the business had been bleak, leaving


    them with no choice but to cut their losses through a sale.


    Bart was taken aback to see that his visitor was a girl barely in herte teens. He said, "Are you Ms.


    Yeager''s assistant?"


    Anthea offered a slight smile, "No, I am Anthea Yeager."


    What? Was she Anthea?


    "Come on, you''re pulling my leg! Or wait, are you Ms. Yeager''s daughter? Where''s your mother?"


    Hispany might be on the decline, but the asking price for a sale was still a hefty sum. Could a


    teenager afford it?


    Anthea pulled a check from her purse andid it on Bart''s desk, "This is the amount we agreed


    upon over the phone. Is the contract ready?"


    Bart blinked in surprise once more.


    Anthea continued, "If you''re worried about the check bouncing, you''re wee to call the bank and


    verify."


    Bart looked up at her. Could she be one of those trust fund kids?


    Cloudcrest was known for its affluentmunity, teeming with heirs and heiresses with more


    money than they could spend.


    Realizing this, Bart quickly stood up, "I apologize, Ms. Yeager. I was out of line! Please, have a


    seat."


    "It''s fine," Anthea said, settling onto the couch.


    Bart retrieved the contract he had prepared in advance, "Please take a look and let me know if


    there''s anything you''d like to change."


    There was no business without a bit of cunning.


    Bart had two contracts at the ready.


    One was clean as a whistle, and the other was riddled with loopholes that could allow him to w


    back into thepany as a shareholder if it ever hit it big again.

 Chapter 142

    At such a tender age, it was hard to believe Anthea could even grasp theplexities of a contract,


    let alone spot a loophole.


    Bart sparkled his eyes with smug satisfaction.


    It was a wless n. He would not only secure a substantial sum, but thepany would continue


    to bear his name. It was a win-win situation.


    Anthea skimmed the contract with a practiced eye, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she


    laid the document back on the desk.


    "All set, Ms. Yeager?" Bart asked, barely containing his glee.


    She gave a slight nod.


    Seeing no sign of suspicion on her face, Bart produced a pen with a flourish. "Then let''s make it


    official with your signature. Oh, to avoid any future disputes, we''ll need your fingerprint in a few


    ces."


    As a kid, she was. She missed the huge hole in the contract - she was so easy to dupe.


    Bart believed he had been clever enough to n for every eventuality.


    Anthea took the pen and began to sign.


    Bart glittered his eyes with triumph as the clouds of worry that had gued him for days evaporated


    in an instant.


    But just then, Anthea stopped writing.


    "Something wrong, Ms. Yeager? Pen out of ink?" Bart asked, feigning concern.


    A frosty smile touched Anthea. "Do you take me for a child, Bart?"


    Bart faltered. Had Anthea caught on? Or was this just a bluff?


    "Ms. Yeager, you must be mistaken. I don''t follow," Bart said, feigning ignorance.


    A child couldn''t understand the contract, could they?


    Anthea flipped through the pages and pointed to a section. "This mentions a stake in thepany.


    Care to exin? And here... Presenting such a wed contract, are you underestimating me?"


    Bart had indeed underestimated her, thinking he could pull one over on a young girl. If she had


    been none the wiser, she would have been stuck with a mute loss, with no chance forint.


    At the sight of the contract, Anthea understood why this deliverypany was on the brink of


    copse. To run a business without the slightest integrity was to invite failure.


    Bart''s face drained of color and sweat beaded on his forehead. He hadn''t expected Anthea to


    actually understand the contract! Was she truly just a young girl?


    "Let me see that," Bart stammered, taking the contract. "I apologize, Ms. Yeager. I must have given


    you the wrong one. This is the contract you should sign."


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    No longer daring to deceive Anthea, Bart handed her the correct contract.


    After scrutinizing the new document and finding no issues, Anthea signed her name.


    "Shall I show you around thepany now, Ms. Yeager?" Bart offered.


    "Tomorrow," Anthea stood up. "My uncle wille by then. You can discuss work matters with him."


    Bart nodded, following Anthea out with deference. "Of course. And about the staff?"


    After witnessing Anthea''s acumen, Bart no longer dared to treat her as a mere child.


    "We''ll keep the current staff for now. My uncle will take care of any specifics tomorrow."


    "Understood," Bart said, knowing better than to upset Anthea further.


    He escorted her out of the building with utmost care. The receptionists'' jaws dropped as they


    passed.


    Who was this girl thatmanded such respect from their boss?


    -


    Since there was still time in the day, Anthea decided to visit the real estate office to purchase the


    shop space. It made sense for a long-term business to own rather than rent.


    The sales agent, Una, nearly lost her soul when she saw Anthea.


    Oh my! Why was Anthea here? Was sheing to demand a refund?


    Una had been the one to sweet-talk Anthea into paying two full years of rent upfront, in cahoots with


    the owner of Samia''s Savory Symphony.

 Chapter 143

    The shop was tucked away in a forlorn corner of the sleepy strip mall, and business had been as


    stale asst week''s bread.


    So when Anthea showed up, Una was certain she''de to stir the pot.


    Una''s face drained of color, her skin prickling with a chill that made no sense in the heat of July.


    Anthea strolled in, her voice cutting through the stifling air. "Is Una around?" She''d dealt with Una


    when leasing the space before and didn''t know anyone else at the leasing office. Looking to buy the


    shop, she naturally sought out Una.


    Una''s heart skipped a beat. Trouble was brewing.


    She couldn''t let Anthea corner her now. A scapegoat was needed and fast.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Swallowing hard, Una pointed to Dinah, the newbie on the team. "Dinah, handle that customer for


    me!"


    "Huh?" Dinah blinked in confusion.


    "Are you deaf?" Una snapped, ying the seniority card. "Get moving, or I''ll have the manager on


    your case!"


    Anthea, who was just a partition away, had sharp senses. She could hear themotion inside,


    clear as day.


    Una was squirming, alright. Probably thought she was here for a showdown.


    Anthea quirked her eyebrows, but she didn''t call Una out, not yet.


    Under pressure, Dinah approached Anthea with hesitance. "Good afternoon, madam. How may I


    assist you today?" There was a tremor in her voice, sensing the tension that had sent Una


    scrambling.


    A faint smile yed on Anthea as she replied, "I''m a bit worn out. Could we talk in the lounge


    area?"


    "Right this way, please." Dinah led Anthea to a cozy corner with plush sofas.


    Once seated, Anthea began, "I''m Anthea Yeager. I leased a shop here before. Can you look it up?"


    Dinah whipped out her tablet. "Let''s see. Ah, yes, the property on Dreand Drive, right?"


    "That''s the one." Anthea nodded, then dropped a bombshell. "I''d like to buy that shop, and the two


    vacant ones beside it."


    Dinah''s jaw nearly hit the floor. "Buy all three shops?"


    The shops on that deserted food court had been a tough sell due to the low foot traffic, and the


    developer was offering a hefty bonus to the sales team for offloading them.


    A bonus of $200,000!


    Dinah earned $4,000 a month. That bonus was years of sry.


    She thought she was in a dream. Anthea wasn''t here to cause trouble but was a walking jackpot.


    After regaining herposure, Dinah stammered, "Are you serious?"


    "Let''s get the contract signed," Anthea stated.


    "Of course." Dinah stood up promptly to mask her excitement.


    As Dinahid out the contracts, Una burst in, shoving Dinah aside. "Ms. Yeager is my client. What''s


    it to you?"


    ¡°That $200,000 is mine!¡± Una thought.


    She couldn''t believe this rookie dared to snatch her client.


    Anthea frowned slightly.


    Una then turned to Anthea with a grin, aplete turnaround, "Ms. Yeager, remember me? Una.


    You leased your shop through me. You''re here to sign the contract, right? Come with me. Oh, are


    you thirsty? I''ll get you some water."


    "Una, you can''t do that!" Dinah was on the verge of tears, indignant. "You push Ms. Yeager onto me


    when you think she''s a troublemaker, and now you swoop in iming she''s your client when there''s


    a deal to close. How can you be so shameless."


    "Everyone in the shop knows Ms. Yeager is my client," Una retorted, rolling her eyes at Dinah. "I just


    stepped out to the restroom for a moment, and you swooped in. Have you no shame?"


    Dinah was bbergasted, staring at Una in disbelief. She hadn''t expected Una to twist the truth so


    brazenly.


    Theirmotion soon drew the attention of the manager.

 Chapter 144

    Bracing herself against the privileges of tenure and a passing rapport with the manager, Una


    immediately tattled, not giving Dinah a chance to speak.


    Of course, the manager wasn''t about to reprimand a long-standing employee for the sake of a


    newbie, so he said, "Dinah, this isn''t your concern anymore. Ms. Yeager, I''m terribly sorry for this


    debacle. Let me have Una give you a 5% discount as an apology. Una, please reprint the contract


    for Ms. Yeager."


    A glint of triumph flickered in Una''s eyes as she smiled and said, "Right away, boss."


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Dinah felt deeply wronged. As a neer desperate to keep her job, she was powerless.


    Anthea looked up, her eyes narrowing, "Manager Conn, right? This isn''t how you treat people, is it?


    Aren''t we all on the same team here? I''ve been impressed with Dinah''s service. In fact, if it wasn''t


    for her, I wouldn''t consider buying this ce at all!"


    With that, Anthea spun on her heel and left.


    Dinah was stunned, looking up at Anthea with immense gratitude in her eyes.


    Most customers would have turned a blind eye.


    After all, it wasn''t their loss, especially with a 5% discount in the offing!


    But Anthea had stood up for Dinah, a mere employee!


    Ms. Yeager was kind-hearted, Dinah thought.


    The manager, breaking into a sweat, quickly followed Anthea, bowing and apologizing, "Ms. Yeager,


    don''t be upset. This was wrong of us. Dinah,e here!"


    Dinah hurried over, "Ms. Yeager?"


    Anthea finally looked appeased.


    Una was dumbstruck with mixed feelings. She hadn''t expected Anthea to make such a stand.


    That $200,000 was supposed to be hers!


    That bitch Dinah.


    If only she had known Anthea was here to buy the ce, not to cause trouble, she would never


    have allowed Dinah to serve her.


    "Sir..." Una looked at Manager Conn, hoping he''d speak up for her.


    But customer service was paramount.


    Manager Conn red, "Zip it!"


    If Antheained to his superiors, his own job would be on the line.


    At the sight of the manager''s reaction, Una was green with regret, as if she had died inside.


    But it was toote for regrets. She could only watch as Dinah walked away with her $200,000.


    Back at the Yeager family.


    Anthea called Carole and Nanson into the living room once they were home.


    She announced two serious matters that she had bought a shop and had acquired the courier


    company where Nanson worked.


    "Mom, whenever you have time, we can get someone to refurbish it, and then it''s ready for


    business. Here''s the purchase contract. Uncle Nanson, here''s the acquisition contract for your


    company. Tomorrow, you''ll go to the headquarters for the handover with the previous chairman.


    You''re the new legal representative."


    Carole and Nanson were shell-shocked.


    They couldn''t believe what they were hearing was real.


    Carole was the first to snap out of it, "Ann, where did you get all this money? Did the Morris family


    give it to you? We can''t keep it! Send it back right away!"


    These acquisitions couldn''t have been cheap.


    Besides the Morris family, where else could Anthea have gotten such arge sum?


    Nanson also came to his senses, "Yes, send it back! Ann, we may be poor, but we have our pride.


    I''ll go with you!"


    Anthea replied with a smile, "Don''t worry. This money has nothing to do with the Morris family. I


    made it all by ying the stock market. I had a great run a few days ago. The stocks I picked all hit


    the upper limit, so I made a good sum."


    Anthea had to use stock trading as an excuse.


    Otherwise, there was no exnation.


    She couldn''t im to be a tech mogul, which would be even less believable to Carole and Nanson.


    Especially since Anthea had grown up in thep of luxury with the Morris family and was well-


    versed in finance, it was normal for her to y the stocks.


    "Is that really true?" Carole asked.


    Anthea nodded, "It''s true! I was switched at birth with Reba. The Morris family would rather see


    me dead than give me a dime. The night I returned, they even had me sign a severance agreement!


    This money is really my own." She wasn''t lying. The Morris family despised her. Back in her


    previous life, they were the ones who set her up for disaster!

 Chapter 145

    Carole let out a sigh of relief.


    Thank goodness it wasn''t the Morris family causing trouble again.


    ¡°Ann, I''ve heard that ying the stock market can be risky. How about we stick to the restaurant


    business? We''re making a decent buck these days,¡± Carole continued.


    Even if Anthea didn''t snap up the diner right now, in a few months, the revenue would more than


    cover the purchase.


    Anthea grinned, ¡°Mom, don''t worry. I''ve got it all under control.¡±


    Nanson slid the contract back across the table, ¡°Ann, I can''t take thispany off your hands.¡±


    Despite Nanson''s jokes about wanting Anthea to buy him a mansion, he never really meant it. He


    wasn''t the kind of person who would take advantage of his niece.


    Anthea challenged him, ¡°Did you know yourpany''s on the brink of bankruptcy? I didn''t spend


    much, but if you don''t want to take over, I can only watch it go under.¡±


    Nanson was stunned, clearly blindsided by the news of hispany''s dire straits.


    Anthea pressed on, ¡°You can''t just watch me waste my money, right? I believe in you. You have the


    skills to turn it around. If it makes you feel better, consider my money an investment. If you turn me


    down now, it''s like you don''t think of me as family.¡±


    With the conversation reaching that point, Nanson found it hard to refuse.


    Maybe he could give it a shot.


    Nanson stood up and agreed, ¡°Alright, let''s get one thing straight. Thepany is still yours. I''m


    just managing it for you.¡±


    ¡°That''s not fair to you. How about this? You take eighty percent of the shares, I take twenty, and you


    give me my dividends at the end of the year,¡± Anthea suggested. It seemed fair since Nanson would


    be the one doing the heavy lifting.


    Before Nanson could object, Anthea made up his mind for him.


    Ruffling her hair, she stood up, ¡°Deal. I''m off to my room.¡±


    Having settled two major issues, Anthea felt light and breezy and went for a shower before starting


    her live streaming.


    Sherman booted up hisputer and saw a game notification.


    ¡®Griffin¡¤YC has epted your friend request.¡¯


    The message was several days old.


    He''d been tied up at headquarters dealing with the OS System and hadn''t been gaming.


    Sherman quirked his brow.


    He''d suspected that Griffin¡¤YC was Anthea.


    Could she have so much free time ying games every day? It seemed unlikely.


    Anthea was only eighteen. Bncing tasks at GlobalGigaNet and gaming? Where would she find


    the energy?


    Sherman sent a challenge to Griffin¡¤YC.


    The challenge was epted immediately.


    The game began.


    Minutes in, Sherman noticed Griffin¡¤YC¡¯s ystyle was bizarre, as if making moves on whims


    without pondering the consequences.


    No sane person would make such a move!


    Was this yer just clueless about chess, and his previous wins were sheer luck?


    As Sherman let his guard down, the system alerted him to an impending checkmate. He was caught


    in a dilemma!


    He lost! He had been defeated again!


    Losing three times in a row to the same opponent was... somewhat infuriating.


    Frowning, Sherman looked at the board and then a smile crept across his face, ¡°So it''s a sort of


    diversion?¡±


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


    He''d yed chess for years but had never encountered such a legendary strategy.


    Interesting.


    Sherman sent a message, ¡®Another round?¡¯


    ¡®Sure.¡¯


    Back at Anthea¡¯s side, the live stream chat was lively.


    ¡®This guy is such a goof! Three losses in a row and still not giving up!¡¯


    ¡®Those who understand chess see the strategy. This guy is pretty good, definitely professional.¡¯


    Anthea chuckled, ¡°Indeed, this guy''s got talent. But unfortunately for him, he''s up against me.¡±

 Chapter 146

    "Your boasting is so adorable, I love it!"


    "ThorHammerStriker just sent two luxury gifts!"


    "I''d love to kidnap that high-roller from thements."


    "I''d rather take the streamer home."


    "Count me in!"


    With a yful roll of her eyes, Ann chuckled, "Holy smokes! Are you guys running a kidnapping ring


    or something?"


    The chat erupted withughter.


    "Ann, you''re a freaking genius!"


    Anthea was affectionately called Ann by her fans.


    Sherman had been on a losing streak for several games in a row.


    Just then, there was a knock on the door.


    "Come in." he said.


    Daniel entered the room, saying, "Sherman, there''s a document here that needs your signature."


    After signing the document, Sherman pointed to theputer screen and asked, "What do you


    think of this person''s chess skills?"


    Daniel nced at the screen. "Damn, Sherman, you lost? This person must be incredible. Huh,


    Griffin¡¤YC? Isn''t that simr to the master¡¯s handle? Could it be Anthea?"


    Sherman was known for his exceptional chess skills and Daniel had never seen him lose before.


    This was a first.


    Sherman squinted, "This person can''t be Anthea."


    Daniel continued, "Actually, Ms. Morris is pretty good at chess too. You should have a match with


    her sometime."


    Daniel didn''t understand why Anthea and Sherman were so misinformed about Reba, who was


    genuinely kind-hearted. Was it possible that the more talented people were, the blinder they


    became?


    At the Morris Manor.


    Another week had passed without Reba getting in touch with Luna.


    Deciding to take matters into her own hands, Reba prepared to pay a visit to the ck family.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    As she was leaving, her assistant hurried over, "Ms. Morris!"


    "Carey, what brings you here?" Reba was surprised to see her assistant in such a rush.


    Carey was sweating profusely, "Jack sent me."


    Jack was Reba''s agent and he knew of Sherman''s hobbies including a love for chess aside from


    his spiritual practices.


    So, after Reba''s miraculous second chance at life, she sought the system''s help to improve her


    skills.


    With the system''s aid, Reba had reached grandmaster status in chess. Not only had she


    be the vice president of the Chess Association, but she had also signed with Luxphinia''s


    largest streamingpany, earning the title of the top online chess yer.


    Furthermore, she was Cloudcrest''s youngest grandmaster chess yer.


    Most importantly, the streamingpany she had signed with was a part of the Robinson Group,


    owned by none other than Daniel.


    "What does Jack want?" Reba asked.


    Carey handed her a smartphone, "Ms. Morris, take a look at this."


    Reba took the phone, which disyed a live stream.


    A young girl was ying chess live.


    Carey nced at Reba before adding, "Ms. Morris, Jack says if you don''t start streaming again


    soon, this neer might steal your audience."


    Reba scoffed, handing the phone back dismissively. She didn''t regard the situation as a threat.


    "Am I supposed to be worried about every average Joe now?"


    She had only nced quickly.


    The streamer, going by the name Griffin¡¤YC, had merely two or three thousand viewers at the


    moment. What was there to be concerned about?


    When Reba streamed, her viewers always exceeded a hundred thousand.


    "Ms. Morris," Carey continued, "Jack insists we can''t take this lightly. This neer is gaining


    momentum fast! Manypanies are looking to sign her. We need to be careful!"


    Until now, apart from Reba, other female streamers were not technically proficient, mostly


    relying on beauty filters to attract viewers. They couldn''tpare to Reba.


    In addition to the female streamers, even many professional male streamers couldn''t hold a candle


    to Reba.


    Every time there was a coborative stream, Reba would dominate.


    But now, out of nowhere, Griffin¡¤YC had managed to top the charts for a week straight without being


    signed by any agency!


    Even Reba hadn''t achieved such a feat when she started.


    "Just tell Jack to rx," Reba said with disdain in her eyes. "I''m not sweating some no-show


    joker. I''ve got things to deal with right now. We can talk more when I''m back at the office tonight."

 Chapter 147

    Reba thought her chess game unbeatable, and no one could take her down!


    Reba didn''t even consider this upstart worth her attention.


    At the sight of Reba''s nonchnce, Carey let out a sigh of relief, "Then, Ms. Morris, I''ll be


    heading back."


    "Go ahead," Reba nodded.


    Sticking to the n, Reba paid a visit to the ck family.


    An hourter.


    Reba stood by her car, under the zing sun, but she was ovee with chills, her palms slick


    withyer uponyer of cold sweat.


    "Ms. Luna suddenly passed away from a severe illness half a month ago..." The words of the ck


    family''s butler echoed in her mind.


    How could Luna be dead? Wasn''t it Tammie who was supposed to be the one facing death?


    But now, Luna was gone, and Tammie, who deserved to be dead, was alive and well, back to her


    normal self.


    What in the world had happened?


    In her past life, Luna had dominated the business world, monopolizing the entire Cloudcrest


    industry chain with her ruthless tactics, a true powerhouse of a woman.


    But in this life, Luna had died so inexplicably!


    "System, can you find out the cause of Luna''s death? And who is this Dr. Yeager who cured


    Tammie?" The ck family had only announced that Dr. Yeager was the one who cured Tammie


    without revealing any further details about him.


    Was it Anthea? It had to be said that Anthea had changed a lot.


    Ever since she left the Morris family, she seemed like apletely different person.


    Reba frowned. But if Anthea was the legendary miracle doctor, would she still need to work as a


    waitress in a diner?


    And how could someone who was once considered useless suddenly be a miracle healer?


    That was just a fairy tale!


    Just then, the system provided the specifics of Luna''s situation.


    Luna''s cause of death was a heart attack. She died a natural death.


    Reba deepened her frown and then she asked, "Who is Dr. Yeager?"


    ¡®Dr. Yeager''s identity is a mystery, the system hasn''t found any information yet...¡¯


    The system sounded frustrated, ¡®But don''t worry. Luna can''t really affect you. Your most important


    task now is to marry Mr. Christensen and reach the pinnacle of your life!¡¯


    With those words, Reba felt her frustration dissipate a bit.


    After all, the system was infallible in her eyes. If the system said there was nothing to worry about,


    then these matters had no impact on her.


    Besides, she and Luna had never been close. Reba had only reached out to her because she


    thought Luna would achieve great things in the future and wanted to get in her good graces early.


    In the evening, Reba arrived at the office.


    Jack lit up his eyes when he saw her, "Oh, my dear, you''re finally here! The live-streaming room is


    all set up for you. The 8 o''clock broadcast is waiting, get ready."


    "Got it." Reba put down her bag and sat in front of the makeup mirror, letting the makeup artist


    work their magic on her already wless face. With the addition of cosmetics, she looked even more


    stunning.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Reba curled her lips into a slight smile.


    Be it in the live streaming world or the world of chess, she was the unquestionable number one!


    Who could surpass her?


    Jack then said, "Oh, have Carey told you about that neer, right? Remember to do a live match


    with herter. That newbie has been gaining too much momentumtely. It''s time for you to quash


    her spirit and show her who''s the boss in this industry!"


    Jack had full faith in Reba''s chess skills. She was the only one who could crush that newbie at


    this point.


    "I do a match with that newbie?" Reba turned around in surprise, "Jack, did I hear you right?"


    Was she, the queen of the,peting with a nobody?


    Could that rookie win against her? Wasn''t this an insult to her dignity?

 Chapter 148

    Jack understood the subtext in Reba and chuckled, "Don''t underestimate the rookie. I''ve


    watched her stream and she''s got some serious game. Even Mr. A lost to her!"


    Having been an agent for a decade, Jack had a sharp eye for talent.


    Despite the barrier of the screen, he could tell this newbie was special.


    This newbie didn''t have a team, no recordbel, or any marketing behind her. And yet, in just a


    fortnight, her followers soared from zero to 300 thousand!


    An average Joe? Hardly.


    And all this was without showing her face, which could only mean that she was the real deal, a true


    virtuoso!


    Looking at the whole tform, Reba might be the only one who could give her a run for her


    money.


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    That was why Jack set up the showdown.


    Reba smirked disdainfully, "Mr. A is a glorified amateur at best. You know what got him his fame.


    How is going head-to-head with this upstart anything but a downgrade for me?"


    Mr. A¡¯s poprity was purely based on his good looks and a voice like melted chocte, which got


    him a flock of devoted fans.


    Reba had the looks and the skills.


    What could Mr. A hold a candle to Reba with?


    Jack grinned, "What¡¯s the matter? Are you scared to lose to the rookie?"


    "Me? Lose?" Reba snorted.


    Jack came over and patted her shoulder, "I know you won¡¯t lose. That''s why I arranged the match.


    Griffin¡¤YC has been trending like crazy! I hear teams are lining up to sign her and make her the next


    queen of the gaming world."


    If things kept up, Griffin¡¤YC¡¯s poprity might soon eclipse Reba¡¯s!


    At that, Reba darkened her expression.


    There was not enough room for two sharks in one sea.


    In the world of streaming, Reba was the one and only queen, the unrivaled gaming goddess!


    She wouldn''t allow anyone to threaten her throne.


    Her assistant, Carey, chimed in, "If it weren''t for Ms. Morris taking a break, Griffin¡¤YC wouldn¡¯t have


    risen so quickly! She''s just capitalizing on the vacancy. What the nerve! Ms. Morris, your fans are


    dying to see you sh with Griffin¡¤YC. Show her your skill!"


    "Alright then! I''llpete with her once," Reba turned to Jack, "But this is an exception."


    Jack nodded, "Don''t worry. Beat Griffin¡¤YC this time, and she won''t have a chance to turn the


    tables."


    Eight o''clock came around in no time.


    Reba entered her streaming room right on schedule.


    The fans went wild at the sight of her.


    ¡®Reba, you¡¯re back atst!¡¯


    ¡®Missed you so much!¡¯


    ¡®Heard about the match with Griffin tonight. Can''t wait! Griffin¡¤YC has been too cockytely, even


    yed Mr. A like a fiddle!¡¯


    ¡®Give Griffin¡¤YC a smackdown, Reba!¡¯


    Reba said sweetly, "I missed you guys too. To be honest, I''m not really into the idea of going up


    against a newbie. It mighte off as bullying. We''re all part of the samemunity, after all."


    ¡®No mercy with someone like that, Reba. You don''t know how shameless Griffin¡¤YC is! Justst


    week, she took advantage of Mr. A¡¯s leniency and had the audacity to im victory!¡¯


    ¡®Wow... Reba is so kind-hearted.¡¯


    As the chat filled with simr sentiments, Reba reluctantly added, "Well, if everyone''s so excited


    about me going up against Griffin¡¤YC, I''ll do it just this once."


    ¡®You''re the best, Reba!¡¯


    ¡®Love you!¡¯


    When Anthea saw the challenge pop up, she hit decline without a second thought.


    Firstly, she had no idea who this person was. Secondly, she had promised her fans a League of


    Legends showcase tonight.


    Reba wasn''t surprised to see the challenge rejected. After all, she was a grandmaster and a


    celeb on the site. It made sense the other party would chicken out.


    Still, facing the screen, she feigned shock, "Oh! She declined my challenge. Maybe she¡¯s busy?


    Let''s not bother her then."


    ¡®Griffin¡¤YC must be scared!¡¯


    ¡®Laugh my ass off! Chicken before the fight even starts!¡¯

 Chapter 149

    Reba spoke with a gentle lilt, "Don''t be so hard on her, guys. I''m sure she didn''t mean to reject


    me. Maybe she''s just tied up."


    As the words left her lips, Reba added, "Besides, I''ve heard the new girl''s quite the whiz at


    chess. She might even be better than me!"


    [Reba, you''re too modest!]


    [Griffin''s chess game isn''t even a patch on yours, Reba. You''re giving her too much credit!]


    [Griffin is so shameless! She definitely snubbed you on purpose!]


    Reba did a great job hiding the smug look that flickered across her eyes, continuing in her soft


    voice, "Don''t say that, guys. It''s normal if Miss Griffin has a better game than me. After all, there''s


    always new blood rising to the top, a new wave pushing out the old. "


    As soon as Reba finished, the chat exploded with vitriol. They were all mming Anthea for


    being delusional, a rookie thinking she could vie for the title of chess queen against Reba!


    The nerve!


    Anthea was about to start a gaming session when she noticed a slew of hostilements on her


    screen.


    [Our Ba challenged you to a match and you chickened out?]


    [Shameless! Pretending to be innocent!]


    [Do you dare ept our challenge?]


    [Trash, you think you canpete with our Ba?]


    Anthea arched an eyebrow, "Ba? Do I know her?"


    Her fans exined.


    [Ann, Ba''s a grandmaster-level influencer. She just sent you a match invite, but you declined.]


    [Clean up your act! We''re here to watch Ann y, not deal with you lot!]


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    [What kind of nonsense? Did our Ann ever bother you?]


    Realizing this Ba was trouble, Anthea decided to forego the game, asking, "Babes, do you want


    me to go head-to-head with her?"


    [We do!]


    [Ann, Ba''s fans have been sour for days, iming you used underhanded tactics to beat Mr. A.


    I''ve been itching to set them straight for so long!]


    [Yes, Ann, show ''em what''s what!]


    "Alright, I''ll ept her challenge. After all, I''m all about pampering my fans!" Anthea said, sending a


    match invite Ba''s way.


    [Another day, another reason to love Ann.]


    [Ahh! Ann, you spoil us!]


    The moment the connection was made and Reba''s face appeared on the screen, Anthea was


    taken aback, wondering if her eyes were deceiving her.


    Was this...Reba?


    She wasn''t seeing things after all.


    Reba''s voice was tender as honey, "Hey there, gorgeous. How''s it going?"


    "Good," Anthea replied, unfazed.


    Reba, seeing the newbie was camera-shy, teased with augh, "You''re so slender, and that


    corbone... I bet you''re even more stunning in person."


    Then, Reba went on, "You must take great care of yourself, right? Your hands are so delicate.


    Unlike me, I don''t even know the basics of skincare..."


    Anthea smiled lightly, her tone airy, "No wonder your skin have no glow."


    [LOL! Ann''seback is epic!]


    [Is Ann the queen of straight talk?]


    [I''m dying!]


    [Ann''s like a pro at calling people out.]


    Reba''s face chilled over. She had a bit of a sallowplexion and always had toyer on


    foundation and max out the filters to hide her imperfections during live streams. She hated it when


    peoplemented on her skin tone!


    She couldn''t believe this rookie was being so bold!


    She hadpletely disregarded Reba.


    "Your wit is quite something," Reba said, deflecting the jab with a smile. "Shall we start? Are you


    ready, darling?"


    "Let''s begin," Anthea said without further ado.


    The match started.


    With the help of her system, Reba quickly captured three of Anthea''s pieces, gaining an early


    advantage.


    Anthea remained calm, ying her moves carefully. She noticed something odd about Reba''s


    style. It felt less like ying against a person and more like ying against a machine.


    Anthea''s eyebrow quirked slightly. Something was off about Reba.


    "Got your rook," Reba said with a smile, her voice as soft as ever, "You''d better watch out,


    darling. I''m about to put you in check."

 Chapter 150

    Reba thought this rookie was going to be some kind of prodigy!


    Turns out, she''s nothing but a low-level loser. Her chess game isughably weak.


    She hadn''t even shown her true skills, and the opponent was already falling apart.


    And to think Jack was so wary of her.


    Anthea spoke with a nonchnt tone, "Don''t get cocky so soon. Hate for you to be a sore loser


    later,ing up with someme excuse like feeling under the weather or pretending to go easy on


    the newbie!"


    Reba offered a slight smile, her fingers dancing across the keyboard to move a piece,


    "Checkmate! Better luck next time, hon, you''ve lost."


    [Reba is so amazing!]


    [Hahaha! She lost!]


    [Number One is still Number One! What''s this rookie think she''s doing challenging our champ?]


    "Are you sure you''ve got me in checkmate?" Anthea''s tone remained cool.


    With that statement, Reba paused. What did this loser mean by that?


    "Take another look," Anthea prompted, noting Reba''s puzzled expression.


    The chat room fans were also confused.


    After a moment, realization dawned on everyone.


    [Ah! I''m so fired up right now!]


    [Same here! I''m actually tearing up!]


    [Holy cow! Ann is fierce! Ann is the bomb!]


    [Ah! Another day in love with Ann!]


    [My goodness! Ann just blew my mind with her chess strategy! Turns out you don''t have to always


    y offense!]


    [That switcheroo was slick! AnnV587!]


    [Mom, I''m so proud, I just saw my favorite streamer beat a grandmaster!]


    Reba''s brow furrowed as she finally saw the trap that Anthea had set. The cannon was waiting


    there all along.


    She had been too careless! One wrong move led to another.


    "I''ll give you a piece handicap. Take your rook back," Anthea''s voice came again.


    Reba''s face paled, a sweat breaking on her forehead.


    She was a grandmaster, for goodness'' sake! Did she really need to ept a handicap from a


    nobody? But if she didn''t ept, she would lose!


    What to do now?


    For the first time during her streaming career, Reba faced a dilemma like this.


    Reluctantly, she sought help from her system.


    The system should be able to bail her out. But she was already in a checkmate situation, trapped


    with no way out, even the system couldn¡¯t do anything.


    Seeing that Reba wasn''t making a move, Anthea didn''t bother with pleasantries.


    She went straight for the checkmate.


    [Checkmate! ck wins!]


    The chat erupted with excitement; where Reba''s fans had previously mocked Anthea, now it


    was their turn to gloat.


    [So what if you''re Number One? Our Ann can still beat you!]


    [Our Ann will always be your daddy!]


    [I love Ann!]


    [User: ThorHammerStriker, sent a sports car to Griffin¡¤YC!]


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    [User: TrueHeart2005, sent a fireworks disy to Griffin¡¤YC!]


    [User: PiratesForever, sent a sports car to Griffin¡¤YC!]


    Reba''s fans were in disbelief at her loss and quickly started stirring things up.


    [What''s wrong with Reba? Is she not feeling well?]


    [How could Reba possibly lose! She must be under the weather!]


    If it wasn''t for not feeling well, how could Reba possibly lose?


    But Anthea''s fans weren''t having it and fired back.


    [Here we go, the excuses areing.]


    [Lose and it''s either a handicap or feeling sick. Seems Number One isn''t so different after all, just


    another sore loser!]


    [Is that supposed to be Number One?]


    [Next door''s Number One should have some shame!]


    [Can''t handle a loss! Reba shows her true colors!]


    [Never seen someone so shameless. If you can''t handle losing, whypete at all? What''s the


    point now?]


    Reba was about to go along with her fans, but thements made her face turn.


    Using the ''not feeling well'' excuse now would only confirm that she couldn''t handle defeat.


    She had no choice but to swallow her pride, "I was outyed. Griffin, you¡¯re truly skilled!"


    "Inpetition, winning and losing is all part of the game. No need to dwell on it, senior."


    At those words, Reba''s expression turned even darker.

 Chapter 151

    ¡°You little bitch, you wouldn''t call me senior before, but chose to do so right after my defeat.


    Wasn''t this a deliberate attempt to embarrass me?¡± Reba cursed inwardly, ¡°Just you wait! I¡¯m


    going to make you suffer.¡±


    Reba maintained her gentle smile until the live stream ended.


    Jack timed his entrance perfectly at the end of the broadcast, pping his hands and announcing,


    ¡°In honor of Reba''s triumphant first day back, we''re knocking off early! Dinner¡¯s on me¡ªwe¡¯re


    hitting up Joe''s Crab Shack for some lobsters!¡±


    Silence fell upon the room while everyone exchanged awkward nces.


    Reba¡¯s expression darkened terrifyingly.


    Carey sidled up to Jack, tugging at his sleeve.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jack asked, puzzled. Weren¡¯t early knock-offs and lobsters something to cheer


    about?


    Carey whispered, ¡°Ms. Morris lost.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Jack was stunned. It hadn''t even urred to him that Reba could lose!


    ¡°You lost to Griffin?¡± Jack queried.


    Carey nodded.


    Jack''s face was a picture of shock.


    How could this be? Reba was so formidable; how could she possibly lose?


    It took a moment for Jack to gather his thoughts before he approached Reba with concern.


    ¡°Reba, are you feeling alright?¡±


    Reba didn¡¯t answer Jack directly but instead said, ¡°I suspect Griffin was cheating.¡±


    Reba had a system to help her! There was no way Griffin could outdo the system!


    So, there was only one exnation - Griffin was cheating!


    Yes! That had to be it!


    Jack narrowed his eyes, ¡°You might be onto something.¡± Although Griffin was a decent yer, in


    Jack''s mind, Reba was top tier! And Reba was a grandmaster¡ªhow could she possibly lose


    to a nobody?


    If this wasn¡¯t cheating, what was?


    Reba continued, ¡°Not just cheating, I think Griffin¡¯s also a freak! Just like that Snow White from


    before, why else would she hide her face?¡±


    Snow White was a well-known streamer.


    Even more popr than Griffin, she never showed her face, iming to be a beauty, maintaining an


    air of mystery.


    Then one day, an ident with her camera revealed Snow White''s face, and her fans discovered


    that not only was she far from beautiful, she was also a fifty-year-old woman!


    The incident caused a sensation online.


    Suddenly, the name Snow White was on everyone¡¯s lips.


    So, this Griffin, who also wouldn¡¯t show her face, must be hideous too!


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    After all, the online world is all about looks. If Griffin was truly beautiful, why would she hide her


    face?


    With this thought, the corners of Reba¡¯s mouth curled slightly.


    Griffin was ugly and a cheater! Once this news got out, what chance would Griffin have to recover?


    Just the cheating scandal alone would be enough to bury her!


    Nowadays, people have very firm values; cheating is unforgivable!


    Little bitch. Daring to challenge Reba? Completely out of her depth!


    Reba turned to Jack, ¡°Jack, you know what to do now, right?¡±


    Jack nodded, ¡°Reba, you always think on your feet.¡±


    The next day, Reba was live on time.


    She looked a bit off, with red eyes, as if she hadn''t slept well.


    [Reba, did you have trouble sleeping?]


    Reba responded with surprise, ¡°Oh? You can tell? Am I looking that bad today?¡±


    [Pretty bad! But still very beautiful!]


    [The fairest of them all! Not like some court jester!]


    Reba continued, ¡°I¡¯m not skilled enough at chess; I didn¡¯t want to disappoint you all again, so I


    stayed upst night studying some chess strategies. Our ancestors were truly wise.¡±


    [Reba¡¯s so hardworking!]


    [Reba, you didn¡¯t lose yesterday. It was that cheating scoundrel!]


    Reba, feigning confusion, said, ¡°Cheating scoundrel? I wasn¡¯t aware, what¡¯s this about?¡±


    [Griffin¡¯s the cheater! And a total freak too!]


    Reba replied, ¡°You must be mistaken about her. She doesn¡¯t seem like the type to cheat. I just


    lost once. Don¡¯t worry; I can handle it. You don¡¯t need to worry about me!¡±

 Chapter 152

    [Reba is so kind, but a cheater is always a cheater, and that can''t be washed away.]


    The more Reba tried to exin, the more convinced everyone became that Griffin was cheating.


    Seizing this point, Reba continued, "Moreover, her voice is so pleasant, and her hands are so


    pretty, she must be even more beautiful! She''s definitely not some monster, nor is she a second


    Snow White!"


    [Ba, seriously, why are you so naive? That woman chewed you up and spat you out yesterday


    evening, and here you are, defending her. You''re so kind!]


    [Remember Snow White with the voice of an angel? Turns out she was nothing more than a wolf in


    sheep''s clothing!]


    Reba deliberately changed the subject. "Alright, enough of that. Let''s y some chess."


    [Right on! Forget about the ugly cheater. Not worth our time.]


    Unaware of the online drama, Anthea Yeager was helping out in the family diner, which had been


    bustling with customers these days. Thankfully, they had hired a couple of extra waitstaff, or they''d


    have been swamped.


    It wasn''t until ten at night that they began to close up. Carole, mopping the floor, said, "Ann, you


    need to focus on your studies. Don''t worry abouting in tomorrow night. We have enough hands


    on deck now."


    Anthea smiled back. "I''ve finished all my homework. Don''t worry about me."


    Just then, they heard footsteps outside.


    "Anyone here?" a voice called out before the person appeared.


    "Who''s there?" Carole lifted her eyes slightly.


    "It''s me!" A woman with a perm strode in.


    Carole greeted her with a smile. "May I ask who''s looking for us?"


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    The woman introduced herself, "I''m the former owner of Samia''s Savory Symphony, Samia."


    "Oh, hello. What can I do for you?"


    Samia was fuming inside. The diner used to be hers, and if she hadn''t sublet it to Anthea, their


    business wouldn''t be doing half as well. She felt entitled to the profits that Yeager''s Delicacies was


    raking in.


    Samia cut to the chase. "I''ll be straightforward. This ce was mine before, and if I hadn''t handed it


    over, would you be doing so well? You seem like a reasonable woman. You understand that we


    should all get a slice of the pie, right?"


    Carole frowned slightly. "What exactly are you proposing?"


    Without beating around the bush, Samia said, "I mean that I should get half of what you''re making!"


    In truth, even half felt like a loss to Samia. After all, it was her ce first. If she hadn''t leased it to


    them, all the profits would be hers!


    Anthea couldn''t help butugh at the audacity.


    "I''ve lived two lifetimes, and yet I''ve never seen someone so shameless," she thought.


    "And just what is so funny?" Samia red at Anthea.


    Anthea looked up, her gaze sharp. "I''m just amused by how some people can be so shameless!"


    "How dare you speak to me like that?" Samia pointed at Anthea. "You do realize that your business


    is booming because of me, right? If I hadn''t rented you this ce, you and your mother would be


    out in the cold!"


    "So, ording to you, we should be thanking you?" Anthea raised an eyebrow.


    "No need for thanks," Samia continued. "Just give me something tangible. From now on, you split


    your earnings with me, down the middle!"


    "Well, why don''t we just give it all to you?" Anthea suggested, dead serious.


    Samia was taken aback. It seemed Anthea was finally seeing sense.


    "Sure, a fifty-fifty split is a bit much. How about this? I take ny percent, you take ten," Samia


    mused. "I''m just too nice. You''ve made at least two hundred grand these past few days. Go fetch


    me one hundred and eighty thousand!"

 Chapter 153

    Samia stated her im as if it were the most natural thing in the world, her heart not even skipping


    a beat.


    "200 grand? That''s pocket change for us these days!" Carole held up five fingers with a flourish.


    Good heavens! Half a million! Samia''s eyes glinted with envy.


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


    Who would have thought that Yeager''s Delicacies was raking in so much dough? But now, all that


    cash was hers for the taking.


    "So you owe me 450 grand!"


    Anthea crossed her arms defiantly, "We made half a million, sure. And there''s a line out the door of


    our shop every single day. Business is booming! But you won''t see a cent of it, Samia. How does


    that burn?"


    Boiling with rage, Samia''s face paled at the audacity of this little bitch standing up to her- it was


    simply unbelievable!


    "Not giving me the money, huh? Just you wait! You''ll regret this! I''m revoking your lease right this


    instant! You won''t make another dime! I''m calling my niece right now to have her lease this ce to


    me!"


    Samia''s niece was none other than Una.


    She had the gall to demand cash from Anthea, relying solely on the fact that Una, at the property


    management, was her niece.


    A word from her, and Una could snatch the shop back from them!


    Anthea just watched Samia with an amused smile.


    Samia had no idea that Anthea had already bought the ce outright. Smugly she taunted, "What''s


    it going to be? Now you see the consequences, right? Hand over the money if you know what''s


    good for you. This money should''ve been ours to begin with! I''m already being generous letting you


    keep ten grand. Don''t bite off more than you can chew!"


    ying along with Samia''s theatrics, Anthea feigned terror, "Oh no! Please, do hurry and get Una to


    take back the lease!"


    "Fine! Just you wait!" Seeing Anthea''s apparent insolence, Samia didn''t hold back. She whipped out


    her phone and dialed Una, "Hello, Una, it''s your aunt..."


    Whatever was said on the other end, Samia''s expression morphed from triumph to rage, to


    disbelief, until a sheen of sweat coated her forehead.


    Even her voice grew fainter.


    She bought it! In her wildest dreams, Samia had not anticipated Anthea swooping in to buy all three


    of the properties.


    Samia felt her legs turn to jelly. Her half a million was gone.


    And just then, Anthea''s voice cut through, "Mom, you better call the cops and report that someone


    is robbing us."


    Call the cops? Samia''s entire body jolted, and she bolted like a monster was on her heels.


    She dashed out of Yeager''s Delicacies.


    Slumped on the ground outside, Samia wailed in despair.


    The money! It was all supposed to be hers!


    Had she known the business would boom, she would''ve never sublet the space to Anthea.


    But it was toote for regrets now.


    Watching Samia sob from a distance, Anthea pped her hands dispassionately, "I''ve never seen


    someone so shameless."


    Carole chuckled, "Ann, we really owe you one this time. If you hadn''t bought the restaurant, we''d be


    in real trouble."


    Samia was a piece of work. With a niece working in property management, they had a hundred


    ways to reim a property. If things had escted, their shop might have been finished.


    Anthea replied, "Even if I hadn''t bought it, I''d have dealt with her."


    Carole grinned, as if remembering something, "Oh, Ann, get some rest tonight. We''re heading over


    to Sarah''s ce tomorrow."


    "What for?" Anthea blinked in surprise.


    "Sarah''s boyfriend ising over to meet the family and talk marriage," Carole exined.


    "That soon?" Anthea was taken aback.


    Carole nodded, "Apparently, the guy''s family is well off, and since Sarah''s head over heels, they''re


    speeding things up."


    Just then, Anthea''s phone began to ring. Picking it up, she saw an unfamiliar number, "Hello?"


    "Good day, I''m Dahlia, the Director at RealTimeFlow, am I speaking with Ms. Griffin?"

 Chapter 154

    "I am." replied Anthea.


    Dahlia continued, "We''re calling to inform you that in two months, RealTimeFlow will be celebrating


    its third anniversary with a g event. We would be honored if you could join us."


    Lately, Anthea''s star had been rising at an astonishing rate. Plus, with a big scandal breaking out, it


    was clear as day that there''s no such thing as bad publicity. The tform wanted to milk this for all it


    was worth!


    On the other hand, they were also trying to figure out if Anthea was the next Snow White of the


    streaming world.


    Anthea wasn''t keen on attending such soirees, so she replied with a polite, "Thanks, I''ll think about


    it."


    A soft chuckle came from Dahlia before she added, "The electronic invite has been sent to your


    email. Please check it when you get a chance, and we''d love to see you at the party."


    "Sure thing."


    On the flip side...


    Dahlia had just hung up when Reba blurted out, "So, is sheing or what?"


    Shaking her head, Dahlia looked at Reba''s face on the screen and said, "Doesn''t look like it.


    Seems she''s too chicken to show up."


    Dahlia, the director at RealTimeFlow, also happened to be good friends with Reba. When Dahlia


    was on a business trip in Cloudcrest and got mugged, stabbed by a thug, it was Reba who


    happened to pass by and call the cops just in time. If it weren''t for her, Dahlia might have been a


    goner. That was the reason why Reba managed to sign with RealTimeFlow so easily.


    Hearing the news, Reba''sugh was a mix of mischief and triumph, "Knew it. She wouldn''t dare


    show up."


    She sneered, then quickly switched gears, "Dahlia, I heard Mr. Robinson ising to the event,


    right?"


    Daniel Robinson was the big boss at RealTimeFlow, and if he wasing, it meant Mr. Christensen


    would too.


    Dahlia nodded, "Yep, it''s the third anniversary, so not only the big boss but all the shareholders will


    be there. We''ll be live-streaming it across the tform."


    Then Dahlia turned the tables, "How about you, Reba? You''re gonna grace us with your


    presence, right? It is your first year with RealTimeFlow, after all."


    Reba nodded with a smile, "Yeah, I''ve promised my fans."


    "Then you''ll definitely be the belle of the ball!" Dahlia eximed, well aware that despite the


    plethora of female streamers on their tform, very few could hold a candle to Reba''s beauty.


    "Dahlia, you love teasing me," Reba countered, feigning modesty. "There are plenty more


    beautiful than me. How could I possibly steal the show?"


    But Dahlia was earnest, "I''m not just ttering you, Reba. With your looks and your gaming


    skills, who on our tform could surpass you?"


    There was an unmistakable gleam of pride in Reba''s eyes. Just like a superstar, she was born to


    outshine everyone else. If not her, then who?


    The day Mr. Christensen would fall head over heels for her was inching closer.


    "Oh, by the way," Dahlia''s eyes twinkled with mischief, "Mr. Robinson is still single, Reba. With


    your stunning looks..." The implication was clear.


    Daniel? Reba dismissed the thought with an inner scoff. Compared to Mr. Christensen, what


    was Daniel? At best, a servant!


    "Dahlia, you''re joking again," Reba blushed for effect. "I''m nowhere near Mr. Robinson''s league."


    Dahlia took it as coyness, "I''m tight with Mr. Robinson. When youe down to Capital City, I''ll


    introduce you two. Even if romance doesn''t spark, friendship is always good."


    Just as Reba was fretting over how towork her way up to Daniel, Dahlia offered to be the


    bridge. Perfect!


    Daniel already had a good impression of her, and now she could use this ''stepping stone'' to get


    closer to Mr. Christensen.


    "Alright, I gotta go. See you in two months, in Capital City," Dahlia said, wrapping up the


    conversation.


    RealTimeFlow''s headquarters were in Capital City, hence the choice for the venue of the


    anniversary g.


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


    Reba nodded, "See you in Capital City."


    As the video call ended, Reba began browsing through a collection of dazzling gowns.

 Chapter 155

    Even though the party was a good two months away, Reba was determined to be the belle of


    the ball. Preparation was key, and she knew she had to start early to dazzle everyone in sight.


    The Yeager family.


    Anthea had ns to visit Sarah''s ce the next day, so after streaming for her fans that evening,


    she called it a night. She indulged in a rxing bath and some aerobic exercises before tucking


    herself in for a good night''s sleep.


    Without her live stream on, Anthea was blissfully unaware of the online drama unfolding.


    The following morning, Carole and Anthea arrived at the Allen residence, greeted by Sarah''s warm


    smile. Noticing Anthea''s absence from the live streams the night before, Sarah squeezed her


    friend''s hand and said, "Ann, don''t let the haters get you down. Jealousy is a sickness, and you''ve


    got a clean conscience! But, honey, you should show your face tonight. If you don''t, those trolls


    won''t know when to stop their yapping!"


    Anthea''s stunning looks would surely shatter any ill rumors about her.


    "What are you talking about, Sarah?" Anthea asked, confused.


    "You don''t know yet?" Sarah replied, her eyes wide with surprise.


    "What should I know?" Anthea inquired, her curiosity piqued.


    Sarah quickly pulled out her phone and showed Anthea a trending short video.


    The video was a hit, racking up two million likes and over two hundred thousandments. The


    gist of it was that a popr RealTimeFlow streamer, dubbed a ''cheating mongrel'', was also the next


    shady Snow White. Nasty and ugly, they said!Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    The entire video was a takedown of Anthea, designed to build up Reba.


    Thements section was a battlefield, with any fan defending Anthea getting virtually


    ughtered.


    Yet, despite the vitriol, Anthea''s true fans tirelessly defended her.


    Anthea''s lips tightened, her expression unreadable as she scrolled through thements.


    A new video caught her eye:


    [RealTimeFlow officially confirms the invitation of neer Griffin¡¤YC to their third-anniversary


    g. However, Griffin¡¤YC has yet to ept the invitation! Is Griffin¡¤YC feeling guilty about the


    alleged cheating scandal with Ba?]


    Below, thirty thousandments mocked Anthea, suggesting she was too guilt-ridden to attend the


    g.


    [My heart goes out to Reba, having to deal with such an opponent.]


    [This is an insult to Reba!]


    [Cheater without shame! A pox on your house!]


    Sarah, fuming at the vilements,forted Anthea, "Ann, don''t get mad. They''re just green with


    envy! This smells like Reba''s handiwork! Do you think she''s figured out that Griffin is you?"


    Anthea raised an eyebrow slightly, "I doubt she knows."


    "So, what''s your game n now?" Sarah continued, "Oh, Ann, did RealTimeFlow really invite you to


    their anniversary g?"


    "Yes."


    "And you didn''t ept the invitation?"


    Anthea replied, "I wasn''t keen on the hassle of social events, but now that someone''s so eager to


    have me there, I might as well oblige her!" Initially, Anthea was indifferent.


    But seeing her fans fiercely defending her, she felt she owed them something.


    A g as big as this one? She had every intention of joining that buzz!


    With that resolve, Anthea picked up her phone and started recording a video.


    "Hey everyone, it''s Ann here. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all my fans for your support


    and defense. I want to rify two things. Firstly, let me be clear, I haven''t cheated. Whoever''s


    behind this smear campaign knows precisely what they''re up to. Second, I will be attending the


    RealTimeFlow third-anniversary g on time and hereby extend a live, fair match invitation to Miss


    Ba! Let''s see if she''s up for a clean game, shall we?"

 Chapter 156

    One game was all it took to expose the truth, whether she had cheated or not.


    Anthea never was one for beating around the bush or ying it safe. If Reba wanted to stir up


    trouble, she was ready to give her a run for her money.


    After recording her video, Anthea didn''t bother with editing. She hit send and released it into the


    wild.


    Sarah watched on, practically starry-eyed.


    The way Anthea had just handled that video was nothing short of stunning. Absolutely brilliant!


    If Anthea were a guy, Sarah was sure she''d fall head over heels for her!


    "Ann! I''m itching to see you wipe the floor with them! It''s a shame I can''t be there in person," Sarah


    lamented. The RealTimeFlow anniversary bash was set to be live-streamed, and it was bound to be


    a spectacle.


    Anthea gave Sarah''s shoulder a reassuring pat. "Don''t worry, Sarah. I heard there''s going to be a


    live broadcast of the whole shindig. You won''t miss a thing."


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    RealTimeFlow, being the giant that it is, would surely fan the mes for more attention.


    The showdown was going to be epic.


    "Really?" Sarah''s face lit up.


    Anthea nodded.


    "That''s awesome!" Sarah continued, "Hey Ann, when''s the big night?"


    "It''s like two months from now. I need to check the invite for the exact date."


    "I''ll look it up," Sarah said, whipping out her phone. A momentter, she burst out, "Holy smokes,


    Ann! Your video statement just hit a hundred thousand likes!"


    That was insane!


    Considering it had been less than ten minutes since Anthea had posted her statement.


    Sarah scrolled through thements, "Ann, your fans are so supportive!"


    [Ahh, Ann you''re so cool! Love you!]


    [We''ve got your back, Ann.]


    [We believe in you, Ann.]


    [I knew my favorite streamer wasn''t some delicate flower like they say.]


    [Go get ''em, Ann!!]


    [Got the video saved. Hoping you''ll stand by your words and not chicken out!]


    [Cheaters have no shame!]


    [The exnation''s out. Cheating or not, the anniversary party will tell all.]


    [If you''re not as same as Snow White, why hide your face? Saying you''ll be at the anniversary, but


    who knows if that''s just buying time. Don''t you dare pull a ''sudden emergency'' or ''flight dy''


    excuse.]


    [Can''t wait for the anniversary party!]


    [The proof is in the pudding ¨C let¡¯s see it!]


    [Holy cow! This year''s RealTimeFlow party is gonna be lit!]


    [So excited!]


    Just then, Sarah leapt up from the couch, a surge of excitement in her voice, "Ann, thements


    are saying that you can bring a plus-one to the RealTimeFlow party. Can you take me? I''ve never


    been to Capital City! Quick, check the invite. Is it true?"


    Anthea checked her phone and the invite in her email, "Yeah, you can bring someone. Sarah, let''s


    head to the city together."


    "Yesss!" Sarah hugged Anthea in a burst of joy.


    It was a hot summer day, and even with the air conditioning, the hug was a warm one. Sarah


    couldn''t help butin, "Ugh, it''s so hot today! I''m melting here, AC''s not helping! If only we had


    clothes that could change temperature on demand."


    That idea sparked something in Anthea.


    In her former life, she had a particr distaste for the heat, leading her to create a line of clothing


    with temperature-regting features. It kept you toasty in the winter and perfectly chilled during the


    summer. It was like being a walking air conditioner - incredibly convenient and beneficial.


    The best part was that the design wasn''t limited. Any style that a designer coulde up with was


    possible. But this body didn''t seem to mind the heat, so Anthea had almost forgotten about her past


    invention.


    Perhaps, she could bring her past life''s creation to this world.


    When it debuted in her previous life, it took the world by storm.


    With a new n forming, Anthea hugged Sarah back, "Thanks, Sarah!"


    Sarah was puzzled, "...For what?"


    Just then, Latonia''s voice came from outside, "Sarah, Lacy and the others are here."


    Hearing that, Sarah jumped up, "Oh! They''re here! Come on, Ann, let''s go meet them! I''ll introduce


    you to my fianc¨¦!"


    Anthea nodded, pocketing her phone, and followed Sarah to the living room.

 Chapter 157

    In a cozy living room, three figures stood.


    An excited Sarah gripped the hand of a young man, guiding him to Anthea. "Ann, this is my fianc¨¦,


    Lacy Brown. Lacy, this is Anthea."


    Sarah was clearly head over heels for Lacy; she was barely 20 and already eager to marry Lacy.


    Anthea had expected Lacy to be a real catch, especially since Sarah, a stunning girl herself,


    wouldn''t settle for just anyone.


    But to Anthea''s surprise, Lacy turned out to be decidedly average. He was the kind of average that


    could disappear into a crowd, slightly overweight, with a budding beer belly and a receding hairline


    that added years to his appearance.


    He looked to be in histe thirties, at least...


    The Browns were business folks, always well-kept and youthful looking. Next to his parents, Lacy


    looked less like their son and more like a younger brother...


    Could it be true that love is blind? In Sarah''s case, it certainly seemed so.


    She didn''t care for looks or charm; she valued Lacy''s honesty and the special way he treated her.


    She feared that a too-handsome man would only be trouble, the kind to have affairs and flings. She


    couldn''t risk falling for a yboy.


    Anthea raised an eyebrow subtly, her smile warm as she greeted, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Brown."


    "Nice to meet you, Ms. Yeager," Lacy stuttered, taken aback by Anthea''s beauty, which seemed to


    eclipse even Sarah''s.


    Sarah yfully swatted him, "What''s with the formality? Too distant! Ann is my best friend; just call


    her by her name."


    "Sarah''s right," Anthea chimed in, "Just Anthea is fine."


    Meanwhile, Latonia was introducing Carole to Lacy''s parents.


    Lacy''s father, Bob, wasn''t much of a talker, giving Carole a nod as a form of greeting.


    Lacy''s mother, Debra, on the other hand, was a social butterfly, "Carole, dear, I''ve heard so much


    about you from my inw. Own a diner, do you?"


    "Yes, I do," Carole nodded in confirmation.


    "How''s business?" Debra inquired.


    Carole replied with a smile, "It''s doing quite well, thank you."


    "And where''s this diner of yours?" Debra continued.


    "It''s at 612 Arcadia Avenue. Feel free toe by anytime. We''ll give you a special discount."


    612 Arcadia Avenue?


    Debra frowned slightly. If memory served her right, the foot traffic here was notoriously poor, with


    many diners closing shop.


    Carole couldn''t be serious about her business booming, could she?


    Surely she was bluffing. She must be afraid of being the butt of a joke.


    After all, who boasts about a diner on the brink of closure?


    Debra didn''t call her out, but a hint of scorn shed across her eyes, thinking to herself how the


    company one keeps speaks volumes.


    From the get-go, she had been opposed to Lacy''s and Sarah''s rtionship.


    Their family was well-off, running a sessful remodeling business bringing in millions a year. Why


    settle for Sarah?


    But Lacy was stubborn, set on Sarah and Sarah alone. So Debra proposed a quick wedding, hoping


    Sarah''s family would balk at an early marriage.


    To her dismay, they agreed.


    It was obvious to her; they were after the Brown fortune.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Despite Debra''s attempts to make Sarah ufortable during visits, Sarah never wavered.


    The nerve! For money, it seemed, some people had no shame.


    If it weren''t for Lacy being her only son, she would never have given her blessing.


    But her son loves this girl. She had to swallow her pride and wee a stranger into the family.


    Anthea approached Carole, and Debra''s eyes brightened, "And who might this youngdy be?"


    Carole introduced her, "This is my daughter, Anthea. Ann, this is Sarah''s future mother-inw,


    Debra. Say hello."


    "Nice to meet you, Debra," Anthea greeted politely.


    Debra assessed Anthea, "How old are you, dear?"


    "Eighteen."


    "Do you have a boyfriend yet?"


    "No, Debra, I''m still focusing on school," Anthea replied.

 Chapter 158

    Debra expressed her surprise, "Still in school, huh? I''m gonna speak my mind, honey, don''t you


    take it the wrong way! What''s the point of a girl burying her nose in books all day? At the end of the


    day, you''re just gonna end up married off. Look at me, I didn''t even finish elementary, and do I seem


    any worse for wear? And there''s Sarah, only a couple years older than you, about to tie the knot!


    And she''s marrying up, let me tell you! She''ll be living the high life, just sipping on lemonade and


    feasting on apple pie at our ce!"


    Debra''sfortable life was all thanks to a good marriage, so in her eyes, a girl didn''t need a fancy


    education. And Sarah was just lucky to get hitched into their family!


    Without their support, Sarah would''ve been nothing but poor her whole life.


    Debra continued, "We just hired a college grad at thepany, a designer! A girl, too. And she''s


    making what, fifty grand a year?"


    It wasn''t about the fifty grand a year. It was about this college graduate working for someone who


    didn''t even finish elementary school.


    Debra was brimming with pride. So what if she didn''t finish elementary school? She was still the


    boss! College grads were working for her.


    Anthea smiled slightly, "A mind filled with knowledge radiates a special kind of grace. Debra, with all


    due respect, your view''s a bit narrow. The higher you stand, the further you see. Your own


    perspective defines how you carry yourself."


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Debra''s worldview was limited.


    Never having mixed with truly sessful people, she couldn''t see the value in education.


    She thought she had reached the pinnacle of sess, unaware that there are always greater


    heights to be reached.


    "What are you talking about?," Debra said, looking at Anthea puzzled.


    Anthea just smiled, "That''s probably the difference between those who value education and those


    who don''t."


    Debra got that one. It was a jab at herck of culture.


    Sassy little thing, wasn''t she? Daring to speak to an elder like that, utterly disrespectful.


    However, Debra saw herself as an upstanding person and was not willing to descend to Anthea''s


    level.


    Anybody else would have put her in her ce.


    Debra gave Anthea a look, her eyes rolling slightly, "Honey, I''ve been through more than you''ve had


    hot dinners. School''s not all that for girls. How about this? I can set you up with a nice guy. My


    nephew''s a catch ¨C owns a car, a house, and the family runs a big supermarket! Marry into that and


    you''re set for life!"


    Debra''s nephew was alright, except for his penchant for one-upmanship.


    When Lacy got herself an attractive girlfriend, he wanted someone even prettier than Sarah.


    If he couldn''t find someone who outshone Sarah, he wouldn''t settle down.


    Debra was about to be a mother-inw, with her nephew pushing forty and still ying


    bachelor, she was getting worried for him.


    Anthea might note from much, but she was fairly easy on the eyes.


    She could just about match up to her nephew.


    Just had a bit of an attitude. But that could be ironed out after the wedding, or Debra herself would


    step in! She''d have Anthea toeing the line in no time.


    Carole frowned slightly, cutting Debra off, "Thanks for the offer, but Ann''s going to college next year.


    Studiese first, we can''t have her getting distracted now!"


    Carole was always the patient type, hardly ever lost her cool. But she''d had enough this time!


    Anthea was her pride and joy. Others might tease her, but she''d be damned if anyone dared to drag


    Anthea''s name through the dirt!


    Debra''s face cooled, her smile forced, "I guess I didn''t think that through. Ann''s a looker, and I bet


    her grades are up there too! Next year, she''ll surely get into a top university!"


    Despite her words, she thought to herself, ¡°Top university? With Anthea''s brains, no way! Did Carole


    really think her daughter was some kind of treasure? I had thought highly of Anthea to even


    consider introducing her to my nephew. As if Anthea was in any position to be choosy! Serve her


    right for marrying a nobody and living hand to mouth!¡±


    Anthea furrowed her brow as well. If this was Debra''s idea of propriety, could Sarah truly find


    happiness in that marriage?

 Chapter 159

    Anthea noticed that the Browns didn''t seem to take Sarah very seriously.


    It was the first time they were meeting to discuss the marriage, and traditionally, as the groom''s


    side, they should have brought significant gifts.


    But the Browns didn''t even bother to bring anything.


    Moreover, when Debra was speaking with her, she didn''t show much regard for Sarah. If anything,


    there was an underlying tone suggesting that Sarah was punching above her weight.


    As her best friend and confidante, Anthea felt it was time to have a heart-to-heart with Sarah.


    Love can blind even the sharpest minds.


    Anthea didn''t want to stand by and watch her first close friend in this strange new world fall into a pit


    of despair. Better to address the issues now than to endure a messy divorceter on.


    Sarah was in the kitchen helping Latonia with the vegetables when Anthea called her, "Hold on,


    Ann, let me just finish up here."


    Anthea walked over with a smile and started helping Sarah with the veggies. "Why don''t you get


    your fianc¨¦ to help you out?"


    Sarah scratched her head and replied, "I think he''s busy ying on his phone."


    Anthea frowned slightly. ying on his phone? On his first visit to meet the family, Lacy wasn''t only


    failing to make a good impression on his future inws but was off ying games instead.


    They weren''t even married yet!


    If this was his behavior now, wouldn''t it be worse after the wedding?


    It might seem trivial, but these little things reflect a person''s character and upbringing.


    The devil is in the details.


    Anthea teased, "Sarah, you really are the model spouse, aren''t you? Fianc¨¦''s ying games while


    you''re ving away in the kitchen. Looks like he''ll be running the show at home!"


    "Just you wait, you love to tease me," Sarahughed back, then added, "His family''s pretty


    conservative. The men don''t cook; they say ''a gentleman stays away from the kitchen.''"


    "That''s such an outdated way of thinking! It''s the 21st century, for crying out loud. Anyway," Anthea


    continued, "when you visit his ce, who usually cooks?"


    "Me," Sarah answered.


    "You?" Anthea was surprised. "You''re a guest and his girlfriend. They shouldn''t be having you


    cook."


    It wasn''t that cooking was difficult. It was just improper. As a guest and Lacy''s girlfriend, it would


    only be right for his family to not expect her to cook.


    "Yeah," Sarah seemed oblivious to the concern, "His parents really like my cooking."


    Seeing Sarah''s happy smile made Anthea subtly frown.


    She never understood the saying ''love makes you dumb'' until now.


    Sarah was usually so smart, but now she was caught in the love trap, unable to see clearly.


    Anthea chuckled, "You haven''t even moved in yet and you''re already taking care of all their cooking.


    Once you''re married, you''ll probably end up doing all the household chores!"


    Sarah looked at Anthea, puzzled, "Ann, how did you know I did theirundry?"


    Anthea was speechless...


    "You actually did theirundry?" It was a rhetorical question, but it turned out Sarah really had.


    "Yeah," Sarah nodded, "Lacy¡¯s mother said the washing machine doesn''t clean well, so I hand-wash


    their clothes every time I visit."


    This was going too far. Anthea was genuinely shocked! Her face must have been a picture of


    disbelief.


    "Sarah, are you nning to hand-wash their clothes and cook for them every day after you''re


    married?" she asked.


    Sarah paused, clearly having never considered this.


    Anthea pressed on, "There''s a saying ''old habits die hard.'' You''ve set a precedent with your visits,


    and they''ve gotten used to your efforts. Once you''re married, all these chores will naturally be


    your responsibility."


    "It''s justundry, I don''t think it''s a big deal..." Sarah failed to see the issue.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Anthea asked, "Have you ever hand-washed clothes for your own family at home?"


    Sarah shook her head, "No."


    "So, Sarah, even your own family doesn''t expect that of you, yet you''re doing it for someone else''s.


    Don''t you think there''s something wrong with that?"


    Sarah was a treasure in her parents'' eyes, but to the Browns, she clearly seemed to be taken for


    granted.


    If the Browns had any respect for Sarah, they would never have let her do theirundry.

 Chapter 160

    Mentioning it made Sarah feel uneasy too.


    Anthea decided to gently persuade Sarah, step by step, "Have you talked to your fianc¨¦ about


    where you''ll live after you get married?"


    "Well," Sarah said, "Lacy mentioned that his parents are getting on in years, and it''s convenient to


    take care of the elderly if we live together..."


    "So you''re moving in with them after the wedding?" Anthea raised an eyebrow slightly.


    Sarah nodded, "Yeah."


    "So, it''s not like they''re weing a new daughter-inw into the home, they''re essentially hiring a


    free live-in caregiver." Seeing Sarah''splexion pale, Anthea continued, "Sarah, hard truths are


    unpleasant to hear but good for action. Think about it, is this the reality?"


    How old are the Brown parents anyway? Not even fifty! Fifty is far from retirement age, do they


    need someone to take care of them?


    Anthea pressed on, "Today is their first official visit to meet the family, what did they bring? Now,


    compare it to our Cloudcrest traditions; what should a groom''s family bring on their first visit? To put


    it nicely, they''re informal, but to be blunt, Sarah, they''re not taking you seriously at all¡ªthey don''t


    value you."


    Anthea''s words were like a wake-up call, and Sarah''s face turned increasingly pale.


    Just then, a sigh filled the air. Anthea looked up to see it was Latonia.


    "Sarah, I think Ann''s right," Latonia chimed in. "Judging by the way Lacy''s parents are behaving,


    they really don''t seem to hold you in high regard."


    Hearing this, Anthea breathed a sigh of relief. At least there was someone in the Allen family who


    got it!


    "Mom?" Sarah looked at Latonia in surprise.


    Latonia turned to Anthea, "Ann, what do you think we should do?"


    Although Anthea was only eighteen.


    In Latonia''s eyes, Anthea was more thoughtful than her elders.


    She could see through the surface to the essence.


    "Latonia, matters of the heart can''t be forced, and we shouldn''t break them up. Ultimately, it''s up to


    Sarah," Anthea concluded, then turned to Sarah, "Do you want to test if your fianc¨¦ really values


    you?"


    "Yes," Sarah nodded.


    "Then do as I say," Anthea whispered a few instructions.


    Hearing this, Sarah smiled, "Don''t worry, Ann! Just wedding fund, they will definitely agree!"


    "Are you that confident?" Anthea asked with a raised eyebrow.


    "Absolutely!" Sarah patted her chest, "Just you wait and see!"


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


    Latonia added, "80,000 dors is nothing for the Browns, Ann. If you really want to test their


    sincerity with money, you might as well say 180,000. I don''t want their money anyway; Sarah can


    bring it back after they get married."


    The Browns have an annual ie of a million; 80,000 is barely a drop in the bucket.


    "Let alone 80,000, I bet the Browns don''t even want to shell out 8,000," Anthea said with a


    nonchnt tone. Because from the get-go, the Browns wanted something for nothing.


    Anthea didn''t suggest 180,000 because she wanted Sarah to see the situation more clearly, more


    thoroughly.


    "That''s not true!" Sarah said with conviction, "Lacy isn''t like that, and neither are his parents."


    "We''ll see," Anthea replied with a smile, "But Sarah, you should brace yourself."


    Latonia also felt that 80,000 dors wouldn''t reveal the Browns'' true intentions.


    Because to the Browns, that amount was trivial.


    At dinner, Latonia brought up the wedding fund.


    Debra was taken aback, "We never talked about a wedding fund before!"


    Sarah, who practically threw herself at their son, still wanted money? No way! She had never seen


    such shamelessness.


    Seeing Debra''s reaction, Latonia''s heart sank.


    She hadn''t expected the Browns to be so stingy as to not part with 80,000 dors!


    It seemed Anthea was right; the Browns were indeed looking for a free caregiver.


    Latonia said with a smile, "Look at what you''re saying. We might not have mentioned wedding fund


    before, but we never said we didn''t want one! Go ask around, who doesn''t require a wedding fund


    when their children get married? Just look across the street, that girl three years older than Sarah,


    her inws gave a car, a house, and a big sum of money!"

 Chapter 161

    Latonia''s words rang with a sense of undeniable truth.


    Throughout history, it was unheard of for a bride''s family to not receive a wedding gift of some sort.


    Debra chuckled, "Eighty thousand is no small figure; I need to discuss it back home."


    Latonia nodded in agreement, "Well, let us know when you''ve made a decision, and then we can


    continue discussing the kids'' wedding ns."


    The smile never left Debra''s face as she replied, "We''ll do it your way."


    And just like that, Debra totally changed her attitude.


    Disappointment washed over Sarah as she observed the entire exchange. Lacy hadn''t uttered a


    single word. It seemed Lacy really didn''t care about her, just like Anthea had suggested.


    After dinner, Sarah confronted Lacy, "So, about the eighty thousand dors, is your family going to


    give it or not?"


    Lacy looked troubled, "I need to check with my mom." In the Brown household, Debra called the


    shots, and she was already quite upset with Lacy''s insistence on marrying Sarah.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Sarah stared at Lacy, "And what if she refuses?"


    Lacy recalled his mother''s earlier words, "Sarah, are you marrying me or the money?"


    It appeared his mother was right; Sarah was only marrying him for the money!


    Otherwise, with his looks, how could she possibly be interested in him!


    "What can eighty thousand even do?¡± Sarah retorted, ¡°A wedding costs much more than that! Lacy,


    do you think I care about the money?" What she was looking for was a gesture!


    Her words hung in the air, followed by, "Or do you expect me to pay you to marry into your family?"


    Seeing Sarah''s anger, Lacy hurried to exin, "No! That''s not what I meant! Don''t think like that,


    Sarah. I''ll talk to my mom and make sure she pays the money."


    "And if she doesn''t?" Sarah pressed again.


    "I''ll talk to her," Lacy assured.


    "Lacy, your savings surely exceed eighty grand, don''t they?"


    Lacy was taken aback, then admitted, "My mom knows exactly how much is in my ount. If


    suddenly eighty-thousand went missing, she''d know... Sarah, I love you! Don''t worry, I''ll make sure


    my mom pays the money."


    Sarah looked at Lacy, "Alright, I''ll wait."


    Before, Sarah had trusted Lacy, as well as his parents. Now, she felt anxious.


    She was afraid that to the Browns, she wasn''t worth the eighty thousand.


    At home, Debra was fuming. She ranted about Sarah''s ingratitude until she was pale with rage.


    Lacy attempted to calm her, "It''s just eighty grand, Mom. We''re not short on cash. Just give it to


    Sarah''s family."


    Debra red at Lacy, "It''s not about the money. If I give in today, that Sarah will be walking all over


    me tomorrow!"


    She had seen through Sarah''s ambitions long ago! Sarah was trying to show her up!


    After all, the Browns didn''t ask the Allens for a cent, and that was fortunate enough!


    With a pointed finger, Debramanded Lacy, "You call Sarah right now and tell her the Browns


    won''t give a dime of that wedding fund!"


    Lacy looked at Debra, conflicted. From Sarah''s demeanor, he knew if his family didn''t pay up, she


    might actually leave him.


    Sarah was beautiful and significantly younger, a real catch he didn''t want to lose.


    Lacy was aware of his own worth.


    Aside from his family''s wealth, he had no advantage over Sarah.


    Debra, sensing Lacy''s hesitation, added, "Son, with our status, you can get anyone. Sarah should


    look in the mirror. Marrying into the Browns is a stroke of luck she''s had in lifetimes! Don''t worry, she


    won''t give up a catch like you. Just tell her that, and it''ll be fine."


    Convinced by Debra''s words, Lacy felt she was right.


    With his prospects, Sarah wouldn''t break up with him.


    When Sarah received Lacy''s call, disbelief painted her face. She couldn''t fathom the Browns''


    stinginess.


    A wave of nausea overcame her, and she couldn''t help but retch at the thought.

 Chapter 162

    What now?


    Emerging from the bathroom, Sarah caught her reflection in the mirror. Pale, almost ghostlike.


    Maybe she should ask Anthea for help? Yeah, that was it. Anthea would know what to do.


    After a quick word with her folks, Sarah headed over to the Yeagers''.


    Carole was on her way out to the diner.


    "Sarah, hello!" Carole eximed, bustling to get her a ss of water.


    Sarah nodded, "Don''t let me keep you, Carole. I just need a quick word with Ann. Is she around?"


    "In her room. Go on up! I''ve gotta go!"


    "Take care, Carole."


    Anthea''s door was ajar.


    She sat on the floor in a ck tank top, her delicate corbones on disy, her fair skin looking


    even more porcin against the dark fabric, without a single w.


    Engrossed in her work, a lock of hair mischievously fell across her well-defined features. She was


    so focused she didn''t even notice Sarah walk in.


    Scattered around her were a bunch of gadgets, tools, and whatnot. Off to the sideid a piece of


    clothing that didn''t quite look like your regr attire.


    "Ann," Sarah knocked.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Anthea finally looked up, surprised. "Sarah, what brings you here?"


    "I need to talk to you about something..." Sarah''s usual vivacity was nowhere in sight.


    Anthea eyed her friend with concern, "You don''t look so good, Sarah. What''s up?"


    "It''s nothing," Sarah replied, still fuming over the Browns''test antics.


    "Let me have a look." Anthea reached for Sarah''s wrist.


    After a brief moment, Anthea looked up with aplicated expression.


    "What''s wrong, Ann?" Sarah asked, confused.


    Hesitating, Anthea finally said, "Sarah, you might be pregnant."


    "What?" Sarah''s world spun.


    Anthea nodded, "If you don''t believe me, we can get it checked at the hospital. But from what I can


    see, you''re probably about a month along."


    Sarah burst outughing, relief flooding through her. "This is amazing, Ann! I''m pregnant!"


    Anthea was taken aback; she had expected tears, shock, not this joy.


    "I can just imagine how thrilled Lacy and his parents will be!" Sarah bubbled with excitement. Forget


    about $80,000. They''d happily fork over $180,000 now.


    And deep down, Sarah believed the Browns weren''t all that bad. This baby couldn''t havee at a


    better time.


    Anthea raised an eyebrow, "Don''t get ahead of yourself, Sarah. Don''t you see they don''t really care


    about you? And Lacy..."


    She was cut off as Sarah insisted, "Ann, I swear they''re not like that!"


    With the good news, Sarah''s worries melted away. She was eager to get a proper check-up and


    share the news with Lacy.


    Anthea knew Sarah wouldn''t be swayed and decided to let her be.


    Meanwhile, in Capital City, at the Lindsay family¡¯s manor.


    Edna Fletcher made it a point to spend time with J Lindsay every afternoon.


    So as the clock struck their usual meeting time, J waited at the door for Edna.


    Jonah Lindsay was unwell and busy with his own affairs.


    Gerard Lindsay had school.


    Loneliness is the bane of old age, and J''s daily chats with Edna were her brightest moments.


    Hearing a car engine outside, J''s face lit up. "Edna''s here."


    "All these years, Miss Edna''s been the only one to keep youpany daily," Delia chimed in.


    J smiled warmly, "Indeed, out of all my children and inws, she''s the most considerate." Edna


    was clearly her favorite.


    Delia hesitated before speaking, "Madam, there''s something I''m not sure I should mention."


    "Delia, after all these years with us, there''s nothing you can''t say. Out with it." When Delia had


    started working for them, she was only twenty. Now, her grandson was three.


    To J, Delia was more than just a servant.


    Delia continued, "I just think, after waiting on Jonah all these years, shouldn''t he give Edna some


    sort ofmitment? She''s given him her best eighteen years. How many ''best years'' does a


    woman have? What do you think, Madam?"

 Chapter 163

    Pausing for a moment, Delia added, "Mrs. Lindsay, I mean no disrespect, but it''s just that Miss


    Edna... well, she''s had it tough. I wouldn''t want you to miss out on such a kind woman. If I''m out of


    line here, please don''t hold it against me."


    With those words, Delia let out a sigh. "Truth be told, I''m just a servant, and it''s really not my ce


    to say this, but I just can''t help feeling for Miss Edna. If it breaks my heart, I can only imagine how


    she must feel..."


    J sighed in response, "Delia, how do you think I feel? I''d love nothing more than for Edna to


    officially join our family. But you know how Jonah is..."


    Delia''s eyes flickered with a spark of determination as she looked towards the grand manor


    entrance. "Mrs. Lindsay, Jonah always holds Gerry in high regard. If Gerry asks for Miss Edna''s


    hand, Jonah will surely agree. Besides, after all these years, Miss Edna''s practically raised Gerry as


    if he were her own."


    J''s face lit up at the idea. "That might just be the ticket."


    The n then was to work on Gerry.


    Once he recognized Edna as his mother, Jonah would have no choice but to marry her.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    At that moment, Edna entered, carrying a thermos. "J, what''s got you and Delia in such high


    spirits?"


    J replied with a smile, "Oh, just talking about happy things."


    "I''ve made you some nutritious soup; let''s go inside and have it while it''s hot."


    J had a persistent cough that no doctor seemed able to cure.


    When Edna found out, she was frantic and managed to obtain a special health-boosting recipe from


    a renowned healer.


    Oddly enough, after drinking Edna''s soup, J''s condition improved significantly.


    For years, it was Edna''s nurturing soups that kept J going.


    Without them, she feared she might have been long gone.


    That''s why J saw Edna as her good luck charm, a blessing to the Lindsay family.


    And this was a significant reason for J''s fondness for Edna.


    J patted Edna''s hand and said, "Out of all the people, no onepares to you!"


    Laughing, Edna replied, "Oh, you tter me! It''s only right that I look after you. And besides,


    Sherman and the rest of the family are also very attentive."


    "Their attentiveness is just lip service," J said with a hint of discontent shing in her eyes.


    She had five sons in total. Apart from Jonah, who lived with her, the others barely visited once a


    year, and their wives were no different¡ªhardly present.


    Edna stayed at the Lindsay estate until the evening before she left.


    Delia walked her out.


    Stepping beyond the estate''s boundaries, Edna stopped, "Delia, this is far enough. You should head


    back."


    Delia nced around, then whispered, "I mentioned the marriage to Mrs. Lindsay today. She''s quite


    taken with you. Don''t worry, the position of matriarch in the Lindsay family will be yours sooner or


    "Let''s hope your words worked," Edna said, pulling out a small box from her bag and handing it to


    Delia. "I heard it''s your grandson''s birthday today ¨C just a little something from me."


    Delia hesitated to take it. "It''s not easy for you, raising Darleen Fletcher on your own."


    The Fletcher family was notorious for their ruthlessness.


    The mour of Edna and her daughter''s lives was just a facade; the true hardships were known


    only to them.


    "Please, take it," Edna insisted, pressing the box into Delia''s hands. "It''s nothing expensive."

 Chapter 164

    Edna gently patted Delia''s hand, "The weather''s been dreadfultely, lots of rain. Your arthritis must


    be acting up, do take care."


    "Okay," Delia nodded, her face shrouded in a thick veil of concern.


    Their emotions remained unspoken, yet understood.


    Delia no longer resisted epting Edna''s gift, reminding her, "It''s gettingte, be careful driving


    home."


    Edna nodded in acknowledgment.


    After Edna left, Delia didn''t immediately depart. Instead, she stood there, watching the taillights of


    the sedan vanish into the night before she turned and made her way back to the estate.


    After Sarah left, Anthea busied herself at home, tinkering with microchips, eager to get her


    temperature-regting clothing line on the market.


    She then picked up a few gigs on GlobalGigaNet.


    With her hands full, Anthea decided not to help out at the diner that evening.


    The next morning, after a run with Tanya, Anthea was just approaching the entrance of her


    neighborhood when a stretch Lincoln suddenly blocked her path.


    The car door swung open, and six uniformed men stepped out one by one, lining up in formation. All


    in ck suits and sunsses.


    It was just like something out of a movie, depicting the grand entrance of a wealthy heiress.


    So cool!


    Next, an elegant, silver-haireddy emerged, basking in the attention like a star among her


    entourage.


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Anthea was taken aback, "Mrs. Christensen?"


    Used to seeing Karen in in clothes, Anthea was a bit thrown off by the sudden disy of


    opulence.


    "Ann!" Karen dashed over and enveloped Anthea in a warm hug.


    She hadn''t seen Anthea in days and was struck by how stunning she looked¡ªmore beautiful than


    even in her own youth.


    Karen boasted, "Are you surprised? Thought you saw the wrong person?"


    Anthea nodded, "A little, yeah."


    With a proud smile, Karen teased, "I''ve told you we¡¯re loaded, but you wouldn''t believe me!"


    Anthea replied, "I believe it now."


    The bodyguards, the spectacle, the luxury car¡ªit seemed Mrs. Christensen''s family didn''t just have


    a mine; they might as well own the mint.


    Karen went on, "My grandson is quite the heartthrob, you know!"


    Winking at Anthea, she hinted, "What do you say, consider my grandson, maybe?"


    The saying goes, having an elder is like having a treasure.


    And it couldn''t be more true. Karen was just like a yful child at heart.


    Anthea deftly changed the subject, "Mrs. Christensen, it''s boiling out here. Let''s go inside and chat.


    My mom made chilled plum juice this morning. It''s delightful!"


    "Sounds good," Karen nodded, then turned to her bodyguards, "Bring the gear, follow me!"


    Gear?


    Anthea was puzzled. Was the olddy gearing up for a brawl?


    Karenughed, exining, "Ann, you''ve been so kind to me before, treating me to crawfish and


    c, so I brought some gifts for your mom and uncle."


    "Mrs. Christensen, that''s very generous of you, but you''re always wee here without bringing


    gifts."


    Karen patted Anthea''s hand, "My family''s loaded! A little something like this is nothing. Just a drop


    in the bucket! Oh, and Ann, I brought some Iberico ham too. Let''s hurry¡ªI''ve heard it''s delicious!"


    Karen had visited the Yeager family once before and knew her way around.


    Upon arriving at the Yeager residence, she began directing the bodyguards to ce the items


    properly.


    Anthea went to the kitchen to brew some coffee for Karen.


    Returning from the kitchen, she was stunned to find the living room nearly filled to the brim.


    "Mrs. Christensen, why did you bring so much stuff?" Anthea asked, her voiceced with yful


    reproach. "You said just a little."

 Chapter 165

    Karen blinked in surprise before chuckling, "Is that all? You call this a lot? Ann, you must be pulling


    my leg." If her car had been bigger, she would have crammed it with even more goodies!


    Anthea handed Karen a mug of steaming coffee and said firmly, "Mrs. Christensen, when youe


    over to my ce, you''re forbidden from bringing anything with you! Or I''ll genuinely be miffed."


    Karen epted the coffee, her gaze sweeping around the room before she deftly changed the


    subject. "By the way, Ann, where''s your mom?"


    "You have to promise me first, then I''ll tell you."


    At the time, Anthea had simply felt a pang of pity for Karen and had reached out to help without


    expecting anything in return.


    Now, with Karen bringing over so many things, Anthea felt truly overwhelmed.


    Karen grumbled, "Ann, aren¡¯t we good friends?"


    Anthea grinned, "It''s precisely because we''re not strangers that you shouldn''t bring stuff over."


    Karen''s eyes twinkled mischievously. "Then you''ve got to visit my ce too!"


    "Deal!" Anthea nodded.


    "Pinky promise!" Karen extended her little finger, "Pinky promise, hang on a hundred years, may the


    one who breaks it be a yellow-bellied pup!"


    Meanwhile, in Capital City.


    J called Gerard into her room.


    "Grandma, you wanted to see me?" Gerard asked, peering at her with curiosity.


    J gave Gerard a look, choosing her words carefully before speaking. "Gerry, how would you


    feel about your dad finding a new mom for you?"


    Silence filled the air, thick and palpable.


    Gerard was expressionless.


    Not shocked. Not angry. Not upset.


    His calmness threw J off, unable to gauge what was going through his mind.


    Just as J was about to say something else, Gerard spoke up, "Is this about Ms. Fletcher?"


    "Yes, yes, yes!" J nodded vigorously.


    Edna had always been so kind to Gerard, treating him as if he were her own.


    There was no reason for Gerard not to like her.


    Delia''s words from the day before had been a wake-up call.


    Had it not been for Delia''s suggestion, J might never have thought to get Gerard''s help.


    Gerard was Jonah''s Achilles'' heel.


    Jonah could ignore everyone else, but he couldn''t ignore Gerard.


    If Gerard epted Edna, then Jonah would have no choice but to ept his fate.


    As a mother, J didn''t want to see her son alone forever. As a grandmother, J couldn''t bear


    the thought of her beloved grandson growing up without a mother.


    Edna was kind and beautiful. In J''s eyes, no one else was a better match for Jonah.


    After a brief pause, J continued, "Gerry, do you want Ms. Fletcher to be your new mom?"


    "I don''t," Gerard''s voice was void of emotion.


    J was taken aback. She had always thought that Gerard was fond of Edna.


    After all, Edna had cared for Gerard so much when he was little.


    Gerard''s response was unexpected.


    "Why not?" J inquired.


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    "Because I have a mom," Gerard replied simply.


    J frowned deeply, "But your mother is gone!"


    Gerard just looked at J, "Grandma, you always say my mom is gone, but all my life, I''ve never


    seen her grave. There''s no memorial tablet for her in our family shrine. Tell me, is she really gone?"


    From a young age, Gerard knew he was different. He had a father who was a figure of prominence,


    and a mother he had never met.


    Once, he too had been curious why other kids had moms and he didn''t.


    Back then, J''s answer was that his mother had passed away and was no longer with them.

 Chapter 166

    ¡°Is my mom really gone?¡± Gerard asked.


    At his words, J paused, taken aback. She hadn''t expected Gerard to ask this question.


    In her memory, ever since Gerard became aware of the world around him, he had never once


    inquired about his mother.


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Turns out, what J always thought as his nonchnce was actually a deep wound hidden in his


    heart.


    Poor kid.


    "Your mom''s really dead," J sighed.


    "How did she die?" Gerard pressed on.


    J frowned slightly, memories of Carole filled with disdain, "All you need to know is that she''s


    gone. The dead can''te back. Why do you need to dig up all these details?"


    "But why isn''t there a memorial for my mom in the family chapel? Why haven''t you ever taken me to


    visit her grave?"


    Faced with Gerard''s probing, J felt a pang of difort.


    Was she, as his grandmother, not evenparable to a faithless woman?


    When Gerard was just a tiny thing, not even nine pounds, it was J who bore the immense pain


    and raised him bit by bit.


    Had Carole ever fulfilled even a small part of her maternal duty?


    And now, Gerard was still clinging to her memory. It was chilling to the bone.


    "Grandma, tell me where my mom is."


    J looked up at Gerard, her face etched with pain, "That woman, right after she gave birth to


    you, abandoned your father and the newborn you to run off with another man. Unfortunately, they


    had a car ident on the way, and both died! Do you think a woman with such a shameful past


    could be honored in the Lindsay family chapel? Does a woman of such loose morals deserve for me


    to take you to pay respects?"


    Carole had indeed been a faithless woman, and she left behind a child unwanted by anyone.


    J wasn''t wrong in saying that.


    J hadn''t wanted to bring up Carole to Gerard voluntarily.


    But since Gerard had brought it up, there was no need to hide anything.


    Gerard was growing wiser by the day. What if he suddenly encountered Carole and was swayed by


    her? J would never allow Gerard to recognize a woman like Carole as his mother!


    Rather than let Gerard dwell on this, it was better topletely shatter the little hope he held in his


    heart.


    Hearing about his birth mother for the first time from J, and in such a disgraceful light, Gerard


    couldn''t ept it, "No! You''re lying! My mom isn''t like that!"


    Absolutely not! The mother in his dreams was kind and affectionate, a very good and beautiful


    person. She couldn''t be what J described.


    Gerard was still a child at heart, unable to bear such a blow, and he nearly broke down crying.


    J sighed deeply, "I''m your grandmother. Do you think I would lie to you?"


    Gerard just stared at J, silent.


    "Ms. Fletcher knows all about it. If you don''t believe me, you can ask her," J continued, "Go ask


    her if that woman didn''t have an affair behind your father''s back and give birth to a daughter out of


    wedlock!"


    After speaking, J sighed deeply, her words filled with solemnity, "Ms. Fletcher is infinitely better


    than that woman! She was the one engaged to your father; it was that shameless woman who stole


    him away and yed him for a fool! Now that Ms. Fletcher is back with your dad, it''s only right.


    Gerry, I hope you understand your grandmother''s good intentions."


    Now that she hadid it all out, there was no point in saving any face for Carole.


    She didn''t deserve it!


    After J''s revtion, it took Gerard a long while to find his voice again, "...Where is my mom


    buried?"

 Chapter 167

    "Shut up!" J snapped, her voice harsh with disdain. "That woman doesn''t deserve to be called


    ''mom.'' She''s not fit to be a mother!"


    "Is it possible... my mom isn''t really dead?" Gerard turned to face J, a flicker of hope in his


    eyes.


    "I told you, she''s not your mother!" J blurted out, perhaps realizing her volume had risen too


    much. She softened her tone, "Gerry, she really is dead."


    "Is my mom really dead?" Gerard suddenly looked up, his gaze piercing as he locked eyes with


    J.


    That look, it was too intense for an eighteen-year-old.


    It was as if he was trying to see right through her.


    Feeling guilty, J couldn''t hold his stare. "She''s dead," she insisted.


    What was the point of a woman like Carole still being alive?


    Better off gone, better off at peace!


    Never before had J wished as fervently for someone like Carole to sumb to some terminal


    illness and pass away.


    It was clear from the look on Gerard''s face that he was not satisfied.


    "I want to see her," Gerard said, his voice steady. "Do you have a picture of her?"


    "There are no pictures!" J sighed again, "I¡¯ve always known you were a good kid. That kind of


    woman has no right to be your mother! Only Ms. Fletcher has that right. She''s from a good family, a


    perfect match for your dad. She''s waited for your dad half her life; how can you bear to make her


    wait any longer?"


    Delia was right. How many eighteen-year cycles does a woman have in her life?


    Edna gave the best years of her life to Jonah; it was time Jonah settled things with her.


    "She has no right to be my mother!" Gerard''s tone was t. "Grandma, anyone can be my


    stepmother, but not Edna."


    "What''s gotten into you, child!" J was bing agitated, "You''ve been raised by Ms. Fletcher


    since you were a tot! How can you say such things about her!" Her words were apanied by a


    violent cough.


    He was usually such a sensible boy.


    Why couldn''t he see right from wrong when it truly mattered?


    He''d rather acknowledge a flirty woman as his mother than ept Edna in that role.


    J''s coughing grew worse, as if she was trying to expel her very lungs.


    Gerard sighed and walked over to pat her back.


    Noticing Gerarding to her aid softened J''s heart. Regardless of everything, this boy still


    cared for his grandmother.


    J, tearfully clutching Gerard''s hand,mented that she didn''t have long to live. She didn''t want


    to see her son and grandson left alone in the world.


    Edna was such a good woman. Why couldn''t this father and son ept her?


    Gerard said firmly, "I don''t like her, and I don''t like her daughter either."


    "Why not?" J asked, puzzled.


    "Just because."


    Logically, Edna had spent years trying to win over J and Gerard with her kindness and care.


    Gerard should have been able to ept her easily.


    But Gerard''s dislike for Edna was just as strong as his dislike for the Fletchers!


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


    "Grandma," Gerard continued, "I just want to see my mom, just once. Is that possible?"


    Never before had Gerard longed so much to see his mother.


    He wanted to see if she was like the woman in his dreams.


    They say the face reflects the heart, and he wanted to see if his mother was really as terrible as his


    grandmother imed.


    Moreover, he believed his mother was still alive in this world.


    He wanted to see her in person.


    To ask her face to face if she had indeed abandoned his father and him all those years ago.


    Otherwise, he would never be at peace.


    He couldn''t believe that in this world, someone could be so heartless as to abandon their own flesh


    and blood.

 Chapter 168

    "How many times do I have to tell you? That woman is no fit to be called your mother!" J''s voice


    cracked as she said this, and she was soon engulfed in a fit of coughing again.


    "I don''t have any pictures of her!"


    "But can you at least tell me her name, where she''s from?" Gerard persisted, hoping to piece


    together the puzzle of his origins.


    With that information, he could go and find his mother himself.


    "I don''t know!" J''s face darkened with a mix of anger and a surge of coughing.


    The boy must be out to kill her with worry, she thought.


    J''s chronic cough always red up with stress.


    Gerard gently patted J''s back. "Grandma, don''t get upset. I won''t ask you about it again."


    Seeing Gerard''s response, J couldn''t help but tear up.


    He was a good boy. What a shame he didn''t have a good mother.


    It was all Carole''s fault!


    Carole, the unforgivable sinner! And poor Gerard, motherless from such a young age!


    J held Gerard''s hand tightly. "Gerry, there''s not a single lie in what I''ve told you today. If I''m


    lying, may I be struck by lightning! You might not understand now, but one day, you''ll see that I had


    only the best intentions."


    Children are young. They don''t understand.


    And growing up without a mother, J could sympathize.


    After a pause, she added, "Ms. Fletcher is a good woman, she¡¯s so devoted to your father. I truly


    don''t want to see him miss out on being with her. You can rest assured, once Ms. Fletcher joins our


    family, she''ll treat you as if you were her own flesh and blood..."


    Gerard didn''t respond.


    Just then, a maid came in with medicine, and Gerard took the opportunity to help his grandmother.


    "Here, Grandma, let me."


    After J took her medicine, she drifted off to sleep, but not before making Gerard promise to look


    out for Edna.


    Gerard tucked his grandmother in and left the room.


    As he closed the door behind him, the old butler came looking for J.


    "She''s asleep," Gerard whispered, closing the door softly.


    The butler nodded. "I''lle backter, then."


    "Butler," Gerard spoke up again. "I have something to ask you."


    "Master Gerard, go ahead."


    Gerard continued, "Butler, how long have you been with our family?"


    The butler thought for a moment before answering seriously, "Neen years, all told."


    "Then you must know something about my mother, right?" Gerard pressed. "Can you tell me about


    her?"


    At this, the butler''s expression changed dramatically. ¡°I... I don''t know." he replied.


    "Can you tell me her name?"


    The butler shook his head.


    "Where was she from?"


    Still, the butler shook his head.


    "I''ve never seen my mother since I was a child. Can''t you take pity on a boy who grew up without a


    mother, and tell me?" At the end of his plea, Gerard''s eyes glistened with forming tears.


    Eighteen years. A mother he had only ever met in dreams.


    When he had to write an essay titled "A Letter to My Mother" in elementary school, he could only


    write to his grandmother.


    And it was always the butler who attended the parent-child events at school.


    The butler was visibly moved. He had been working in the Lindsay family for neen years. To say


    he didn''t know anything about what happened back then would be a lie.


    He sighed, about to share some of what he knew, when out of the corner of his eye, he saw Delia


    and another maid approaching.


    The words on the tip of his tongue immediately transformed into: "Master Gerard, I truly don''t know.


    Please, don''t make this hard for me. I must be going now!"


    Gerard watched the butler''s hasty retreat and let out a soft sigh.


    He then pulled out his phone and dialed. "Healy, you got a minute?"N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Whatever was said on the other end, Gerard replied, "The usual spot. See you there."


    With that, he hung up and walked out the door.

 Chapter 169

    Gerard had just stepped out the front door when he bumped into Jonah, returning from the office,


    "Hey, Gerry."


    "Dad." Gerard halted in his tracks.


    "Where are you off to? Need a lift?" Jonah''s demeanor was as genteel as ever, his eyes smiling


    gently.


    "No, I''m good," Gerard said, looking at Jonah as if he had a world to tell him. But when the words


    reached his lips, all that came out was a single, "Dad..."


    "What''s up, son?" Jonah could tell there was something bothering his son.


    Gerard''s gaze fell on Jonah, and smiled, "It''s nothing. I''m going to head off now."


    Jonah was still worried. "If something''s up, you gotta talk to me."


    Gerard nodded.


    The midday sun was zing, but Gerard didn''t feel the heat. Instead, a chill ran through him.


    Half an hourter, a motorcycle tore along the winding mountain road at breakneck speed.


    Taking the hairpin bends with a graceful drift, the friction between the tires and the asphalt kicked up


    plumes of blue smoke.


    "Holy smokes! Gerry''s lost it!" Healy cursed as his cigarette dropped out of his mouth, his eyes wide


    at the sight.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "What''s gotten into Gerard?" a heavyset boy next to him wondered aloud.


    Another skinny kid pped the heavier one''s back, "He''s gotta be missing his mom again! Kearney,


    Healy, watch your words when we talk to him, alright?"


    "Got it," Kearney and Healy nodded.


    With a screech, a sleek motorcycle pulled up before them.


    The matching helmet came off, revealing a young, vibrant face with sharp features.


    It was Gerard.


    "Catch this," Healy said, tossing a cigarette to Gerard.


    With a slight turn of his head, Gerard caught the cigarette between his lips.


    He just held it there, unlit, and proposed to the trio, "Up for a ride?"


    "Let''s do it!"


    The three nodded, donned their helmets, and mounted their bikes.


    The ride was fast and furious, adrenaline pumping through their veins as they chased each other


    down.


    An hourter, four motorcycles were parked on a grassy roadside.


    The four young meny on the grass, hands behind their heads, silently staring up at the clear blue


    sky.


    After a while, Gerard broke the silence, "guys, what do you guys make of my grandma?"


    The three exchanged nces, each seeing confusion in the others'' eyes.


    Kearney said, "She''s alright, pretty warm and weing!"


    "How to put it," George started, hesitantly, "maybe it''s just me, but I feel like your grandma doesn''t


    really like us hanging out."


    George came from the most modest background in the group. Every time they visited, he felt


    J''s gaze was off, as if she thought he was a bad influence on Gerard.


    Over time, George grew reluctant to visit the Lindsay family.


    Healy agreed, "I get the same vibe."


    After a pause, he added, "And I heard from my grandma that your grandma was really headstrong


    back in her day, always needed to be in control of everything..."


    Listening to Healy and George, Gerard sank into thought.


    He wondered if his mother''s humble origins were why J might have disapproved, causing...


    Suddenly, Gerard sat upright, "I''ve got to get to the bottom of this!"


    "Get to the bottom of what?" Healy, Kearney, and George jumped at his sudden intensity.


    Gerard continued, "Healy, any progress on that thing we were looking into?"


    Healy shook his head, "Zack''s stilling up empty. Apparently, those candies were produced in


    many ces back in the day. Just a few wrappers don¡¯t give much away about their origin. But we


    can be sure of one thing: due to transportation limits back then, those candies were only popr


    around the ces they were made."


    Gerard pondered for a moment, then pressed on, "So, have we found out where they were


    produced?"

 Chapter 170

    Healy racked his brain, trying to recall the ces, "Border Town, River City, Cloudcrest, and


    Metroville! Those are the four, I think."


    Gerard had a knack for remembering things and quickly memorized the locations. He got up from


    the ground, swung his leg over his motorcycle, and revved the engine, ¡°I¡¯m heading back.¡±


    Vroom! The motorcycle sped off, kicking up a cloud of dust behind it.


    Kearney scratched his head, "What''s up with Gerard all of a sudden?"


    Healy replied, "I think he''s got his mom on his mind. Those origami cranes he made out of candy


    wrappers have got to be connected to her somehow."


    About half a month ago, Gerard had shown up with several old candy wrapper cranes and asked


    Healy to help him figure out where the candies were made.


    After some digging, Healy found out that those candy wrappers were 19 years old.


    It was a mystery where Gerard had gotten those wrappers from.


    Kearney watched the motorcycle disappear into the distance and sighed deeply, "I heard J is


    soon going to find a stepmom for Gerard. The poor guy''s had it rough."


    Healy frowned, "They''re not seriously considering making Fletcher''s mom Gerard''s stepmom, are


    they?"


    "It''s looking likely!" Kearney nodded affirmatively.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    George chimed in, "If only we could help Gerard out. Fletcher''s mom looks like trouble. If she ends


    up giving Gerard a stepbrother or something, what''s he going to do then?"


    Kearney looked worried, "If only we could do something to help Gerard."


    An idea struck Healy, "Kearney, doesn''t your grandma know Gerard''s grandma? Why don''t you ask


    her about Gerard''s mom next time you see her?"


    "That''s a n!" Kearney nodded, "And it just so happens to be my grandma''s birthday in a few


    days!"


    Meanwhile, on the other side of town.


    Karen spent the afternoon with the Yeager family before taking a ride back home.


    Thinking of Anthea''s beautiful visage, Karen couldn''t help but be smitten once again. She leaned


    towards the driver''s seat, ¡°Baber, let''s swing by where Sherman works on our way.¡±


    The Christensen Group had a branch in Cloudcrest as well.


    "Of course."


    Karen continued, ¡°Baber, how old are you now?¡±


    Baber''s temples throbbed, remembering thest time Karen had beaten around the bush in


    conversation, boasting about how beautiful her granddaughter-inw was!


    He wondered what the olddy was going to brag about this time, "I''m 28."


    Karen was taken aback, "28 already! That''s just two years younger than Sherman. Got a girlfriend


    yet?"


    "No, ma¡¯am" Baber replied.


    "Hasn''t your grandma got you a pretty girl yet?"


    "Nope," Baber shook his head.


    Karen leaned back with a satisfied smile, ¡°That figures! No one else would be as concerned about


    their grandsons as I am! So, it''s normal that you don''t have a girlfriend!¡±


    Baber was speechless. So this was just another boast about herself.


    The car soon arrived at Sherman''s workce.


    Karen got out and headed straight for Sherman''s office.


    "Guess who I just met, you rascal!" she shouted.


    "I have no idea," Sherman replied, bncing a pen on his fingers while clicking away with his


    mouse, instructing his secretary to pour tea for Karen.


    "No sense of humor..." Karen spread her hands in mock despair, "No wonder you''re still single!"


    She was starting to feel sorry for Ann, wondering if she¡¯d eventually be bored to death by this dry


    character.


    "Oh, and I have something to show you."


    Sherman looked up at Karen.


    Karen dug out a scarf with a Peppa Pig pattern from her bag, "Isn''t this scarf cute?"


    Sherman nodded.


    "Can''t you say something?" Karen pped Sherman''s head yfully.

 Chapter 171

    "Yes," Sherman said in a tone that was more matter-of-fact than enthusiastic.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Karen rolled her eyes at him. "Can''t you say more?"


    "It¡¯s adorable."


    Karen let out an exasperated sigh. "Are you some kind of emotionless robot?"


    Sherman just stood there, silent.


    Karen persisted, "I''m going to ask you again, is this scarf adorable or what?"


    "I find it extremely adorable," Sherman replied, enunciating each word carefully.


    Karen beamed with pride. "Well, of course, it is! I picked it out myself! How could it not be? Here, let


    me put it on you. You¡¯ll look cuter in this!"


    She reached to tie the scarf around Sherman''s neck, just as he stood up to grab some papers.


    Karen was much shorter than Sherman.


    And with no suitable stool for her to stand on, she had no choice but tomand, "Younky


    rascal, get down here!"


    As Shermanplied, bending slightly, she couldn''t help but add, "What good is being so tall if you


    can''t even snag yourself a wife?"


    Facing Karen, who was as feisty as a child, Sherman couldn''t help but go along with her antics.


    Karen tied the scarf around his neck, surveyed her handiwork, and then shook her head in mock


    disgust. "Not that good! But they say the maternal genes are strong, so it doesn''t matter if you''re a


    bit on the ugly side. Your future wife is stunning, so my great-grandchildren are bound to be super


    cute!"


    Sherman just stood there, not saying a word.


    Karen couldn''t resist teasing him further, "You really don''t want to know where I went today?"


    Sherman shook his head. "Not really."


    Karen casually took a seat in the executive chair, crossing her legs.


    "I went to see your future bride''s ce," Karen said, eyeing Sherman. "Don''t you want to know how


    gorgeous the girl I''ve snagged for you is?"


    Anthea was breathtaking, and Karen was convinced that once Shermanid eyes on her, he''d be as


    smitten as she was, itching to make her part of the family.


    The thought made Karen chuckle to herself, covering her mouth to hide her glee.


    "I''d rather not," Sherman replied coolly, then added, "Grandma, I really have no intention of settling


    down."


    In his life, there might be room for a soulmate like Anthea, but marriage was out of the question. He


    was never going to get married. Not in this lifetime!


    Karen turned to look at Sherman, her voice filled with mock exasperation, "Don''t speak too soon,


    my boy! I''ll be waiting for the day you eat your words!"


    "Well, you''ll be waiting a long time," Sherman continued, his attention returning to his work.


    Karen huffed, "How on earth did I end up with a grandson like you? You''re impossible!"


    Meanwhile...


    After her doctor''s appointment, Sarah couldn''t wait to share the exciting news with Lacy.


    Lacy, about to be a father for the first time, was thrilled. "Really? Sarah, are you pregnant?"


    She nodded.


    "That''s amazing!" Lacy scooped Sarah into his arms, spinning her around. "I''m going to have a


    son!"


    Sarah looked at him, bemused. "How do you know it''s a son? It hasn''t even been born yet."


    Lacy grinned. "I just know it! My mom said our family has a gene for boys. Sarah, let''s get married


    right away! I have to tell my parents this news; they''re going to be over the moon!"

 Chapter 172

    Lacy was several years older than Sarah.


    His parents had been on their case about settling down and starting a family, itching for the day they


    could spoil a grandchild.


    But since Lacy''s girlfriend was Sarah, the wedding had been on hold until now.


    Now that Sarah was pregnant, their folks would be over the moon.


    Compared to the joy of a child, what was a mere eighty grand?


    Lacy couldn''t stop smiling at the thought. He was eager to rush home and share the fantastic news


    with his parents.


    Then Sarah added, ¡°Remember the fuss about the wedding fundst time? My folks were really


    upset. Don¡¯t you think your parents shoulde over and apologize to mine?¡±


    The previous standoff over the wedding fund had left Sarah''s family feeling cold, since the Browns


    hadn''t been willing to part with the money.


    Lacy nodded eagerly, ¡°Of course! Don¡¯t worry, Sarah, I¡¯ll make sure they apologize.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Sarah sighed in relief, confident that Lacy wasn¡¯t the man Anthea had made


    him out to be.


    How could she and their child not be worth more to Lacy than a measly eight grand?


    Back at home, Lacy broke the news to his parents.


    Debra looked at him in shock, asking, ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°I said Sarah¡¯s pregnant! She¡¯s carrying my child!¡± replied Lacy.


    Lacy''s father, Bob, who was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper, beamed with joy, ¡°Really?


    Sarah¡¯s actually pregnant?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Lacy pulled out the doctor''s report from his bag, ¡°Here, take a look. It¡¯s the official report from


    the hospital.¡±


    Bob''s hands shook as he took the paper, scanning the words before eximing, ¡°We¡¯re going to


    have an heir! Bless the heavens! Thank the Lord!¡±


    Bob immediately dropped to his knees in gratitude.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Debra snatched the report from Bob, ¡°Is it true? She¡¯s really pregnant?¡±


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re going to be a grandmother!¡±


    Debra didn¡¯t seem too thrilled, her brows furrowed, ¡°Is she using the pregnancy to pressure you?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lacy was taken aback.


    Debra scoffed, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me she hasn¡¯t made any demands!¡±


    She had seen Sarah¡¯s type before, always looking to use a child to tie down a man.


    Pregnant before marriage! Completely shameless. Disgraceful!


    Their respectable Brown family must have been cursed to have crossed paths with such a


    shameless woman.


    Lacy continued, ¡°Sarah didn''t really ask for anything, just that our family should pay the wedding


    fund, and then... then...¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡± Debra¡¯s tone chilled.


    Lacy scratched his head, ¡°Then she hopes you and Dad could visit her family and, you know,


    apologize.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely!¡± Bob stood up, brushing himself off, ¡°We were wrong that day. It was our first visit, and


    we shouldn''t have shown up empty-handed. And about the wedding fund, eighty thousand really


    isn¡¯t much. Now that Sarah¡¯s pregnant, it wouldn¡¯t be unreasonable to offer the money...¡±


    ¡°Zip it!¡± Debra shot Bob a re, ¡°What do you know? Who¡¯s running this house, you or me?¡±


    Bob mmed up instantly, silent as a mouse in front of a cat.


    ¡°Mom...¡± Lacy was confused by his mother''s bitterness.


    Debra nted her hands on her hips, her demeanor that of a woman ready for a street fight, ¡°That


    little hussy! She thinks she¡¯s got one over on me because she¡¯s pregnant? Does she think she can


    outsmart me?¡±


    Debra knew Lacy was too soft-hearted, just like his father, Bob.


    Once Sarah married into the family, Lacy would surely bend over backwards for her.


    Where would that leave Debra¡¯s authority as a mother?


    No way she would let Sarah have her way.


    Sarah thought she could use her pregnancy to gain the upper hand?


    Not a chance. Debra was no tame cat to be trifled with.


    ¡°That bitch!¡±


    ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t talk about Sarah like that. She¡¯s carrying my child,¡± Lacy implored with a


    troubled look.


    Debra snorted, ¡°Any woman can get pregnant and have kids. Does she think she''s the only hen in


    the world that cany eggs? She expects us to cough up eighty thousand dors? And she wants


    an apology from me? She can keep dreaming!¡±


    ¡°Mom, you can¡¯t be serious about this.¡± Lacy looked at her in disbelief.


    ¡°Not a penny!¡± Debra crossed her arms.


    Not eighty thousand, not even eighty cents.


    Lacy pleaded urgently, ¡°But Sarah¡¯s carrying my child! Mom, you can¡¯t do this!¡±

 Chapter 173

    Debra looked at Lacy with a mix of frustration and concern, "Silly boy! Do you really think I''m the


    kind of person who''d turn my back on my own family?"


    "Mom, what do you mean?" Lacy blinked in confusion.


    Debra continued, "That little hussy is using her pregnancy to threaten me, just because she''s


    scared you won''t go through with the wedding. Son, don''t worry. Even if we don''t cough up that


    eighty grand, she''ll still be walking down the aisle into the Brown family. Then, it won''t be me


    begging her; she''ll be begging me!"


    ¡°Sarah''s pregnant, so I don¡¯t need to worry too much,¡± Debra thought, ¡°Even if Sarah doesn¡¯t agree,


    she has no choice. Her belly will get bigger and bigger. Once the months go by, it''ll be Sarah who


    ends up embarrassed.¡±


    "But I promised Sarah we''d definitely pay the eighty grand! How can I go back on my word? What if


    Sarah gets angry?"


    Debra shook her head in exasperation, "You''re a grown man, for crying out loud. Why are you


    scared of her? It''s been said since time immemorial that a woman should look up to her husband,


    not the other way around! Don''t you have any backbone? Besides, she''s already pregnant. What''s


    the rush? Tell her the wedding is in three months. Take it or leave it! If she''s got the nerve, let her try


    to get an abortion!"


    "What?" Lacy''s face turned pale, "You want Sarah to get an abortion?"


    Debra patted Lacy''s hand reassuringly, "Trust me, son. That girl isn''t going to give up the baby that


    easily. If she did, what bargaining chip would she have left to secure her ce in our family?"


    Debra knew Sarah all too well. That little hussy was dying to marry into their family and live the high


    life as the young mistress. How could she possibly give up her child?


    With that, Debra added, "Son, right now, she''s the one who''s pregnant, carrying that baby. Why are


    you the one worrying?"


    Lacy was still uneasy, "But what if she does go abortion?"


    "Don''t worry, she wouldn''t dare," Debra assured him. "Think about it, son. Why do you think that


    little tramp is so desperate to marry you? It''s because of our money! If she aborts the child, what


    chances would she have to marry into a family like ours? She wouldn''t find another catch like us


    even with antern!"


    In reality, Lacy thought so, too. From the moment Sarah agreed to be his girlfriend, he knew she


    was after his money. Otherwise, with her looks, why would she settle for him?


    They were simply using each other.


    Debra was right. Even if they didn''t give Sarah the eighty grand, she wouldn''t dare have an


    abortion. After all, that child was herst trump card.


    Hearing this, Lacy nodded, "Alright, Mom, I know what to do now."


    Debra''s voice took on a firmer tone, "Son, just tell her straight. Either we have a wedding in three


    months, or she goes to the hospital for a termination. There are plenty of women out there who''d


    jump at the chance to marry you. We don''t need her! She should realize how lucky she is instead of


    causing trouble day in and day out!"


    Lacy returned to his room and dialed Sarah''s number.


    Sarah was expecting good news.


    Instead, she was faced with this ultimatum.


    Had she really misjudged Lacy all these years?


    But she was pregnant now, she couldn''t possibly break up with him, could she?


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Sarah''s first thought was to turn to Anthea, who''d surely have a way to help her out.


    The next day was Monday.


    Sarah had no choice but to wait for Anthea outside Northbridge High School.


    Seeing Sarah waiting at the school gates didn''t surprise Anthea. After a quick greeting to Lizzie and


    Tanya, she rushed over, "Sarah."


    "Ann!" Sarah couldn''t help but tear up at the sight of her friend.


    Anthea patted her back, "Let''s talk at home."


    Sarah nodded.


    Carole was busy at the restaurant.


    Nanson Yeager was preupied with his courier business.


    So the Yeager household was empty.


    Through tears, Sarah recounted the ordeal to Anthea, "Ann, you''ve got to help me!"


    Anthea handed Sarah a ss of water, "Sarah, I''ve always told you to be mentally prepared."


    "Ann, what should I do now?"


    "Get an abortion," Anthea said calmly.


    "What?" Sarah''s face turned ashen.


    Clearly, the thought of an abortion had never crossed her mind.


    Anthea continued, "Marrying someone like Lacy won''t bring you happiness. Even if you do get


    married, you''ll end up divorced. It''s better to end it now than to bring a child into a broken family and


    ensure an unhappy childhood."


    Anthea was always the level-headed one.

 Chapter 174

    An unhappy family could ruin a child. If Sarah chose to bring her child into such a world, it wouldn''t


    just be irresponsible to herself.


    It would also be irresponsible to the child.


    And so, terminating the pregnancy seemed like the only reasonable option.


    As the words hung in the air, Anthea spoke up, "Sarah, you''re only 20. Your life is a nk canvas,


    filled with endless possibilities. There''s no reason to waste your youth on a loser like Lacy. Trust


    me, you''ll regret it otherwise."


    20 years old, the age of bloom. Anthea genuinely didn''t want Sarah to live a life of regret.


    Holding her stomach, Sarah stammered, "But... it''s a life, isn''t it? Things can''t be that bad, right? It''s


    just $80,000. Maybe we should just forget about it? Perhaps Lacy and his folks are just upset


    because I asked for that money, and it''s all just a big misunderstanding. They''re actually pretty


    decent people..."


    Her voice trailed off, and then she hesitated, "Ann, could you talk to my parents? Ask them to drop


    the whole money issue. They listen to you. If you speak up, they''ll surely agree."


    Anthea frowned slightly, "So, Sarah, you still think this is about the money?"


    Sarah was taken aback. Wasn''t it?


    Anthea stood up from the sofa, "Wait here, Sarah."


    She soon returned with herptop in hand.


    The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on her face. She leaned over the


    laptop, tapping rapidly on the keyboard, then nced over, "Sarah, the Browns live at 128 Garden


    Lane, Apartment 201, right?"


    The motion was simple, yet somehow effortlessly cool.


    Sarah, surprised, asked, "Ann, how do you know that?"


    "Juste take a look at this," Anthea said, hitting the enter key with her slender finger.


    Filled with curiosity, Sarah approached.


    Theptop screen showed a living room with three people standing inside.


    "Isn''t that Lacy and his parents?" Sarah gasped in astonishment. "Is that their living room camera?"


    The Browns, being business people, kept a lot of cash at home. To deter thieves, they had installed


    several cameras in the living room.


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Anthea nodded.


    "Ann, where did you get this?"


    Anthea didn''t go into detail, simply saying, "Found it online."


    After hitting y, the video started with Lacy telling his parents the ''good news'' of Sarah''s


    pregnancy.


    Then, Debra began her tirade, calling Sarah every name under the sun, convinced that she was


    only after the Brown family fortune.


    At first, Lacy tried to defend Sarah. But as the video yed on, it was clear that he had started to


    agree with his mother. In their eyes, Sarah was nothing but a gold-digger.


    Sarah covered her mouth in disbelief.How could this be? Was this how she was perceived by Lacy


    and his family? That everything she had done, in their eyes, had an ulterior motive? It was utterly


    ridiculous!


    By the end of the video, Sarah''s face was streaked with tears.


    All her hopes had been nothing but a joke.


    Good people could be deceivers too.


    "Ann, I want to get an abortion," Sarah said, looking up at Anthea with determination in her eyes.


    "Are you sure?"


    Sarah nodded.


    "Congrattions, Sarah," Anthea said, wrapping her arms around her friend. "Don''t be sad. He''s not


    worth your tears. Trust me, your future is bright and full of promise!"


    "Ann, thank you." Sarah sniffed, "Could you send me that video?"


    Anthea nodded, "Of course."


    After drying her eyes, Sarah said, "I''ll get going now and leave you to it, Ann."


    Closing herptop, Anthea said, "I''ll walk you out." She was worried about Sarah''s state of mind.


    Sarah smiled faintly, "I want to be alone for a bit, Ann. Don''t worry about me. I won¡¯t do anything


    stupid for a jerk like him."


    "Alright then. Call me if you need anything," Anthea said, patting Sarah''s shoulder.


    Sarah nodded and left. Once alone, Anthea grabbed a sandwich from the fridge, heating in


    microwave. She then picked up her sketchpad, leaning against the window sill, sketching as she


    waited for herfort food to be ready.

 Chapter 175

    In no time at all, a sketch of an evening gown materialized on the nk sheet of paper.


    Yes, Anthea was designing a gown.


    RealTimeFlow''s annual g was just two months away, by which time the chill of Capital City would


    dip below freezing. She wanted to get ahead of the cold snap and design a temperature-regting


    dress.


    That way, she wouldn''t have to worry about the cold.


    It was also a prime opportunity to advertise temperature-adjustable clothing.


    And save on a hefty marketing budget to boot.


    Those attending the RealTimeFlow g were sure to be female celebrities and newscasters, a


    demographic that''s perpetually strutting down red carpets, with a far greater need for temperature-


    regting attire than the average person.


    After all, they required seasonless mour for outdoor appearances.


    Summer was one thing. Bute autumn and winter, they faced the brutal test of the cold.


    Most importantly, the target audience for these temperature-controlled garments wasn''t limited to


    female stars; it would appeal to male celebrities and the general public alike.


    After all, the design wasn''t restricted to gowns. It could be tailored into suits, t-shirts, formal attire...


    Three minutester, the perfect gown design graced the paper.


    Even a seasoned designer would blush with embarrassment upon seeing such sophistication, and if


    not for witnessing it with their own eyes, they would hardly believe it was a three-minute creation.


    Anthea signed the bottom with a bold ''Y''.


    After finishing the sandwich, Anthea retired to her room to start a live stream.


    This was her first broadcast since the ''cheating'' and ''Second Snow White'' incidents.


    The moment she opened the stream, the viewer count soared past 20,000.


    [Ann, are you really going to make it to the RealTimeFlow g on time?]


    [Ann, can''t wait to see you in person!]


    [Congrats Ann on hitting 20 million followers!]


    It was only when she saw thisment that Anthea realized her fans had jumped to 20 million.


    "Don''t worry, I never break a promise. I¡¯ll be there for the third-anniversary g."


    [Ahhh! So excited! Ann, you must be gorgeous.]


    Anthea humbly replied, "Just average, third in the world maybe."


    [The host''s an eyesore but won''t admit it. Got the screenshots, waiting to prove you wrong!]


    [Cheater, you''re embarrassing!]


    [If you were really that pretty, why hide behind the mask?]


    [Our Reba is the real beauty!]


    "As for the cheating usations, I won''t exin again. The innocent need no defense. You''ll see


    the oue of my face-off with Miss Ba at RealTimeFlow''s third-anniversary g!"


    [Go Ann! You''re so badass! We stand by you!]


    [To those troublemakers, give it a rest. Ann already said she''d attend the RealTimeFlow g. Are


    you blind?]


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


    Just then, a challenge popped up on herputer.


    [LeisureHermit has sent you a challenge. Do you ept?]


    Anthea raised an eyebrow slightly as she thought, "He really doesn¡¯t know when to give up."


    [This one won''t stop until they hit rock bottom.]


    [Honestly, their game is not bad, but they''ve met their match with our Ann.]


    Anthea epted the challenge.


    From the moment the game began, Sherman watched the chessboard like a hawk. Before each


    move, he pondered for minutes, ensuring no mistakes before daring to ce a piece.


    Yet, even with such caution, he found himself ensnared step by step in his opponent''s trap.


    Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!


    Despite a string of losses, Sherman wasn''t discouraged; he was as eager as ever.


    If possible, he''d love to meet Griffin, to raise a toast and speak of ancient and modern times.


    From this person''s style of y, they had to be a remarkable character!


    Just then, a knock sounded at the door. "Is Sherman in?"


    "Come on in." Sherman casually grabbed a cross from the desk and leaned back in his chair,


    resting with eyes closed.


    Daniel entered and said, "Sherman, I need your signature on this document."


    Sherman signed the document with his name, written in a flourish that carried a sense of ascetic


    restraint.


    For some reason, it reminded Daniel of Anthea.


    In fact, Anthea and Sherman could make a good match.


    No, no!


    Daniel quickly dismissed the unrealistic thought; only the vegan Reba was truly suited for


    Sherman.


    After a walk outside, Sarah returned home and calmly broke the news to her parents that she was


    pregnant and considering an abortion.


    The Allens were quite traditional, and upon hearing their daughter was with child, they pondered


    whether to let go of the money issue.

 Chapter 176

    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!"

 Chapter 177

    When Debra arrived on Arcadia Avenue with her renovation proposal in hand, the line outside


    Yeager''s Delicacies stretched down the block.


    She was taken aback.


    Who knew there was still a joint with such a booming business?


    With a crowd like this, the cash register must be singing all day long. No wonder they were looking


    to expand the ce!


    For a moment, Debra couldn''t help but feel a tinge of envy.


    Just then, it struck her. She remembered Carole mentioning her diner was right here on Arcadia


    Avenue.


    Could it be that Carole was the owner of Yeager''s Delicacies?


    Debra''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    There¡¯s no way!


    She remembered Carole dressed down in simple attire, not a piece of jewelry in sight. If Yeager''s


    Delicacies really was Carole''s, would she present herself so modestly? No, it couldn''t be Carole''s.


    Comforted by this thought, Debra rxed a bit.


    Finally, when the lunch rush eased and the line dissipated, Debra made her way inside.


    The d¨¦cor was nothing fancy.


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


    It was hard to believe such an unassuming ce was the talk of the town.


    Debra nced around and approached a server, ¡°Hi there, I¡¯m the owner of Wise Walls Interiors. I''m


    looking for your boss.¡±


    That''s when she caught sight of a familiar figure.


    It was... Carole? Indeed, it was Carole!


    Debra froze in her tracks. Was Yeager''s Delicacies actually Carole''s? Or was Carole just working


    there?


    It had to be just a job, right?


    Debra tugged at the server¡¯s sleeve and asked in a low voice, ¡°Hey, who''s that woman over there?¡±


    The server nced at Debra, ¡°That¡¯s our boss, ma¡¯am.¡±


    Debra''s face turned pale.


    It was true! Carole was the owner of this diner.


    Debra swallowed hard, then inquired further, ¡°The two stores next door, they¡¯re getting a facelift,


    aren''t they? How much is the rent per month around here?¡±


    The server replied, ¡°The boss owns these buildings outright, so I''m not sure about rent. And as for


    the renovations, Ma''am, she¡¯s already partnered up with anotherpany. If that¡¯s what you''re here


    for, I¡¯d hate for you to waste your time.¡±


    Carole owned these shops? Bought outright?


    Debra felt faint.


    With Cloudcrest real estate prices, those three stores were worth a fortune! Good heavens!


    Debra¡¯s face grew whiter still, barely processing the revtion that Carole was so affluent.


    After a long moment, sheposed herself and approached Carole.


    She was going to be Sarah¡¯s mother-inw, after all.


    With the connection between their families. Even if the shops had deals with otherpanies,


    Carole would surely hand the renovation over to her!


    Plus, with Carole''s diner doing so well, there had to be some secret recipe. She could coax it out of


    Carole!


    Then, she could open her own eatery right across the street!


    The more Debra thought about it, the brighter the picture seemed, and she approached Carole with


    confidence, ¡°Carole, darling! I almost didn''t recognize you! We''re practically family, so leave those


    two shops to me for the makeover! You know I¡¯ll hook you up with a sweet deal! After all, we''re so


    close!¡±


    Carole, well aware of the Brown family''s antics, showed no amusement.


    Some people have no shame. After all that had transpired, they still had the gall to show up.


    ¡°Thisdy, I don¡¯t know you,¡± Carole said with a polite smile. ¡°And I''ve already entrusted Jackson


    from Willow Brook Designs with my shops.¡±


    Debra persisted, ¡°Carole, honey, what are you saying? We know each other well! I¡¯m Sarah¡¯s future


    mother-inw!¡±


    Carole frowned, ¡°Didn¡¯t Sarah tell you? She and Lacy broke up.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Debraughed. ¡°Why would Sarah leave a catch like Lacy!¡±


    Debra didn¡¯t believe that Sarah would give up such a golden opportunity.


    ¡°Nana!¡± Carole called out, ¡°Please show thisdy out. I don''t know her.¡±


    Nana came rushing over.


    Debra refused to budge, ¡°Carole, we¡¯re family. How can you turn your back on me like this? Even if


    not for my sake, you should think of Sarah...¡±


    Carole slightly furrowed her brow and turned to Jackson, ¡°The noise is a bit much here. Shall we go


    to your office to sign the contract?¡±


    Jackson nodded, ¡°Of course.¡±


    Debra hurried after Carole, ¡°Carole, wait!¡±


    But Carole didn¡¯t respond, stepping into Jackson¡¯s car and closing the door behind her.

 Chapter 178

    Debra watched the dust settle as the car sped away, her foot tapping the ground in sheer


    frustration.


    If only she''d known Carole was rolling in dough, she would''ve never crossed her back when she


    was with the Allens. Now, she had no choice but to send Lacy to reach out to Sarah.


    She needed Sarah to intervene, to persuade Carole.


    Sarah was desperate to marry into their family, and that meant getting Carole to hand over those


    two shops for a makeover by their family''s firm. Otherwise, Sarah could kiss her dream goodbye.


    And that wasn''t all, she wanted the secret recipe as well.


    Sarah had to snag Carole''s secret recipe.


    With this in mind, Debra''s urgency faded.


    Once home, she found Lacy andid out the two tasks.


    But Lacy couldn''t reach Sarah and had no choice but to visit the Allen residence.


    Keeley and Latonia were at work, leaving Sarah to answer the door.


    "What do you want, Lacy?" she asked, her face a mask of indifference.


    "You blocked my number?" Lacy inquired.


    "Yeah." Sarah was blunt. "Lacy, we¡¯re done."


    Lacy chuckled, "Come on, Sarah, stop joking! My mom knew you blocked me, and she''s livid. But


    she said if you just swing by Anthea¡¯s ce and convince her mom to let ourpany handle the


    shop renovations, she''ll forgive you."


    A sneer curled at Sarah''s lips.


    Lacy really thought he was something, didn''t he? Back when she was naive, she''d wasted years


    with such a loser. It was disgusting to even think about it.


    "I''ve terminated the pregnancy," Sarah continued tly. "There''s nothing between us anymore, Lacy.


    Our paths will never cross again." With that, she closed the door.


    That''s when Lacy realized she wasn''t joking.


    What now? Panic seized him.


    He pounded on the door, pleading, "Sarah, please open up! Sarah..."


    But Sarah, frowning deeply, called the property management.


    Soon, a couple of burly security guards showed up and escorted Lacy away.


    With nowhere else to turn, Lacy reported back to Debra.


    Debra had just faced rejection from Carole and this news only fueled her rage.


    That little wretch! Thinking she could snub them with Carole backing her!


    Did she really think they were scared of her?


    Debra refused to believe Sarah had gone through with it. "Don''t panic! She''s bluffing! This little brat


    thinks she''s all that now, huh? Ungrateful! Stop contacting her. Once she starts showing, she''ll


    come crawling back."


    Reassured, Lacy settled down to wait for Sarah''s belly to swell and for her toe back to him.


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


    Time flew by, and soon a month had passed.


    In that time, Anthea not only perfected the temperature-adjustable clothing chip but alsounched


    her ownpany -AY Tech Co., Ltd.


    Their gship products were the temperature-adjustable clothes and cutting-edge tech gadgets.


    Anthea had no ns to be the face of thepany; instead, she was scouting for a CEO to trust


    with full control.


    Today she was meeting a potential candidate at Comfort Cafe.


    His name was Talbot, an educated returnee from abroad.


    They had arranged to meet by a window seat, and when Anthea arrived, a young man in a suit and


    gold-rimmed sses was already there.


    Checking her phone, Anthea approached him. "Hello, you must be Mr. Talbot?"


    Talbot looked up, visibly struck by her beauty, clearly not expecting such a gem in little Cloudcrest.


    "Yes, I am," he nodded politely, then asked, "And you are?"


    Anthea offered a warm smile and extended her hand, "Pleased to meet you. I''m Anthea Yeager, in


    charge of AY Tech Co., Ltd."


    "You''re Ms. Y?" Talbot blurted out in surprise.


    It was clear he hadn''t expected Anthea to be so young. Was she even 18?


    During their online negotiations, Talbot had assumed Anthea was at least in her thirties or forties,


    given her maturemunication style.


    She was hardly the teenager he''d envisioned.


    Anthea nodded slightly and took a seat opposite Talbot.

 Chapter 179

    "Here''s the contract. If everything looks good to you, just sign on the dotted line." said Anthea


    calmly.


    Talbot adjusted his sses and said, "I''m sorry, but could I take a look at the prototype first?"


    Though Anthea''s pitch was impressive, Talbot couldn''tmit without seeing the product firsthand.


    The world was full of smooth talkers, and besides, Anthea was so young. Could she really have


    invented a garment that adjusted its temperature? It sounded far-fetched. Talbot didn''t fancy his


    business acumen going to waste on a pipe dream.


    Anthea handed him a tote bag. "Mr. Talbot, feel free to try it on."


    Skeptically, Talbot went to the restroom, pulling the garment from the bag. He frowned; the shirt


    looked utterly ordinary, indistinguishable from the white button-down he was wearing. He should


    have known better. How could a teenagere up with such a revolutionary invention?


    Disappointed, Talbot returned to the table. "Ms. Yeager, this shirt seems no different from any other


    fabric."


    Anthea''s smile didn''t waver. "Our climate-adaptive fabric adjusts to the ambient temperature. Since


    we have the air conditioning on in here, perhaps you should step outside."


    Talbot stepped out into the chilly December air of Cloudcrest. Passersby were bundled in their


    winter coats. A cold gust hit him, but instead of shivering, he felt a warm embrace enveloping him.


    The shirt worked!


    His eyes lit up as he dashed back into the caf¨¦. "Ms. Yeager, it''s incredible! This shirt is nothing


    short of a miracle!"


    "Now, Mr. Talbot, shall we finalize the contract?" Anthea asked, still smiling.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "Of course! I''ll sign!" Talbot, containing his excitement, scribbled his signature onto the contract. A


    temperature-regting garment was unheard of, even in technologically advanced Country


    Pellonia. This innovation would take the world by storm, and his status as a CEO along with it!


    Anthea was no longer just an employee in his eyes; she was his benefactor. "Pleasure doing


    business with you," she said, handing over a set of keys ¨C office, car, and warehouse. "You''ve just


    arrived back in Cloudcrest. Take some time to settle in before starting at the office. Call me if you


    need anything."


    Talbot bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your trust, Ms. Yeager."


    Without realizing it, he had begun to speak to her with reverence. Despite her youth, she deserved


    his respect.


    Only a week remained until RealTimeFlow''s third-anniversary g, and Daniel Robinson nned a


    trip back to Capital City.


    "Sherman, fancy joining me in Capital City for RealTimeFlow''s anniversary bash?" he asked.


    "No," Sherman replied, his eyes closed.


    Daniel had hoped to y matchmaker between Sherman and Reba at the g, but Sherman''s


    outright refusal dashed those ns. Narrowing his eyes, Daniel pressed on, "Griffin YC will be


    there. Don''t you want to see the person who''s beaten you a few times?"


    At that, Sherman''s eyes snapped open, the chess piece twirling on his fingertip. "You sure?"


    "Absolutely," Daniel affirmed. "Griffin YC, our elusive streamer, will be at the anniversary g."


    "When do we leave for Capital City?" Sherman asked.


    Was that a yes? As Daniel noted Sherman''s interest in Griffin, he sighed inwardly. Sherman was as


    eager to meet Griffin as he would be disappointed at the g. Griffin was nothing but a cheat.


    Daniel had been baffled that anyone could beat Sherman until he learned the truth. The deception


    was regrettable, but the silver lining was that Reba would shine at the g.


    Reba was not only a chess prodigy but also a stunner. Griffin YC, the unsightly cheater, would


    be merely a foil to Reba''s brilliance if she even dared to show up at the event.

 Chapter 180

    Griffin YC probably wouldn''t dare show up at the party. With an ugly face and a reputation for


    cheating, she''d be theughing stock of the evening.


    The statement she released was likely just a smoke screen, a temporary fix to buy some time.


    But whether she showed up or not was of no consequence to Daniel.


    His ultimate goal was to show Sherman a side of Reba he''d never seen before.


    To make Sherman realize that Reba was truly his perfect match!


    Whether it was discussing the virtues of a nt-based diet or a strategic move in chess, Reba


    and Sherman had plenty inmon.


    In fact, on the chessboard, Sherman might not even hold a candle to Reba. After all, she was a


    grandmaster, a champion with national titles under her belt!


    So, the realpetition for Sherman wasn''t that cheater Griffin, but Reba.


    Imagining Sherman''s uing reality check, a smug smile yed on Daniel''s lips. The moment of


    truth was going to be spectacr!


    He could hardly wait to witness the scene.


    "What''s that smirk for?" Sherman turned his piercing gaze on Daniel, an air of authority in his eyes.


    Daniel quickly wiped the grin off his face. "Sherman, you''re about to meet Griffin. Isn''t that a reason


    to be cheerful? And don''t worry, everything''s arranged in Capital City. We''ll head over a day early,


    leave Wednesday morning."


    Sherman nodded slightly and immediately dialed his secretary to rearrange his schedule.


    Meanwhile, the countdown to the RealTimeFlow g had Sarah buzzing with excitement. She''d


    spent thest few days selecting the perfect dress for the asion.


    After making her choice, Sarah went over to the Yeager estate to consult with Anthea.


    "Ann, what do you think about these two dresses I''ve picked out?" she asked.


    Anthea responded with a smile, "Sarah, I''ve already prepared your outfit for the g. Here it is, try it


    on to see if it fits." With that, Anthea handed Sarah a champagne-colored dress.


    Sarah took the dress, her surprise evident. "Ann, how did you know champagne is my favorite


    color?"


    "Most of your clothes are champagne, so it was a safe bet you''d like it. Go on, try it."


    "You''re so thoughtful." Despite knowing Anthea for quite some time, Sarah had never figured out


    her favorite color.


    In the restroom, Sarah examined the dress, noticing arge ''Y'' embroidered on the tag ¨C likely the


    designer''s signature.


    The light chiffon fabric was adorned with white pearls, airy and form-fitting, creating a ttering


    silhouette while inexplicably feeling as cozy as if surrounded by a bubble of warm air.


    She pinched the fabric, expecting some high-tech feel, but it seemed like any other material.


    Was it her imagination? She felt undeniably warm.


    "Ann, what''s this dress made of? It feels so warm!" Sarah emerged from the restroom, full of


    curiosity.


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


    Anthea replied, "It has temperature-regting properties."


    "Holy cow! For real?" Sarah had never imagined owning such a dress


    It was downright magical. She even thought she was dreaming.


    Anthea nodded. "Don''t believe me? Try opening the window and standing in the breeze."


    Skeptical, Sarah opened the window to let the brisk air pour in.


    But she didn''t feel the slightest chill.


    My goodness! The dress really did regte temperature. This was too cool ¨C literally.


    "Ann, where did you get this dress?" Sarah was in awe.


    Anthea smiled. "You might not believe it, but I invented it. No need to buy it."


    Sarahughed it off. "Ann, don¡¯t mess with me!"


    Despite Anthea''s talents, she was only eighteen. How could she invent such a revolutionary piece


    of tech? She must be joking.


    Anthea let it slide without further exnation.


    "By the way, Ann, how much for the dress? I''ll transfer the money to you."


    "No need," Anthea''s tone was gentle, "Sarah, I remember your birthday ising up. Consider this


    dress my gift to you."

 Chapter 181

    "No way!" Sarah hastily declined, "That''s far too valuable! I can''t ept this!"


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    This was a temperature-regting dress! It must be very expensive and hard to get.


    Even though a few grand was pretty steep, the idea of owning a temperature-regting dress


    seemed totally worth it!


    So, even if it cost a small fortune, Sarah still felt it was a good deal.


    This kind of high tech wasn''t something you could just buy with money.


    Anthea said, "Sarah, remember when you gave me that ne for my birthday? Should I send


    you the money for it too?"


    With that, Anthea pulled out a clover ne from around her neck. The silver clover ne


    made her fair skin look even more radiant, as pure as freshly fallen snow.


    Sarah was touched that Anthea had kept the ne she gave her and felt warmth in her heart.


    "The ne I gave you isn''t worth much, notpared to this dress!"


    Anthea took Sarah''s hand, "But to me, this ne is priceless. It represents our friendship, just


    like the dress I''m giving you. Sarah, if you consider me a friend, let''s stop talking about money, or


    else I''ll get upset."


    Anthea put it like that, making it hard for Sarah to refuse without seeming pretentious.


    "Okay, I''ll ept it then, thank you so much, Ann."


    "You''re wee," Anthea continued, "The RealTimeFlow g is on the 18th in the evening. I''m


    nning to head to Capital City a day early. After the event, I thought we could hang out in the city


    for a few days. Will you have time, Sarah?"


    At the mention, Sarah''s eyes lit up.


    "Absolutely, that sounds amazing! I''ve never been to Capital City," Sarah said, her recent job


    resignation due to her abortion having left her with plenty of free time.


    "Ann, don''t you have school?" asked Sarah, concerned that her friend might miss school since it


    wasn''t yet winter break and Anthea was still in her senior year.


    Anthea shook her head, "I''ve already talked to our homeroom teacher. As long as I''m back in time


    for the final exams, it''s fine."


    Anthea had assured Waldron that she''d be among the top ten in her grade on the finals, which is


    why he''d agreed to give her the time off.


    "That''s a relief," Sarah nodded.


    The night before the trip, Carole was so worried she could barely sleep.


    Nanson was just as concerned, "Ann, maybe I shoulde with you."


    The distance between Cloudcrest and Capital City was several thousand miles, and Nanson


    couldn''t help but worry.


    "Yes, have your unclee with you," Carole chimed in, nodding vigorously.


    Anthea shook her head, "Uncle, don''t you trust my judgment? The courierpany is just starting


    to hit its stride¡ªit''s a crucial time for growth. If you''re not there to steer things, who knows how


    much business we might lose?"


    True to Anthea''s faith, Nanson had a sharp business acumen. In just over two months, he had


    brought a nearly bankruptpany back to life. QuickSend Parcels was already expanding into the


    neighboring city.


    "But business is not as important as you are! I need to go with you!" Nanson insisted, worried that


    Anthea, despite being a skilled eighteen-year-old, might still be too na?ve.


    "Uncle, there''s no need to worry, really. Besides, Sarah''s going to be with me."


    "Sarah''s going too?" Carole asked.


    Anthea nodded slightly.


    Knowing that Sarah would apany Anthea eased Carole''s mind. Sarah had years of work


    experience and had traveled alone on many asions; she was worldly and savvy.


    With Sarah by Anthea''s side, there was nothing to worry about.


    "So, Mom, Uncle, please don''t worry, I''ll be fine."


    The next morning, Nanson drove Anthea and Sarah to the airport. Concerned for the girls'' safety, he


    gave them a rundown of do''s and don''ts.


    "Make sure you double-lock your hotel room door, don''t open it for strangers, and Ann, call me as


    soon as you get there."


    Anthea nodded, "I know, Uncle. You''re fussing like an old man, you''ve said it sooo many times


    already!"


    "People get wordy with age, just like trees grow more roots. Are you tired of my nagging already?"


    Nanson said with a yful p on Anthea''s head.

 Chapter 182

    Anthea felt a tap on her head that left her dazed. In her previous life as a tech mogul, she''d never


    been treated like a child nor had anyone ever patted her head like that...


    Soon after, they arrived at the airport.


    Nanson repeated his earlier advice.


    This time, Anthea didn''t mind his rambling.


    Boarding the ne, Sarah chuckled, "Ann, I never realized before, but you uncle is so considerate


    and nice, isn''t he?"


    "Was he not like that with Reba?" Anthea responded.


    "Not at all," Sarah shook her head.


    Reba used to look down on Nanson for just being a delivery guy. She wouldn''t even spare him a


    word, often resorting to sarcasm, never treating him with the respect due to an elder.


    Affection, after all, is a two-way street. With Reba''s disdain for Nanson, it was natural for him not


    to be fond of her.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Thus, Sarah had always thought of Nanson as a very stern man. She never imagined he could be


    so endearing.


    The flight from Cloudcrest to Capital City took about four hours.


    So, once the ne was airborne, Anthea put on her sleep mask and decided to catch up on some


    rest.


    She had streamed live until 3 a.m. the previous night and could use the time to recharge.


    Just then, a piercing cry of a baby filled the ne.


    All the passengers were jolted awake, their gazes turning towards the source of the sound.


    A young couple was trying to soothe their kid.


    The wife, her face flushed with embarrassment, said, "I''m so sorry everyone, our baby choked while


    eating. We''re so sorry for the disturbance."


    At that moment, the baby''s crying abruptly stopped.


    The husband rmed, eximed, "Sally, look! What''s wrong with the baby? Her face is turning


    blue!"


    Sally nced down, her face draining of color as a tearful voice erupted, "Baby, are you okay?"


    The child''splexion was a ghastly shade of blue, lips sealed shut, appearing as if she was on


    the brink of death.


    "Give the child to me," a calm voice cut through the tension.


    Sally looked up to see a girl in herte teens. She was stunningly beautiful. The term ''breathtaking''


    would not do her justice.


    But, this girl seemed too young.


    "What do you want to do?" Sally eyed Anthea warily.


    Anthea offered a faint smile, "I know ancient healing arts. Please, give me the child, or she might


    not make it."


    At this, not only the young couple but also the other passengers were stunned.


    Such a young girl iming to know ancient healing arts? It sounded like a joke.


    Ancient healing arts were the precious legacy left by ancestors, with profound mysteries and


    typically required decades to master. As such, it was usually older individuals who were proficient in


    them. It was rare for the young to boast such knowledge.


    So, Anthea''s im was as good as a joke in the eyes of many.


    The young couple couldn''t bring themselves to trust Anthea.


    In the meantime, the baby''splexion was turning from blue to an ashen white, her body limp.


    The husband, ovee with fear, cried out and without much thought, handed the baby to Anthea,


    "Please, you must save my child!"


    "Benson! Are you out of your mind?" Sally looked at her husband in disbelief.


    Then, she tried to snatch the baby back, "Give me my child!"


    Benson held Sally back, "Sally, calm down, let her try! Our baby''s life is slipping away!"


    Right now, they were desperate, willing to grasp at any straw rather than just watch their baby die.


    Sally struggled fiercely, "Benson, let me go! She could kill our baby!"


    As a mother, Sally couldn''t bear to hand over her flesh and blood to a girl who was barely an adult.


    Benson looked at Anthea with pleading eyes, "Miss, we''re in your hands now."


    Anthea nodded slightly, cradling the infant, she knelt down, positioning the baby face down over her


    knees.


    She first pressed on several key points on the baby''s body, then gently patted the child''s back.


    After a series of movements, not only was there no improvement, but the condition seemed to


    worsen.


    The babyy motionless on Anthea''s knees, looking as if she had stopped breathing.


    At this sight, a collective gasp swept through the cabin.


    The girl''s audacity was astounding! She was meddling with a human life!

 Chapter 183

    "I just knew that girl wouldn''t know jack about medical knowledge!"


    "What a circus show!"


    "How on earth did her parents raise her? Complete disregard for the seriousness of the situation!"


    "Poor little girl, looks no more than two years old..."


    Amidst the murmuring of the crowd, Sally had lost all semnce of control.


    "Benson, you killed my daughter, I swear I''ll take you down with me!"


    "My baby!"


    Although the surrounding passengers hadbeled her a murderer, Anthea''s face remained unfazed


    as she continued the gentle pats on the child''s back.


    Her eyes, shielded by longshes, betrayed no emotion.


    "Ugh--" Suddenly, the child vomited a clot of blood.


    The previously still child cried out loudly, now with much more vigor than before.


    At the same time, the color began to return to the child''s cheeks.


    Seeing this, everyone''s faces registered shock.


    Had they not seen it with their own eyes, who would have believed that such a young girl could


    possess such skill?


    Good heavens! She was nothing short of miraculous.


    They had suspected her of potentially harming the child, but not only did she not harm the child, she


    had saved a precious life!


    "My baby! You''re alright now!"


    "Thank you, youngdy, thank you so much!"


    The parents were ready to fall to their knees in gratitude to Anthea, as apuse like thunder


    erupted throughout the cabin.


    A rush of excitement filled the air.


    "It was nothing, really, no need for that," Anthea said, helping the couple to their feet. "If I''m not


    mistaken, your child was born premature, right?"


    Sally nodded eagerly, "You''re right, miss. Our little one was a preemie, born at seven and a half


    months, so she''s not as strong as other babies her age."


    Anthea advised, "That exins it. It''s best to avoid seafood for such young children and be sure to


    keep her warm."


    "Thank you! Thank you so much! What''s your name? Where do you live? Once we get to Capital


    City, we owe you our deepest gratitude!" Sally regretted ever doubting Anthea, fearing she might


    harm her baby.


    Sometimes age doesn''t equal strength! The young girl might be small in years, but her capabilities


    were anything but. Had it not been for her today, the oue would have been unthinkable. And


    despite saving their child, she showed no arrogance, maintaining herposure throughout.


    She didn''t even show anger when she and the other passengers had misunderstood her.


    Such character, such temperament, was rare to find, even among adults.


    "it¡¯s okay. Ancient healing arts is all about being in the right ce at the right time. It''s just fortunate I


    could help," Anthea said, her tone modest.


    Benson asked, "Might we know yourst name, benefactor? You''ve saved our child''s life, and it


    would be unbearable for us not to know our savior''s name."


    "Myst name is Yeager," Anthea responded, still in that soft tone.


    With those words, she returned to her seat. Benson and Sally, holding their child, watched Anthea''s


    retreating figure, etching her surname into their hearts.


    Seeing Anthea return, Sarah was beside herself with excitement, "Ann, you were absolutely


    incredible just now!"


    At first, Sarah had been terrified, thinking Anthea was about to cause amotion.


    But Anthea had turned the situation aroundpletely! She was just so cool!


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Anthea arched an eyebrow, "Well, of course. What can I say? Good lookse with the package."


    Their exchange was quietly observed by an elderly man with silver hair. He watched Anthea with an


    appreciative glint in his eyes before heading towards the first-ss cabin.


    The first-ss area, with only four spacious seats, was luxuriously empty.


    On the inside seat to the right, another elderly man with pale features rested against the chair.


    "Mr. Wright," Corrin called out softly.


    Hearing the voice, Kendrick Wright, the old man, slowly opened his eyes, "What is it?"


    Corrin spoke in hushed tones, sharing the events that had unfolded in the cabin.


    He suggested, "Sir, that youngdy''s medical skills seem quite extraordinary. Perhaps we should


    invite her over to take a look at you."

 Chapter 184

    Kendrick waved a dismissive hand, "I know my own body." His illness was terminal, beyond the


    reach of any cure, and he had long since abandoned any hope.


    Corrin sighed, "Won''t you even give it a try?"


    Kendrick''s condition was peculiar; when it red up, the pain was excruciating. Such torment could


    break even the strongest youth before long.


    "No need," Kendrick chuckled, "I''ve lived a full life, and death is natural for all of us."


    Though he said this, who doesn''t cling to life? Especially since he only had onest important wish


    unfulfilled.


    The air hung heavy with sighs of disappointment.


    Soon enough, the ne touched down at Capital Airport.


    Corrin helped Kendrick off the ne.


    "Mr. Wright." A deep male voice called from behind.


    Kendrick looked back and saw a man in his thirties, his features sharp and his presence


    commanding, despite his youth. Could this be the fifth child of the Christensen family


    Even though Kendrick had only met Sherman once, the young man''s exceptional reputation made


    him stand out in Capital City; no one of the younger generation could match him.


    "Mr. Christensen," Kendrick paused and looked up.


    Sherman twirled a silver cross on his fingers as he said, "You tter me, sir. I''m just Sherman to


    you."


    Kendrick nodded with a hint of admiration, "Modesty doesn''t suit you. You''ve earned the title, Mr.


    Christensen."


    Sherman had made a name for himself at a young age, and now, the Christensen family''s influence


    cast a long shadow over Luxphinia. His status and prestige were undeniable.


    After exchanging pleasantries, and once Kendrick had moved on, Daniel approached Sherman, his


    voice tinged with mncholy, "Rumors were swirling about Kendrick''s grave illness, but I never


    thought they were true until now."


    He continued, "It looks like our family is headed for a change!"


    Kendrick''s condition was dire; even to the medically untrained eye it was clear his days were


    numbered.


    The Wright family was a leading name among Capital City''s elite.


    Kendrick, a legend in his own time, now faced the twilight of his life. And many were eagerly


    awaiting his fall.


    Sherman didn''t respond, his eyes drifting over the crowd to two young women.


    One was d in a beige puffer jacket, talking to a girl beside her.


    The girl wore a camel coat, unbuttoned to reveal slender legs, and a khaki t cap that cast a


    shadow over her features, leaving only her fair chin visible.


    Though her face was concealed, her aura was undeniable, making her the inadvertent centerpiece


    of the bustling crowd.


    Daniel, scanning the crowd, eximed in surprise, "Isn''t thatAnthea? Sherman, let''s go say hello!"


    Sherman nodded slightly and began to walk over.


    "Anthea?"


    At the mention, Anthea looked up, revealing an unadorned yet breathtakingly beautiful face.


    "Genius, it is you!" Daniel was excited to see it was really Anthea.


    Anthea gave a slight smile and greeted them, "Mr. Robinson, Mr. Christensen."


    Sherman nodded in return, "Ms. Yeager."


    Daniel continued, "What brings you to Capital City, Prodigy? Oh, and who might this be?"


    Anthea replied sinctly, "Just some business in the city. This is my good friend, Sarah. Sarah, this


    is Mr. Christensen, and this is Mr. Robinson."


    Sarah was already taken aback by Daniel alone. And standing beside him was Sherman, an


    imposing figure whose natural dominance made the very air seem heavy.


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


    Sarah stuttered nervously, "Hello, nice to meet both of you."


    Anthea, however, remained unflustered, her expression serene and undisturbed.

 Chapter 185

    Anthea was unppable, even in this chaotic situation. Sarah couldn''t help but admire her cool


    composure.


    Daniel chimed in, "Hey, it''s your first time in Capital City, right? C''mon, let me show you around. My


    treat! It''ll be a st, and you''ll get they of thend."


    "Thanks, but we''ve already booked a hotel. We appreciate the offer though," Anthea declined


    graciously.


    Sherman spoke up with a casual air, "Our driver''s here to pick us up. Ms. Yeager, if you don''t mind,


    we could give you a lift."


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    As he finished speaking, a sleek stretch limousine pulled up in front of them.


    "Well, we''d be fools to turn down that offer."


    Capital City traffic was a nightmare, taxis were rare as hen''s teeth, and you had to book rideshares


    in advance. With a ride already at their feet, Anthea saw no reason to refuse.


    "After you," Sherman said, opening the car door with the grace of a gentleman, his other hand


    thoughtfully shielding them from the car''s roofline.


    "Thank you," Anthea and Sarah said as they slid into the plush interior.


    Daniel was gobsmacked. Sherman had never been this considerate with a woman before. Anthea


    was probably the first girl to ever ride in Sherman''s limo.


    Could it be... did Sherman have a thing for Anthea? They did seem a good match, but what about


    Reba? Reba was kind, a vegetarian, a chess yer.


    Anthea was impressive, sure, but she was a tech whiz, not a chess yer, not a businesswoman,


    nor a designer, and she definitely wasn''t a vegetarian...


    Compared to Reba, Anthea was just a techie. And Reba was the whole package.


    So, in Daniel''s eyes, Reba was the one for Sherman!


    Inside the limo, Sarah felt like she was dreaming.


    She never imagined that today she''d get a chance to ride in such a luxury car. Her hand clutched


    Anthea''s, slick with nervous sweat.


    "Ms. Yeager, which hotel are you staying at?" Sherman''s deep voice filled the car.


    Anthea nced up to meet his chiseled profile, the perfect angle to admire his sharp jawline under


    the white cor and the alluring Adam''s apple.


    Perhaps it was his regr meditation, but there was a subtle hint of sandalwood about him, which


    seemed especially pronounced in the confined space of the car.


    "We''re staying at Signature Silhouette Hotels, on 1788 Bayside Road."


    "Alright," Sherman nodded slightly, then instructed the driver to head for the hotel.


    The driver, too, was a little taken aback, his eyes darting to the rear-view mirror more than


    necessary. He had worked for the Christensen family for twelve years and never had he seen


    Sherman voluntarily strike up a conversation with a woman. And it almost seemed like Sherman


    was going out of his way to please this youngdy.


    Soon, they arrived at their destination. Sherman stepped out and opened the door for them.


    "Thanks for the ride, Mr. Christensen," Anthea said, taking the initiative to express her gratitude.


    "My pleasure, Ms. Yeager."


    Anthea added, "We should have dinner sometime."


    "Sure."


    Anthea was caught off guard. It was just a polite offer, but Sherman had taken her up on it. Did


    someone like Mr. Christensen really need people inviting him to dinner?


    Sherman raised an eyebrow slightly. Many people would kill for a chance to share a meal with him,


    to gain some advantage from his influence. And here was this girl, seemingly brushing him off...


    Did he look that intimidating?


    Daniel chimed in, "How long will you be in Capital City, Anthea? Maybe we can all grab a meal


    together?"


    Sherman interjected smoothly, "Ms. Yeager still owes me a dinner. Would you still be around next


    Saturday?"


    "How about Saturday evening?" Anthea replied with a light tone, though internally she felt like she


    had just shot herself in the foot.


    "So, it''s settled then," Sherman said, twirling his cross pendant. "We''ll hash out the details on


    Facebook."


    "Okay," Anthea nodded slightly.


    She hadn''t intended to get entangled with Sherman, but now it seemed she had no choice.


    After Sherman and Daniel had left, Sarah asked with genuine curiosity, "Ann, that Mr. Christensen is


    like, super impressive, right?"


    "Yeah."


    "How do you know him?" Sarah pressed. "It seems like Mr. Christensen is really into you!" Plus, she


    thought Anthea and Sherman looked good together ¨C a handsome man and a beautiful woman,


    quite the sight for sore eyes.


    "That Mr. Christensen is a devout vegetarian and a confirmed bachelor," Anthea said with a


    nonchnt shrug.

 Chapter 186

    "Damn! No way, that''s such a bummer..." An outstanding guy like that, a confirmed bachelor.


    Daniel and Sherman got back in the car. "Can you believe we ran into Anthea in Capital City?


    Sherman, what do you think about her?"


    Sherman shot back a question instead of answering, "Send me Griffin''s streaming handle."


    Daniel frowned slightly, "Sherman, you think Griffin and Ms. Yeager are the same person?"


    Sherman didn''t respond.


    Daniel continued, "They can''t be the same person! I see the legend grinding away on tech forums


    daily. How could he have time to stream?" Besides, Griffin''s just a cheater.


    No way could it be Anthea! Impossible.


    "I''m saying," Sherman nced over with a hint of impatience in his eyes, "send me Griffin''s channel,


    will you?"


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Not daring to argue, Daniel immediately sent Sherman the streaming handle.


    Sherman opened Griffin''s profile with a slight frown, "What''s this cheating scandal about?"


    Daniel exined the whole situation, "Sherman, this might let you down, but Griffin didn''t win over


    you with skill; she cheated! But don''t be disheartened. While Griffin cheated, Ms. Morris is the real


    deal..."


    "She didn''t cheat," Sherman cut Daniel off before he could finish.


    Although Sherman wasn''t sure if the person was Anthea or not.


    After ying chess with her for so long, her style told him she wasn''t the type to cheat.


    Daniel sighed. Sherman usually seemed so shrewd. How could he be so blind at the crucial


    moment?


    "Sherman, I know you won''t believe me. Just wait until tomorrow night, and you''ll see the truth for


    yourself. Griffin surely won''t show up. But, you''ll have the chance to y a game with Ms. Morris."


    "Is she even in my league?"


    "Sherman, you''re too biased against Ms. Morris," Daniel sighed again.


    But he believed that Sherman would see the truth for himself tomorrow night.


    Time flew, and the next day arrived.


    RealTimeFlow''s third-anniversary g was a grand affair, swarming with journalists hoping to


    capture breaking news.


    Reba arrived neither early norte.


    As the queen of the streaming world, she was dressed to kill.


    d in a Chanel dress that cost a small fortune, a diamond-studded tiara on her head, her curled


    hair cascading over her shoulders, revealing a hint of delicate skin, her makeup wless. She


    moved with a grace that made every other hostess in the room pale inparison.


    Noticing the envious gazes around her, Reba''s lips curved into a smug smile.


    She was born to shine, and thesemoners had nothing on her.


    "Reba." Spotting her, Dahlia hurried over.


    "Dahlia." Reba greeted.


    "Reba, you''re finally here! I''ve been waiting for ages. Come on, Mr. Robinson is over there; let


    me introduce you," Dalia was the director at RealTimeFlow and well-acquainted with Daniel.


    Blushing slightly, Reba responded, "I don''t know Mr. Robinson that well."


    "Just meet him, and you will," insisted Dahlia. "I mentioned you to Mr. Robinson earlier, and he


    seemed quite interested."


    Reluctantly, Reba followed Dahlia to the audience area.


    Daniel was standing there. Behind him, a man was casually fiddling with a cross pendant, his long


    legs crossed effortlessly.


    It was a simple gesture, but it exuded an air of unattainable prestige.


    The lights were dim. His face was hard to make out, but Reba immediately recognized him as


    Sherman. She knew he''d be at the g.


    Reba stood tall and confident, maintaining her poise as she followed Dahlia to Daniel''s side.


    "Mr. Robinson, this is Ba, Ms. Morris, the one I told you about," Dahlia introduced them.


    "Ms. Morris, I''ve heard so much about you," greeted Daniel.


    Reba replied with grace, "Mr. Robinson, you tter me. I''m just a nobody. In fact, I recently lost


    to a newbie on our tform, Griffin."


    "Griffin cheated, that doesn''t count as a win." replied Daniel.

 Chapter 187

    "There''s always a bigger fish in the sea, so losing is no big deal," Reba continued with a shrug.


    "Miss Griffin invited me to a rematch tonight. Maybe she''ll take the win again."


    Daniel just watched Reba, his eyes brimming with admiration. She was even kinder than he had


    imagined. At a time like this, she was still speaking up for someone who had cheated.


    A girl with that kind of heart was a rare find these days.


    A smug twinkle shed in Reba''s eyes. By looking at Daniel, she could tell she had him wrapped


    around her finger.


    It was pity though, because Daniel was no match for Sherman.


    A stepping stone could never be more than just that.


    Daniel said, "Ms. Morris, you''re too modest. Griffin wouldn''t dare show her face, let alone challenge


    you to a match."


    The live stream was about to start, and Griffin was still nowhere to be seen. If that wasn''t a sign of


    guilt, what was?


    "Maybe she''s just been dyed?" Reba suggested. "I don''t think Miss Griffin is the type to


    chicken out."


    Just then, Dahlia nced at her watch and said, "Reba, let''s head over. The red carpet event is


    about to begin."


    Reba nodded and said goodbye to Daniel.


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    There were over three hundred female hosts lining up for the red carpet walk.


    As Reba arrived, a buzz of conversation erupted around her.


    After all, the cheating scandal between her and Griffin had blown up, and Griffin had even issued a


    statement saying she would attend the event and had challenged Reba to a duel.


    With the red carpet event about to start, and Griffin still a no-show, she probably didn''t dare to


    come, did she?


    Ugly and a cheater, showing up would only bring her shame.


    Staying away was the smart move.


    The live streaming tform was buzzing with anticipation.


    [Has Griffin shown up yet?]


    [Can''t wait for the drama!]


    [I''ve been watching for ages and haven''t seen anyone that looks like Griffin on the scene. Even if


    she did show up, there¡¯s no way she could hold a candle to Reba''s pinky finger.]


    [Haha, the cheat is too scared to show!]


    [Let''s pack it up, guys. The cheat won''te, and we won''t get our drama.]


    And then, the red carpet ceremony officially began.


    The emcee stood on stage with a microphone in hand. "First to enter is the charming hostess, who


    was also a streamer.


    RealTimeFlow, keen on stirring things up, had deliberately ced Reba and Anthea''s names at


    the very end. After all, the biggest celebrities were always the showstoppers.


    Presumably knowing that Anthea would be a no-show, her name was listedst.


    "Next up, please wee our Hostess of the Year, the stunning Miss Ba!"


    Reba flipped her hair back and gracefully stepped onto the red carpet.


    [Wow, Reba looks gorgeous!]


    [Reba outshines them all!]


    [Next up is the cheat, right?]


    [Rx, she won''te. The cheat is too scared!]


    Reba reached the stage, signed the advertising wall, posed for photos, then stood waiting for


    Griffin. After all, they had a duel pending.


    Though she was certain the cowardly joker wouldn''t dare show up, she had to go through the


    motions.


    "And now, the moment we''ve all been waiting for. A new star in our tform! Her name is: Griffin


    YC! Rumor has it she''s challenged our very own Ba to a duel, and for this asion, ourwork


    has even set up a chess board for the two hosts. Will we have the honor of witnessing their live


    duel? And now, please wee Griffin YC!"


    As the emcee finished speaking, the atmosphere around the red carpet became eerily silent.


    [Told you, the cheat''s too chicken to show up.]


    [Some creatures just can''t stand the light!]


    [Disgusting!]


    After a few tense seconds of silence, there was still no movement at the end of the red carpet.


    The emcee, microphone in hand, began, "Unfortunately, Griffin YC is absent tonight..."


    "I''m so sorry for beingte." A soft, clear female voice interrupted the host before he could finish. At


    her words, everyone turned to look towards the end of the red carpet.


    There, striding against the light, was a tall figure approaching.

 Chapter 188

    The air was thick with anticipation, every eye in the room swiveling to the entrance.


    The buzz of curiosity was palpable as they all wondered just what Griffin looked like.


    Could she possibly be the next Snow White?


    But the backlighting obscured her features, presenting only a striking silhouette.


    Reba watched as the figure drew closer, her mind racing.


    Was this Griffin? Why did she feel as though she knew that silhouette?


    Was she seeing things? It had to be.


    How could she know a cheater, a jester in the court of life?


    A smirk curled at the edges of Reba''s lips. Griffin certainly had nerve, showing up at the g.


    Was she unaware that she was nothing more than a joke, a blight upon decent society?


    But, Reba mused, having a fool to contrast her own radiance might just be perfect.


    Like a rose among thorns, her nobility would only shine brighter.


    Her smile grew more pronounced.


    The rhythmic sound of high heels on marble echoed closer.


    With every step, the breathtaking features of the girl came into clear view. She was dressed in a


    scarlet off-the-shoulder gown, her sexy shoulders and delicate corbones exposed.


    The fiery red, typically a bold and brash color, seemed tailor-made for her.


    Each step she took seemed to tread upon the very hearts of those watching.


    She was the winter bloom amid the snow, stunning and splendid.


    The live camera feed captured her in all her glory, projecting her image onto the giant screen.


    Even magnified, her beauty was wless, she seemed perfect.


    Next to Reba, who had been the center of attention, she was reduced to mere backdrop.


    When Sherman, who had been resting with closed eyes, caught sight of her, a subtle smile touched


    his lips.


    It was really her.


    Fiddling with his cufflinks, his deep eyes betrayed nothing of his thoughts.


    Daniel, on the other hand, was stunned into silence. Staring at Griffin, disbelief stered across his


    face. He rubbed his eyes, suspecting a trick of the light.


    He had never connected Anthea with Griffin.


    He had assumed Griffin was just a hideous cheater. Yet, Griffin was Anthea.


    Anthea, who dominated the tech world while conquering the realm of streaming.


    What other secrets did she hold?


    Daniel swallowed hard, emotions tangled within him.


    Reba''s pupils dted as she processed the revtion.


    Anthea? Anthea was Griffin? Griffin was Anthea!


    But when had Anthea learned to y chess? Why had she changed so much recently? Had Anthea


    been reborn as well?


    A chilling thought crossed Reba''s mind.


    But Anthea had been nothing in her past life, even a rebirth wouldn''t suffice...Unless Anthea had a


    system too?


    What should she do now? How could she win against Anthea?


    How could she capture Mr. Christensen''s heart?


    Bitch! Anthea was nothing but a bitch!


    She was here to steal Mr. Christensen from her. Shameless!


    Reba''s hands clenched into fists at her side, a sheen of sweat on her forehead.


    Then, the voice of the system rang in her ears: [Host, don¡¯t worry. I have equipped you with top-


    level chess skills. Even against a grandmaster, you have nothing to fear. Moreover, my scans have


    confirmed that Anthea carries no system. So, rest assured, Anthea is not your rival.]


    Upon hearing this, Reba breathed a sigh of relief, regaining herposure.


    No system, no problem.


    What did it matter if Anthea was beautiful? Beauty couldn''t cleanse her of her cheater status!


    When the time came, Reba would crush her with sheer skill.


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


    Meanwhile, the chat exploded into chaos.

 Chapter 189

    Anthea exuded amanding presence as she faced the crowd below her and the multitude of


    cameras pointed at her. There was not a trace of stage fright on her face.


    She was the epitome of coolposure.


    Each step she took seemed to stir the air around her.


    Even through the screen, people couldn''t help but feel a sense of awe.


    [OMG, is that my Ann? She''s stunning! I''m literally crying right now...]


    [Ann is so gorgeous!]


    [Holy smokes! Ann''s got the A-factor!]


    [Damn! She¡¯s so pretty under the camera.]


    [Totally in love! New fan here!]


    [Clocking in for Ann!]


    [My Ann is such a beauty!]


    [So what if she''s pretty? Does being pretty mean she''s not a cheat? I don''t get why her crazy fans


    are freaking out!]


    [Just wait for Ann to get served.]


    [Let''s get this showdown started!]


    [Who''s gonna get schooled remains to be seen, cheater!]


    The host on stage watched Anthea with a nk expression.


    She''d been in the game for six years and had seen countless streamers and celebs, but she''d


    nevere across someone as strikingly beautiful.


    And it wasn''t just her looks; Anthea''s charisma was off the charts.


    Even as a woman herself, she couldn''t help but be utterly captivated.


    [Haha, looks like our hostess is totally smitten with Ann''s beauty!]


    [Super jealous of the host, getting to see our Ann up close...]


    [The hostess has been utterly converted by Ann.]


    After a while, the host managed to pull herself together and guided Anthea to sign her autograph,


    then brought her over to Reba. "Miss, let me introduce you to the Streamer of the Year, Ba.


    Do you remember your showdown with her?"


    Anthea nodded slightly, "Of course, I remember."


    The host continued, "Then I wonder if we might be so lucky as to witness a rematch today? The


    audience seems quite eager."


    "I''m ready," Anthea said, lifting her gaze. "Is Miss Ba up for it?"


    "I don''t mind at all," Reba replied with a friendly smile.


    But what she thought was, ¡°Bitch! I¡¯m going to crush you so badly. How dare you challenge me!¡±


    The host gestured for them to follow, leading them to the chessboard already set up on stage.


    They both sat cross-legged on cushions, facing the chessboard.


    After a toss, Reba had the red pieces.


    As per the rules of chess, red moves first.


    Reba said, "I''ve been ying chess longer, so I''ll let Griffin take the first move."


    They say to act first is to gain the upper hand.


    The same went for chess; the one who moves first has the advantage.


    "Thank you," Anthea said with a slight smile, confidently replying, "I appreciate the gesture, but


    there¡¯s no need."


    [Such arrogance! That''s no way to talk to a senior!]


    [Cheater, so full of herself!]


    [Ann is just awesome!]


    [We love you, Ann!]


    [Our Ann doesn''t need any favors. That so-called ''Best Streamer'' is just putting on a show.


    Everyone knows having the first move is an advantage. If Ann ys first and wins, surely some


    shameless folks will say it was because she was let. Clearly, Miss M is a shameless schemer!]


    [The analysis is spot on! Our Ann doesn''t need any favors. The schemer has no shame.]


    [Go Reba! Crush the cheater!]Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Reba replied, hearing the challenge, "Well then, I won''t hold back. Just don''t cry and throw a


    tantrum when you lose."


    This battle was to prove once and for all that Anthea was a cheater, to ensure she''d never recover.


    She was the one fit to stand alongside Mr. Christensen.


    What was Anthea? Just a cheater who shunned the light.


    Anthea lifted her eyes slightly, "The same goes for you. If you lose, you lose. Today''s match is fair


    and square, so stop looking forme excuses! And if I win, I expect to hear an apology from Miss


    Ba regarding the previous cheating allegations."


    At her words, the host''s face was a picture of shock.


    ¡°Win against Reba? Griffin sure was confident!¡± the host thought.

 Chapter 190

    The host thought, ¡°Did she really think that a pretty face could trump Reba at chess? Reba is


    a grandmaster, for Pete''s sake! Number one on the entire web! What could this rookie, who''s been


    used of cheating, possibly have on Reba?¡±


    Reba gave a nod, "Sure thing. If you lose, I expect you to own up to your mistake and promise


    never to cheat again! If you can manage that, the doors of RealTimeFlow will always be open to


    you."


    [Not only should she admit her mistake, but she should also apologize to our Reba!]


    [Ahh! Go, Reba! You rock!]


    [That''s how you deal with a cheater!]


    [Reba is NUMBER ONE! Some shameless newbies better not y the victim when they lose.]


    [Can''t wait for Reba to school this wannabe!]


    [Big face-pping momenting up, ah, I''ve got my screen recording ready, can''t wait for


    Reba to crush the newbie!]


    [Waiting for the cheater''s apology!]


    [So pumped! This is gonna be epic!]


    With the stakes set, the match began. With the system''s guidance, Reba made her first move


    with caution.


    Anthea didn''t hesitate, immediately cing her piece right after.


    Reba came on strong. In less than three minutes, she''d captured five of Anthea''s pieces.


    And Anthea? She hadn''t taken a single one,pletely on the back foot.


    Reba eyed Anthea with a smirk, "The game''s pretty much decided. Don''t you think it''s pointless


    to go on? It''s just a waste of time."


    Anthea calmly ced a piece, her voice light, "The game isn''t over until it''s over. What''s the rush?"


    Reba''s lip curled into a half-smile as she said, "Well, if you''re not ready to throw in the towel, I''ll


    y you to the end. But no matter how long this drags on, it won''t change the oue. You''ve


    made mistakes, sure, and even though you cheated before, your chess skills aren''t too shabby. I''ve


    been ying chess for years; you shouldn''t get too hung up on winning or losing."


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    She had top-tier chess skills, courtesy of the system.


    What did Anthea have? Even if she wasn''t the same as before, she couldn''t beat her!


    [Haha, Reba''s amazing!]


    [That cheater''s got no shame, still struggling!]


    [Reba''s the bomb!]


    [Cheater''s just wasting time, doesn''t she know Reba''s time is precious?]


    [Losing is losing, why waste time?]


    In the audience, Daniel was fixated on the big screen, astonished, "Ms. Morris is incredible! Ms.


    Yeager is going down, damn! Did Ms. Yeager actually cheat in herst live stream?"


    As he spoke, Reba captured another one of Anthea''s pieces.


    If Anthea were as good as she imed, she wouldn''t bepletely outssed in this match.


    But as it stood, Anthea wasn''t just on the back foot; she was inplete disarray.


    Faced with Reba''s relentless assault, she was powerless to retaliate.


    There could only be one exnation, that was Anthea had really cheated before.


    Otherwise, there was no way she could''ve beaten Reba so easily in theirst live stream.


    "Never thought Ms. Yeager would cheat..." Daniel couldn''t quite articte his feelings.


    Truth be told, Anthea''s behavior was a real letdown.


    Wanting to win is normal, but cheating crosses the line.


    If everyone started pulling an Anthea, what would be of the chessmunity?


    "She didn''t cheat," a deep voice interjected from beside him, "And she''s not going to lose."


    Daniel nced at Sherman.


    Sherman''s eyes were glued to the big screen, a barely discernible smile ying at his lips.


    Her approach to the game remained as unpredictable as ever.


    Seemingly erratic, yet each move was a trap. One careless step, and you''d fall right into it.


    Reba seemed to have the upper hand, but she was actually walking into the trap, step by step.


    Seeing Sherman''s confidence, Daniel sighed in resignation.


    He thought Sherman had lost it.


    Anthea was on the brink of defeat, yet he still believed Anthea would win...


    Was he enchanted by her? Even though Anthea was a tech genius, with a formidable reputation,


    cheating was cheating. Why was Sherman turning a blind eye?

 Chapter 191

    Daniel thought that it was clear that Anthea had cheated.


    Just then, a calm voice pierced the silence of the room, "Checkmate! Ms. Ba, well yed."


    Anthea announced, sliding her rook into position before the king.


    At this moment, Reba''s king was nked by bishops with no room to sidestep, only the path


    forward, which was now blocked.


    Anthea had her in checkmate!


    "Damn it!" Daniel felt as if he had been pped across the face.


    Reba lost? How could Reba lose? What just happened?


    Anthea''s position had seemed on the brink of copse, with only one rook left capable of crossing


    the river, while Reba still had two rooks, two knights...


    It was inconceivable!


    Had he not witnessed it himself, he would never have believed it to be true.


    What was this called? A stunningeback?


    "Do you realize what just happened?" Sherman''s voice was tinged with nonchnce. "Chess isn''t


    about how many pieces you capture. It''s about strategy and brains."


    Whenparing Reba''s style to Anthea''s, it was clear they were not on the same level.


    Reba yed like a machine, rigid and unyielding, solely focused on taking pieces, utterly


    oblivious to the fact that her opponent had already infiltrated her defenses.


    Bit by bit, Anthea eroded her morale.


    [Ann is amazing! I''m so pumped!]


    [Damn! This is so exciting!]


    [I''m totally in love with Ann!]


    [Thrilling!!!!]


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    [I''m going to learn chess too! I want to be like Ann!]


    [Reba was so smug earlier! Now she''s been put in her ce by our Ann, hasn''t she?]


    [Reba''s nothing but trashpared to our Ann!]


    [Where are those who said Ann would surely lose? Come out! Why so quiet now?]


    Someone in the chat dropped a line, Ann is a beauty for the ages!''


    Then the chat was flooded with that phrase.


    [As a fan of Anthea, seeing her go from a newbie to trending, facing cheating usations, and then


    making a spectacr reversal to crush Ba... I''m truly gratified! I''m d I¡¯m her fan. Ann is


    awesome!]


    [I''ve been with Ann from the start. The times of doubt were dark days for us fans, but we never gave


    up!]


    [I''m a Reba fan, but from today, I''m switching sides.]


    [Ann has shown me that in this world there''s light and darkness. When facing doubt, don''t be sad or


    discouraged¡ªpush through the current!]


    [Never has a streamer made me feel this fired up!]


    Reba''s face went pale. She felt a cold sweat break out as the inevitability of her defeat dawned


    on her.


    What had happened? How could she lose?


    With the system''s help and top-tier chess skills, what did Anthea have?


    How could Anthea possibly beat her?


    "System! What the hell happened? Why did Anthea win? You said no one could beat me!"


    The system was in chaos.


    It had always been invincible. This was the first time it had been defeated!


    [The system has been downgraded to level 1! Top-tier chess skills revoked! Level five beauty


    enhancement revoked! Center of attention skill revoked!]


    Listening to the system''s cold voice, Reba nearly crumbled.


    It was all gone! Everything was gone!


    All her skills were stripped away. What was she to do now?


    Anthea! That little wretch!


    "Ms. Ba, I believe our wager is settled, isn''t it?" Anthea looked at Reba with eyes devoid of


    emotion, yet Reba saw mockery in them.


    ¡°Bitch! Did Anthea really think that by winning she could do whatever she wanted?¡±


    Humiliation seethed within Reba as she looked down.


    The chat was aze with reactions.


    [Why does Ba suddenly look less pretty than before?]


    [You''re not alone, mate. It''s as if she lost something all of a sudden... can''t quite put my finger on


    it...]

 Chapter 192

    [Damn! I swear, Ba¡¯s appearance changed! Sitting next to Ann, she''s like wallpaper...]


    [What the heck happened? One minute, Ba''s shining like a supernova, the next she''s... bleh. I


    swear, if I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes, I''d think they''d switched her out or something...]


    [I''m a hardcore Ba fan, or at least I was. I always thought she was the real deal, a host with solid


    values. But today? Total letdown.]


    [As a former Ba maven, I owe an apology to Ann and her fans.]


    [Can''t Ba handle losing or what?]


    [Suddenly realizing Ba''s not all that! Was I blind? How could I have ever stanned someone like


    that?]


    [I mean, I used to think Ba had ss, but after today? Total disappointment. She can''t take a


    loss, and she''s all wishy-washy. She''s got nothing on YC!]


    [Unfollowing! Unfollowing!]


    [Yeah, count me out too. I''m jumping off the Ba bandwagon as of now.]


    [Goodbye!]


    It wasn''t just the folks at home who thought Ba had lost her beauty; even the people right there


    in the room could feel the shift. It was like watching a star lose its twinkle and fade into the dark sky.


    Just moments before, she could have beenpared to Anthea, but now...


    Daniel frowned slightly, puzzled. He''d admired Reba before, but now Ba just didn''t dazzle


    him the same way. The looks from the crowd were like knives, cutting into Ba with every nce.


    Ba wished she could just vanish into thin air.


    Why did she have to be the one to embarrass herself? It should have been Anthea!


    But there she was, having to suck it up and apologize to Anthea: "Sorry, my bad. I got it wrong, you


    didn''t cheat."


    Anthea offered a slight, cool smile. "You''ve been around, you know the score. You know what


    gettingbeled a cheater would do to me. Maybe next time, you''ll check the facts before you jump


    on the bandwagon..."


    Ba bit her lip, fuming with resentment. She was supposed to be the winner tonight, not Anthea! It


    was Anthea who had stolen what was hers!


    Dahlia couldn''t stand it anymore; she thought Anthea was crossing a line.


    It was just a misunderstanding, right? Did Anthea really have to keep targeting at Ba?


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    "It''s just a mix-up, and Ba''s apologized, Miss YC. Let''s try not to be so mean, okay?"


    Anthea tilted her head, her gaze icy. "I just got stabbed in the back, and the wound''s still fresh. And


    you''re saying that I¡¯m a mean girl? Dahlia, don''t talk to me about kindness when you¡¯re not in my


    shoe."


    [Whoa, Ann is so badass!]


    [Ann''s spot on. The cheating scandal was Ba''s doing. And who called Ann a freak? Ba''s


    crew! Ann took so much k and smear, anyone else might''ve crumbled. You haven''t felt Ann''s


    pain, so what right do you have to tell her to be kind? This Dahlia''s just another maniptor!]


    [Stamping my support for Ann like crazy!]


    [Can''t deny it, that was a sick burn. Count me a new fan.]


    Dahlia''s face paled. She had thought her words would swing public opinion toward her and Ba.


    Instead, Anthea had flipped the script with a single sentence!


    The event rolled on.


    But the star of the show was no longer Ba. It was Anthea.


    Ba had always been the belle of the ball, but suddenly, she was just a in Jane, and it was a


    shock to her system.


    It seemed like everywhere she turned, she could feel the sneers and jeers.


    She''d hoped to dazzle Mr. Christensen tonight, to win his heart. Instead, Anthea had stolen the


    show.


    Wait and see! She''d get her revenge!


    Watching Anthea chatting amiably with the other female streamers, Ba''s eyes shed with a


    vengeful glint.


    The crowd had expected Anthea, with her beauty and skill at the game, to be as unapproachable as


    Ba.


    But Anthea was surprisingly down to earth. Compared to her, Ba was nopetition at all.

 Chapter 193

    "Ann, where did you get that evening gown? It''s absolutely stunning! Looks like a couture piece,


    doesn''t it?"


    Anthea replied with a smile, "Not only is this gown a head-turner, but it also has a unique feature."


    "What feature?"


    "It''s temperature-regted," Anthea added with a hint of pride.


    "Temperature-regted?" The skepticism was clear on everyone''s faces.


    Anthea nodded slightly and proceeded to evangelize the virtues of her high-tech gown to the


    intrigued crowd.


    The idea of a dress that could defy the elements seemed almost too good to be true.


    Seeing the doubt in their eyes, Anthea lifted the hem of her gown, revealing a stretch of her fair,


    elegant calf. "Just feel this fabric, and you''ll understand."


    With a mix of curiosity and skepticism, the others reached out and touched the hem.


    The g was held in a semi-open venue.


    In December, Capital City was gripped by the chill of winter.


    All the female celebs were dressed in thin, fashionable gowns, shivering in the cold, but from


    Anthea''s dress emanated a continuous source of warmth. It was especially cozy.


    "Ann, may I touch your hand?" asked a long-haired woman, eyeing Anthea cautiously.


    "Of course," Anthea responded, nodding.


    The woman grasped Anthea''s hand, finding it pleasantly warm.


    Compared to Anthea, the difference was stark: while they were freezing in their flimsy gowns,


    Anthea''s hand was a cocoon of warmth. It was then that the women started to believe that her dress


    truly could regte its temperature.


    Such an invention was nothing short of a miracle for female streamers who were constantly in the


    spotlight at red carpet events and international functions.


    "Ann, where can I buy a dress like yours?"


    "I want one too!"


    "Count me in."


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    "We should start a group chat. I''ll send you the boutique''s websiteter, but you need to order their


    gowns in advance," Anthea suggested.


    After the red carpet segment, Anthea made her way to the audience seats.


    Upon seeing Anthea, Sarah was beside herself with excitement. "Ann, you were so cool, so sleek,


    and so gorgeous just now!" Sarah had been worried for Anthea at first, but the turnaround had been


    spectacr!


    Anthea hadpletely outshone Reba, igniting Sarah''s passion so much that even chess


    seemed appealing now.


    "Ann, how do you manage to be so amazing?"


    Anthea touched her chin thoughtfully and replied with a serious tone, "Maybe it''s because I''m so


    attractive?"


    Sarah enthusiastically agreed, "Absolutely! I mean, none of the women here can hold a candle to


    you! And Reba, I don''t know what happened to her. She used to be quite pretty, but now, looking


    at her again, she seems... well, kind of dull inparison..."


    Anthea had only meant to indulge in a bit of self-ttery, but Sarah''s praise was unexpectedly


    generous.


    Still, something about Reba seemed off, especially during their recent encounter.


    Anthea squinted her eyes thoughtfully. There was something glitchy about Reba. How could


    someone so radiant suddenly lose all their luster?


    "Ann, what''s on your mind?" Sarah waved her hand in front of Anthea, snapping her out of her


    reverie.


    "Nothing much," Anthea replied, shaking off her thoughts.


    Sarah continued, "I just saw my celebrity crush, Mr. Aiken, here too! I would love to get his


    autograph, but there are so many people, and I''m just too shy..."


    "Mr. Aiken? Who is he?" Anthea asked, puzzled.


    "Aiken! Look, there he is!" Sarah pointed at the man seated in the front row.


    The man was dressed in a sharp suit and looked vaguely familiar.


    Then it hit Anthea. If she was not mistaken, that man was the leading actor from a hit TV series


    currently airing.


    "If you like him, go for it. Don''t worry about it! Sarah, what are you afraid of? It''s not like he''s going


    to bite," Anthea encouraged.


    "I''m just... nervous." said Sarah.


    This was Sarah''s first time at such a high-profile event. Everywhere she looked, there were


    influential figures she had only seen on TV or in newspapers. She felt utterly insignificant.


    "It''s alright," Anthea reassured her with a smile. "Sarah, we''re all human. He''s just a person with the


    addedyer of fame. There''s no need to be afraid."

 Chapter 194

    Hearing those words, Sarah''s anxiety melted away. She mustered the courage to approach Aiken


    for an autograph.


    Just like Anthea had said, stars are just regr folks. Aiken was incredibly approachable, not only


    signing an autograph but also taking a selfie with Sarah.


    And of course, Sarah couldn''t resist showing off the moment on her social media.


    Three hourster, the g came to a close.


    Anthea and Sarah stepped into the crisp night air, the chill barely touching them thanks to their


    temperature-regted gowns. A single coat draped over their shoulders was all they needed to


    keep the cold at bay.


    "Excuse me, are you Miss YC?" A pleasant male voice called from behind.


    Anthea turned slightly, "And you are?"


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    The man stood about six feet tall, quite a looker with a face that could make a crowd of girls


    scream.


    "I''m Henry, a fellow streamer at RealTimeFlow! You were amazing on stage. Could we exchange


    contacts, get to know each other a bit?" He finished, visibly nervous as he awaited Anthea''s


    response.


    Seeing someone else initiate the conversation was new for him, all because Anthea was simply


    stunning.


    Even though Anthea was the one being approached, it was Sarah who was visibly excited. Henry


    was a superstar influencer!


    There they stood by the roadside, one dashingly handsome, the other as picturesque as a painting,


    impossible to overlook.


    Sherman, just settling into the backseat of his car, caught sight of the pair and his hand, twisting a


    pen, paused mid-air. He instructed the driver, "Pull over there, please."


    The driver nced ahead. Wasn''t that the youngdy from yesterday?


    Judging by Mr. Christensen''s expression, could it be jealousy?


    Unbelievable, the perennial bachelor Mr. Christensen showing such a side.


    The driver stifled a chuckle under the guise of scratching an itch.


    After exchanging contacts with Henry, a subdued Maybach pulled up in front of Anthea. The window


    rolled down to reveal a face far too stern for the hour, "Ms. Yeager, it''s quitete. May I offer you a


    ride?"


    Henry was stunned, thinking he was seeing things. Was this Mr. Christensen?


    "Ugh, hello, Mr. Christensen."


    With a slight nod, Sherman stepped out of the car with gentlemanly grace and opened the door for


    Anthea and Sarah.


    Realizing the time, Anthea didn''t decline. After bidding Henry farewell, she and Sarah slid into the


    backseat. "Thank you, Mr. Christensen."


    "No worries, it¡¯s on the way," replied Sherman, his tone indifferent.


    On the way? The driver''s mouth twitched. If memory served him right, Anthea''s hotel was in the


    exact opposite direction to where Sherman lived. A full 60 kilometers round trip.


    Talk about being on the way!


    The car ride was silent, with hardly a word exchanged until they reached the hotel about half an


    hourter.


    Stepping out, Sarah took a deep breath and eximed, "I was so nervous! Mr. Christensen is like a


    block of ice, so intimidating!"


    Anthea raised an eyebrow, "Is he really that scary?"


    Sarah nodded vigorously, "Absolutely!"


    Back at her hotel, Reba nned to open her livestream and y the sympathy card, hoping to


    regain the audience she''d lost that evening. But upon logging in, she was shocked to find her


    followers had halved¡ªfrom thirty million to just ten!


    Thements on her recent videos were all about her looks. People thought she''d be ugly!


    She had been quite attractive before, even with some help from filters, but this was too much.


    Reba hurriedly searched for a mirror and was greeted by a pale, listless face, like someone


    starved of nourishment, devoid of any spark.


    ustomed to her filtered beauty, Reba couldn''t ept that this weary reflection was her own.


    Touching her cheek, her voice trembled, "System, when can I go back to how I looked before?"


    [You will regain your appearance once the system upgrades to level 10.]


    Level 10? Reba was stunned. When she had firste back, the system was at level 10, and


    all this time, it hadn''t even leveled up to 11...

 Chapter 195

    The system was now frustratingly downgraded to level one, and it felt like it would take an eternity


    to w its way back up to level ten.


    How was she supposed to stream now ¨C without her usual ir?


    And what on earth was she going to do about winning over Mr. Christensen?


    [Don''t panic, host. I''m scouring for a way to boost us back up quickly.]


    "Why the sudden downgrade, system?"


    [It''s likely because Anthea trumped you.]


    ¡°Anthea! That bitch again! Just you wait!¡±


    She swore to herself that she''d have her revenge, that Anthea would pay dearly.


    The next day, Anthea and Sarah decided to stroll down the streets of Capital City, hitting up some


    hot Instagram spots along the way.


    Come noon, the overcast sky began to sprinkle down flurries of snow.


    Anthea, a Southern belle in her past life, seldom had the chance to witness such a wonder.


    Cloudcrest, straddling north and south, saw bitter winters, but snowfall was a rarity, maybe once a


    decade.


    At first sight of the snow, she couldn''t contain her excitement.


    Sarah was just as thrilled, pulling Anthea into a yful dance across the snowy nket.


    They were the spitting image of two carefree pups frolicking in the snow.


    Their joyful antics caught the eyes of two kindly old men standing under a tree nearby, admiring the


    snowy scene.


    Kendrick chuckled at Corrin, "Those young ones probably haven''t seen snow before. Watching


    them takes me back to my own youth."


    It was a shame that his days were numbered, that such beautiful snowy days would no longer be


    his to enjoy.


    This thought cast a shadow of mncholy across Kendrick''s eyes.


    Corrin squinted, "Isn''t that the youngdy who helped someone on the ne the other day?"


    At the same time.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Reba drove to the renowned Sunnybrook Estate in Capital City.


    Right as she stepped out, she was halted by the estate''s security, "Do you have a pass?"


    Reba shed a smile, "I''m here to see Kendrick, could you let me in?"


    The Wrights were Capital City''s cr¨¨me de cr¨¨me, their ancestral home nestled within Sunnybrook


    Estate.


    "Just one moment," the guard inspected Reba, "I''ll make a call to verify."


    Reba clenched her fists.


    In her heyday as a celebrated streamer of RealTimeFlow, she was adored wherever she went.


    Now, even a mere security guard dare to suspect her!


    But for the moment, she had to swallow her pride.


    When she rose from the ashes, they would all pay.


    "Sir," Reba continued, "tell Kendrick a Ms. Morris is here to see him. I have a miracle cure that


    could save his life. He''d regret it if he missed this chance!"


    Healing Kendrick was her ticket to a rapid system upgrade.


    Using her recent streaming poprity, she had traded for a miraculous pill.


    Just one dose, and Kendrick''s health would spring back to life!


    If she could save the head of the Wright family, it would not only boost her system but also secure a


    powerful ally for the Morris family. With the pill in her possession, Reba was brimming with


    confidence.


    The guard gave her another look before heading inside to make the call.


    Shortly after, he returned, "Pleasee in."


    The Wright Manor was a sight to behold, grand and majestic!


    Standing before this splendid edifice, Reba thought of Mr. Christensen''s even more opulent


    abode, and a smug smile curled at her lips.


    Once the system was upgraded and her beauty function restored, Mr. Christensen would surely fall


    at her feet.


    And then! Capital City would be hers to rule.


    Upon hearing of Reba''s potential cure for Kendrick, the Wrights treated her with the utmost


    importance.


    Damian Wright personally ushered her into the estate, "Ms. Morris, please make yourself


    comfortable. My father stepped out, but he should be returning shortly."

 Chapter 196

    Kendrick was the bedrock of the Wright family. If Kendrick were to fall, the other branches of the


    Wright family would surely seize the chance to suppress his direct lineage.


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


    At that time, the entire Wright Group dynasty would be thrown into turmoil.


    Though Reba looked quite young, she imed to have a cure for Kendrick''s ailment, and


    Damian was not one to let such an opportunity slip by.


    "Ms. Morris, can your medicine truly heal my father?" Damian asked with a hint of worry in his voice.


    Reba nodded, "Mr. Wright, I doubt anyone else could cure Kendrick Wright but me."


    Damian continued, "Could you please show me this medicine, Ms. Morris?"


    With another nod, Reba reached into her bag and produced a small wooden box that appeared


    quite rustic.


    Upon opening the box, therey a single ck pill resembling a Tootsie Roll.


    Damian frowned slightly, "Just this one pill can cure my father?"


    Reba smiled reassuringly, "Don''t underestimate this pill, Mr. Wright. It''s a panacea. I assure you,


    once Kendrick takes it, he will be cured."


    The system was a powerful entity. Medicine from the system couldn''t be found just anywhere


    outside. It was bound to cure any disease!


    But Damian remained skeptical. After all, if it were true, it would be nothing short of miraculous. His


    father''s illness had stumped even the most skilled doctors abroad.


    "Does this medicine have any side effects?" Damian inquired.


    Reba hesitated. She knew the pill could cure Kendrick but she didn¡¯t know if there was any side


    effects. However, at such a moment, even if there were side effects, she could only im there


    were none. Otherwise, how could she gain the Wright family''s trust?


    And since Kendrick was already of advanced age, any potential side effects seemed less


    significant.


    Reba smiled, "Rest assured, Mr. Wright, this medicine has no side effects on the human body."


    To build trust with Damian, Reba added, "To be candid, Mr. Wright, I am from the Miraculous


    medical family. This medicine has been passed down in my family from generation to generation."


    The Miraculous medical family? The legendary doctor of the nation was the patriarch of this family.


    Damian never imagined he would one day encounter a descendant of such a storied figure.


    Could her words hold a shred of truth?


    Moreover, for no apparent reason, why would Reba seek them out and offer her family''s


    ancestral medicine to Kendrick?


    Noticing Damian''s confusion, Reba continued, "People don''t act without reason. If you''re


    wondering why I''m offering this family heirloom to Kendrick, it''s because I need the help of the


    Wright family."


    Pausing, she added, "Of course, I won''t ask for any assistance from the Wright family until Kendrick


    has fully recovered."


    With that, Reba looked up at Damian.


    "So, Mr. Wright, you needn''t worry about being deceived. There''s no benefit in it for me."


    Hearing this, Damian felt somewhat relieved. After all, Reba had her motives. What he feared


    most was someone with no motives at all.


    Meanwhile, Kendrick heard that the little girl frolicking in the snow nearby was the same person who


    had saved someone on a ne the other day, and a look of incredulity appeared in his eyes.


    He observed this girl, who seemed no different from any other, with a natural love for y, getting


    excited at the sight of snow. Did she really possess such skills?


    "Sir, we''ve run into her again today; perhaps it''s fate. Why not let her have a look at you?" Corrin


    suggested.


    Kendrick had long since given up hope for his health. Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope shone in


    his eyes, "If that''s the case, let''s go over and see her."


    Seeing Kendrick finally relent, Corrin could hardly contain his excitement. Ignoring the heavy


    snowfall, he supported Kendrick''s arm. "Let''s go, quickly!"


    The two approached Anthea, "Excuse me!"


    Anthea was in the middle of shaping a snowball to throw at Sarah when she heard the call and


    promptly set the snowball aside.

 Chapter 197

    "Excuse me, were you calling out to me?" asked Anthea.


    Corrin nodded affirmatively, "Yes, indeed! Young healer, yourst name is Yeager isn''t it?"


    "That''s correct, myst name is Yeager but I dare not im the title of a ¡®healer''," Anthea replied.


    "May I assist you with something?"


    Corrin continued, "My name is Corrin, and this is our family patriarch. We had the pleasure of


    meeting you aboard a flight some time ago. A year back, our dear patriarch was diagnosed with a


    terminal illness. Your medical expertise is renowned, miss. Might you be willing to take a look at


    him?"


    Just then, Sarah came running over from a short distance away. "What''s going on, Ann?"


    Anthea sinctly exined the situation and then said, "Would you mind extending your arm, sir,


    so I may check your pulse?"


    Knowing Anthea''s skill in medicine, Sarah didn''t ask further questions, standing quietly to the side,


    waiting for Anthea to proceed.


    Kendrick extended his arm.


    Anthea gently ced her fingers on Kendrick''s wrist, concentrating as she felt for his pulse.


    After a moment, Anthea let go of Kendrick''s wrist.


    Corrin eagerly inquired, "What''s the verdict, miss?"


    "His condition isn''t something that can be managed with medication alone; it requires the addition of


    acupuncture. If you trust me, leave me your address, and I will pay a visit tomorrow to administer


    the acupuncture treatment."


    Though her visit to Capital City was brief, and treating Kendrick would leave little time for


    sightseeing, she was, after all, a doctor.


    As a doctor, one must never turn away from those in need.


    Hearing this, Corrin and Kendrick exchanged a hopeful nce.


    Tears welled up in Corrin''s eyes, choked with emotion.


    Despite having so much to say, he found himself speechless.


    "Does this mean there''s a chance to cure my illness?" Kendrick asked, trying to maintain


    composure.


    Anthea nodded slightly, "It would seem so."


    Kendrick''s condition might be incurable to others, but in Anthea''s hands, it was hardly a formidable


    ailment.


    In her eyes, any sickness that could be treated with medicine was not serious.


    Kendrick asked for reassurance, "Miss, how confident are you?"


    Anthea, though just a teenager, exuded a sense of gravity even some adultscked¡ªan


    inexplicablefort.


    Age does not determine capability. Some live their entire lives and yet may not measure up to a


    child.


    For some reason, Kendrick, having met Anthea just once, found himself deeply trusting her.


    Anthea spoke with a light but certain tone, "Well, I''m about seventy percent sure."


    Though her voice was quiet, it resonated with conviction.


    For the first time since falling ill, Kendrick saw a glimmer of hope. It was as if winter had ended, life


    was returning, and the flowers were beginning to bloom.


    "Where do you stay, miss? When will you be avable tomorrow? I''ll have the drivere for you,"


    Kendrick asked.


    Anthea provided her address and phone number, and Corrin quickly saved the information in his


    phone.


    "Then let''s say our driver will pick you up at 9:30 tomorrow morning. Does that work for you?"


    Anthea nodded in agreement, "That will be fine."


    Before leaving, Anthea added, "By the way, my trip to Capital City was rather rushed, and I didn''t


    bring my medical equipment. You''ll need to prepare a set of acupuncture tools."


    Anthea hade to Capital City to attend RealTimeFlow''s annual g and hadn''t anticipated the


    need for her medical gear.


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


    Corrin inquired, "Do you have any particr requirements for the acupuncture tools?"


    "Ordinary silver needles will suffice," Anthea replied.


    Corrin nodded, "Understood."


    Kendrick wanted to invite Anthea and Sarah for dinner, but Anthea politely declined.


    Back at the manor, Kendrick found Reba still there.


    "Did we have visitors?" he asked a servant, his mood notably upbeat upon the prospect of his


    illness being treatable.


    Upon seeing Kendrick, Damian quickly greeted him, "Dad! You''re back."


    Kendrick brushed snow off his shoulders and asked with curiosity, "You''ve been waiting for me?"


    "It''s not I who''s been waiting; it''s a distinguished guest," Damian guided Kendrick to the living room.


    "Dad, this is Ms. Morris, a legendary doctor!"

 Chapter 198

    Kendrick''s brow furrowed ever so slightly. During his illness, a parade of so-called specialists had


    come knocking, each more self-promoting than thest, but not a single one had any real talent!


    Kendrick hadn''t bought into the ims of any of these self-proimed medical savants.


    Damian continued, "Dad, Ms. Morris brought over a family heirloom remedy. I''m certain it can


    restore your health."


    At that moment Reba gracefully stood up, "Good day, Mr. Wright, I''m Reba Morris."


    She hadn''t risen earlier on purpose, a bit of posturing on her part.


    After all, as a descendant of the legendary doctor, appearing too eager would surely cheapen her


    stature, wouldn''t it?


    Reba had lived two lifetimes and was no longer the naive girl she once was.


    Kendrick nodded indifferently, then turned to Damian, "I''ve already found a real doctor for my


    condition. You may tell Ms. Morris she can leave now."


    "Dad," Damian, sensing Kendrick''s skepticism, pleaded, "Dad! Trust me, Ms. Morris can cure you!"


    Through their conversations, Damian hade to believe that Reba''s demeanor and poise


    were far beyond what one would expect from a teenager.


    Therefore, Damian had immense faith in Reba.


    The legendary doctor was no ordinary man, so his descendant surely couldn''t be just anybody


    either.


    Reba offered a wry smile, "I may be young, Mr. Wright, and I understand your doubt. But I can


    assure you, I am indeed the direct heir to the doctor''s legacy. I''m only 18, and, not to sound


    immodest, but have you ever seen a teenager with my level ofposure?"


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Hearing this, Kendrick lifted his gaze toward Reba. Had he not met Anthea that day, he might


    have considered Reba to be an exceptional young talent.


    Indeed, few teenagers possessed her level of calm, and her speech didn''t sound childish either.


    But having met Anthea, Kendrick was no longer impressed.


    Compared to Anthea, Reba fell short. She was too arrogant.


    Could a true descendant of the Legendary Doctor be so full of pride?


    Kendrick said, "It''s good for the young to be confident, but do you realize that too much confidence


    is actually just arrogance?"


    The audacity of this old man! Reba cursed inwardly.


    If she weren''t trying to upgrade her system, did he really think she''d bother saving him?


    He should be grateful, not hurling insults!


    But, for the sake of upgrading her system, Reba swallowed her pride, "Mr. Wright, this might be


    hard to hear, but apart from my remedy, there''s no cure for your ailment!"


    Her implication was clear: miss out on her help, and Kendrick''s fate was sealed.


    Death. Who isn''t afraid of death?


    Had Kendrick not encountered Anthea that day, he might have given Reba a chance.


    But he had met Anthea. Anthea was calm and kind, more reliable than Reba.


    Moreover, Kendrick didn''t believe that a mere pill could heal his ailment.


    If it were that simple, he wouldn''t have suffered for so long.


    "Ms. Morris, we don¡¯t doubt you, but there are always greater powers at y. Damian, show our


    guest out!"


    "Dad?" Damian looked helplessly at Kendrick.


    Kendrick''s frown deepened, "Do my words no longer carry weight?"


    Reba smiled faintly, stepping forward, "It¡¯s okay, Mr. Wright. I''ll take my leave. I''ll leave this


    medicine for you, Mr. Wright, with hopes for your swift recovery."


    With those final words, Reba turned and left.


    She was absolutely certain that Kendrick would eventually take her left-behind medicine.


    It was just a matter of time.


    Because in this world, no one but her could heal Kendrick.


    When facing the brink of death, even the slimmest chance of survival is not easily dismissed.


    So, Kendrick would surely take her medicine. And once healed, Kendrick would surely regret his


    actions of today.

 Chapter 199

    She was waiting for the day Kendrick himselfe to Cloudcrest to apologize to her in person!


    Reba''s lips curled into a smug smile.


    At the Wright Manor.


    Kendrick furrowed his brow as he examined the pill Reba had left behind. "Corrin, throw it away."


    Corrin nodded, "Yes, sir."


    Damian immediately interjected, "Dad! This is a miracle cure from the legendary healer. People


    would kill for this stuff, and it''s a thoughtful gesture from Ms. Morris. How can you just throw it


    away?"


    Kendrick was sharp as a tack in his day.


    It was a shame his eldest son wasn''t quite as bright, unable to uphold the family''s image.


    Otherwise, the Wright family wouldn''t be in such disarray every time Kendrick faced a crisis.


    Kendrick shot him a dismissive nce, "You want to poison me with this unregted junk?"


    The only thing that came with Reba''s ''medicine'' was the box it was in¡ªnobels, no


    instructions.


    "But, but... Ms. Morris imed to be a direct descendant of that renowned healer..."


    Kendrick scoffed, "Do you believe any lies people tell you? You''re over forty and still can''t think for


    yourself!"


    Damian was too gullible, believing anything anyone told him. If Damian didn''t bear such a striking


    resemnce to Kendrick in his youth, Kendrick might have doubted he was his own flesh and


    blood!


    Aside from their looks, they had little inmon.


    Damian, sweating under his father''s scolding, could only watch helplessly as Corrin prepared to


    toss the medicine away.


    Just then, Kendrick turned around, "Hold on, Corrin. Don''t throw it out just yet."


    After all, it was someone else''s property, and it wouldn''t be right to dispose of it so hastily.


    What if Reba came back asking for it? What would he return to her?


    That would surely lead to an argument.


    Corrin acknowledged with a nod.


    Damian breathed a sigh of relief. Was Kendrick considering taking Reba''s medicine after all?


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Just as Damian thought Kendrick might being around to trusting Reba, Kendrick added,


    "Store it properly, in case Ms. Morrises back for it."


    Damian wanted to defend Reba, but hecked the courage.


    The next day arrived soon enough.


    The Wright family''s car was ready and waiting downstairs at the hotel.


    Anthea draped her coat over her shoulders. "Sarah, why don''t youe with me? You''ll be bored


    here by yourself anyway."


    Sarah replied, "You''re off to heal and help, Ann. I don''t know a thing about that. Wouldn''t I just be


    messin'' things up?"


    Anthea smiled reassuringly, "Not at all! I don''t know a soul there. Having you with me will be a great


    comfort."


    Sarah thought about it. Anthea was just a young woman; what if someone took advantage of her?


    It¡¯s better if she went with her and look out for her.


    "Alright," Sarah said, springing from the bed, "I''ll join you, Ann."


    She threw on a down jacket and joined Anthea in the hotel lobby.


    As they stepped out of the hotel, a sharp-dressed young man approached them, "Excuse me, are


    you the miraculous healer, Ms. Yeager?"


    Anthea nodded slightly, "That''s me."


    The young man gestured politely, "Please, this way."


    Anthea took Sarah¡¯s hand, and they moved towards a luxurious sedan.


    The emblem on the car''s hood shone brightly against the snow.


    Holy smokes! A Rolls-Royce!


    Sarah swallowed hard. The wealthy in Capital City sure livedrge!


    Arriving at Sunnybrook Estate, Sarah was simply astonished.


    She had only read about manor castles in stories.


    Never did she imagine she''d be whisked away in a Rolls-Royce to a legendary estate...


    No one would believe this tale if she told it.


    Nervously, Sarah was all senses on alert, careful not to gawk and embarrass Anthea.


    Before long, they reached the interior of the estate.


    Kendrick was already waiting in the parlor for Anthea.


    Hearing the car approach, he stood quickly, "Corrin, let''s go wee Dr. Yeager."


    Corrin followed Kendrick''s lead.


    At the entrance, they saw Anthea arriving.


    "Ladies, pleasee in," Kendrick urged, weing them inside.

 Chapter 200

    Given the glimpse of hope that his illness might be cured, Kendrick seemed more spirited than he


    had the day before.


    He was bossing the servants around again¡ªasking for snacks, demanding his tea.


    Corrin brought in a wooden box and said to the young healer, ¡°Anthea, this is the acupuncture kit


    you asked for yesterday. Please, check if everything meets your requirements.¡±


    Anthea set down her cup and opened the box to take a look. ¡°The tools are all here; this will do just


    fine.¡±


    ¡°Dad, is this the healer you said could heal you?¡± Damian¡¯s voice suddenly filled the room.


    Damian had expected a figure of great renown, a veritable miracle worker.


    Instead, he saw a mere teenager...


    What kind of joke was this? A kid¡ªwhat could they possibly know about medicine?


    Reba was the sessor to a great healer at least.


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


    His father must be losing his senses! Dismissing a real healer for the trust in a child.


    ¡°Show some respect!¡± Kendrick''s voice was stern. ¡°Apologize to the healer right now.¡±


    Damian thought his father was the one who was truly ill.


    To be asked to apologize to a child¡ªit was inconceivable!


    ¡°Dad, are you sure this kid can cure you? If something goes wrong, who will be held ountable?¡±


    Compared to a seasoned healer, Damian naturally wanted to believe in experience over youth.


    This child¡ªwhat was she?


    ¡°Silence!¡± Kendrick interrupted, then turned to Anthea with an apologetic smile. ¡°Please don''t mind


    the nonsense of that rascal. I chose to believe in you, and I will trust youpletely! I¡¯ve prepared a


    waiver already; every procedure has its risks, and should any issues arise during the acupuncture, it


    won''t be on you.¡±


    What does a doctor need most? Trust.


    Kendrick didn¡¯t want Anthea to feel pressured. Besides, with his advancing age, he had


    preemptively drafted a waiver.


    ¡°You¡¯re being foolish, Dad!¡± Damian was livid.


    Pointing to the door, Kendrickmanded, ¡°Get out!¡±


    Seeing his father genuinely angry, Damian didn¡¯t dare to protest further. He sighed, ¡°Dad, I just hope


    you won¡¯t regret this.¡±


    Kendrick ignored Damian and turned back to Anthea. ¡°When can we start the treatment?¡±


    ¡°Right now,¡± Anthea replied calmly, her demeanor unfazed even by Damian¡¯s skepticism.


    ¡°Very well, follow me,¡± said Kendrick.


    Kendrick had been ill for over a year; the family had prepared a sterile room specifically for


    treatments.


    Anthea followed Kendrick¡¯s lead.


    The butler, knowing that Sarah might worry while waiting outside, took her to the conservatory to


    admire the flowers and watch a movie, once again reminding Sarah of thevish lifestyle of the


    wealthy.


    In the sterile room, Kendricky on the hospital bed as Anthea took a silver needle from the medical


    kit. ¡°Kendrick, I¡¯m about to start the acupuncture. It won¡¯t hurt much, just try to rx.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Kendrick nodded.


    The first needle pierced the temple.


    Anthea held the silver needle, gently twisting it into the hidden vein beneath the skin.


    Winter sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating Anthea¡¯s focused face, her already fair


    skin glowing even brighter.


    Kendrick felt a sharp pain at his temple, then his eyelids grew heavy, and soon he fell into a deep,


    sensationless calm.


    Before long, Kendrick¡¯s body was covered with silver needles, but that wasn¡¯t enough.


    Anthea continued, one needle after another, and under the bright light, the silver turned slowly to


    ck. A thin sheen of sweat appeared on Anthea¡¯s forehead as time ticked away.


    When Kendrick awoke, the clock on the wall pointed to 2 PM.


    Five hours had passed? He was shocked.


    Just then, Anthea approached, ¡°You¡¯re awake? How do you feel?¡±


    Kendrick sat up, moving his limbs. ¡°I feel...¡± His arm wasn¡¯t hurting, his head wasn¡¯t spinning¡ªit


    was a miracle.

 Chapter 201

    Kendrick felt an unfamiliar lightness in his body, something he hadn''t experienced since his illness


    took hold.


    "Doc, am I... am I really getting better?" Kendrick asked, his voice tinged with disbelief as he looked


    up at Anthea.


    With a gentle smile, Anthea nodded. "You''re halfway there. To make a full recovery, you''ll need to


    keep up with a special treatment n I''ve designed for you," she said, handing him a neatly written


    prescription.


    As Kendrick took the paper from her, he couldn''t help but admire the elegance of her handwriting.


    Even with years of practice, his own writing couldn''tpare.


    Corrin was waiting anxiously outside the room. Anthea opened the door to find him practically


    bouncing on the balls of his feet.


    "Dr. Yeager! How''s Mr. Wright?"


    "He''s doing much better," Anthea reassured with a smile.


    Corrin rushed in, eximing, "Sir!"


    Tears welled in Kendrick''s eyes as he murmured, "Corrin, I know my own body, and I can tell you, I


    feel a world of difference. Miss Yeager says with more of her treatment, I''ll be as good as new."


    "Thank goodness!" The two septuagenarians embraced, sobbing with relief.


    Meanwhile, the butler had arranged avish lunch spread. After five hours without a bite, Anthea


    was ravenous and graciously epted the invitation to dine. "And my friend?" she inquired.


    "Ms. Allen has been informed, Miss Yeager. Please, enjoy your meal while we fetch her," the butler


    replied.


    It wasn''t long before Sarah joined them.


    "How did it go, Ann?" she asked.


    "Like a charm," Anthea beamed.


    Sarah hugged her friend tightly. "You''re amazing, Ann!"


    Soon after, Kendrick and Corrin joined them, offering a generous reward. Even Sarah received a


    gift.


    Anthea epted graciously. "Remember, Kendrick, take your medicine on schedule. You''re not out


    of the woods yet, so don''t let your guard down."


    Kendrick nodded solemnly. "I will."


    Back at the hotel, Sarah ripped open the gift from Kendrick and gasped, "Holy smokes, it''s a BL


    Moonbeam limited edition bracelet!"


    BL Moonbeam was a name that spoke of luxury and exclusivity. The price tag of that bracelet alone


    was a small fortune.


    Anthea nced over. "Seems like it. I''ve got a watch and ne here, too."


    "I can''t, this is way too much!" Sarah attempted to return the bracelet to Anthea.


    However, Anthea wouldn''t have it, "It''s from Kendrick, meant for you, Sarah. Why are you handing it


    back to me?"


    Sarah was adamant. "But it''s a thank you for curing him, not for anything I did! I saw this bracelet


    online once; it''s worth over twenty grand! If I''d known the Wrights were giving out gifts like this, I


    would''ve never epted."


    Anthea thenforted her. "Sarah, you were there for me, and that means everything. Without you,


    I wouldn''t have set foot in the Wrights'' estate."


    After much reassurance, Sarah finally epted the bracelet, and they decided to explore a nearby


    night market. Despite the snow that had fallen earlier, there was a certain charm to wandering the


    market under a nket of white.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Elsewhere, at the Lindsay household, Edna continued her routine, delivering nourishing broth to


    J. After J had her soup and settled into sleep, Edna stepped outside and instructed the


    servants to keep the noise down.


    To them, Edna wasn''t just a visitor; she was the futuredy of the house, the soon-to-be matriarch


    of the Lindsay family.

 Chapter 202

    And Edna was ying the hostess to perfection!


    She directed the servants with such ease and ir, outshining even her days with the Fletchers.


    "Miss Edna, your coffee," Delia said, presenting a steaming cup.


    Edna smiled and gratefully epted the coffee from Delia.


    Seizing the moment, Delia whispered something in Edna¡¯s ear.


    Edna¡¯s expression darkened, and she set down her cup, hurrying toward the door with Delia in tow.


    They made their way to a secluded spot in the Lindsay family¡¯s expansive backyard, near a quaint


    little rockery.


    Edna frowned and said, ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s what Gerard told J?¡±


    Delia nodded, ¡°Heard it with my own ears.¡±


    Edna¡¯s frown deepened. That boy Gerard was so ungrateful!


    She had felt for him when he was little, motherless, and had tried to care for him


    But Gerard had t-out refused, preferring form over any warmth she could offer!


    She had doted on him, coddled him, all these years, and now he had the nerve to say he¡¯d ept


    anyone but her as a stepmother!


    It was true what they said.


    No matter how you raise them, someone else¡¯s child will never be your own!


    She had been so good to Gerard, and he repaid her with betrayal, biting the hand that fed him.


    A true ingrate!


    Delia nced around before continuing, ¡°Looks like marrying into the Lindsay family by winning


    over Gerard is off the table now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m well aware,¡± Edna snapped back. She had seen Gerard as her stepping stone into the Lindsay


    family, but now that he had his own agenda, he was useless to her.


    ¡°So, your only hope now is to cozy up to J,¡± Delia said. ¡°While she still calls the shots, you need


    to get yourself married into the Lindsay family. You and Jonah are still young; have a bouncing baby


    boy. When Darleen ties the knot with the Christensens, your son could inherit the Lindsay fortune,


    and you¡¯ll be the most respected woman in Capital City! As for Gerard, let him stew in his own


    juice!¡±


    Edna nodded in agreement.


    Delia was right. Gerard was a lost cause, and now her only chance was to leverage J''s favor,


    marry into the Lindsays quickly, and have a child with Jonah Lindsay as soon as possible.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    After chatting with Delia for a good while, and noticing that J was about to wake, Edna returned


    to the front hall.


    Just as she entered, she overheard J pleading with Gerard, ¡°Gerry, Edna brought me


    nourishing soup again. If it weren¡¯t for her, I¡¯d have been six feet under by now!¡±


    Gerard remained silent.


    "Why can¡¯t you approve of Edna marrying your father? What¡¯s so hard about that? If only you were


    half as sensible as Darleen, our family wouldn¡¯t be in such disarray!"


    In J¡¯s eyes, Darleen was far more sensible than Gerard.


    At least Darleen never stood in the way of Edna marrying into the Lindsay family, unlike Gerard!


    Edna was a good woman, and her joining the Lindsays would surely bring happiness back into the


    fold.


    The current state of the Lindsay household was anything but a home ¨C just a cold, empty house!


    And it was all Carole Yeager¡¯s fault!


    Gerard¡¯s foolishness was a direct result of taking after Carole.


    If Carole had been a decent woman, she wouldn¡¯t have seduced Jonah into having a child out of


    wedlock!


    The thought made J¡¯s blood boil.


    The Lindsay family used to be so harmonious, full of maternal love and filial piety.


    Carole was nothing but trouble!


    Gerard ignored J''s ramblings and simply said, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ve got ns with some friends for a


    late-night bite. I won¡¯t disturb your rest any longer.¡±


    With that, he turned and walked away, bumping into Edna on his way out.


    "Edna," he greeted her, his tone neutral.


    Edna, as always, greeted him with a warm smile, "Where are you off to, Gerry? I made your favorite


    cake, and it''s fresh from the oven. Want a slice?"


    Gerard didn¡¯t respond and continued on his way without looking back.


    Delia followed and reassured, "The young master has been in a sour moodtely, Miss Edna. Don''t


    take it to heart. Deep down, he really does care about you."


    Edna smiled and said, "I know, Gerry takes after his dad ¨C cool on the outside, warm on the inside.


    Oh Delia, make sure to save some of that cake for Gerry, will you?"

 Chapter 203

    J felt a bitter twist in her heart upon hearing those words.


    If Gerard had been simply a tough exterior hiding a warm heart, that would have been one thing.


    But it was clear that Gerard had no affection for Edna; he even had the nerve to bad-mouth her.


    What a waste of Edna''s affection, always putting Gerard first in everything. Did he even deserve


    her?


    With a heavy sigh, J''s thoughts were interrupted.


    Edna came in with a smile, "J, what''s got you sighing?"


    J''s eyes clouded with worry as she replied, "I¡¯m just a bit uneasy about Gerry. He¡¯s morphing


    into such a bull-headed kid, just scared he might veer off track.¡±


    Especially with someone like Carole in his lineage.


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


    Given his behavior today, J''s worries deepened.


    Edna offeredforting words, ¡°J, Gerry¡¯s a sensible kid, he¡¯s just not great with words. Don¡¯t


    worry about him.¡±


    Delia chimed in, ¡°Mydy, it¡¯s simple to get Gerard to wise up. There¡¯s no need for concern!¡±


    ¡°How so?¡± J looked up at Delia with curiosity.


    ¡°Well, as the saying goes, ''nothing ventured, nothing gained!'' Thed¡¯s been coddled as an only


    child. A little recklessness is normal. If Miss Edna here were to give him a little brother, well, with a


    bit of brotherlypetition, he¡¯d shape up in no time! Two birds with one stone, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±


    J¡¯s eyes sparkled at the idea.


    Edna blushed, ¡°Delia, what are you implying? J, please don¡¯t mind her ramblings.¡±


    But J chuckled, ¡°I think Delia might be onto something. Edna, imagine if you could give our


    Jonah a child. How wonderful would that be!¡±


    The offspring of Edna and Jonah would surely be brilliant.


    J grew more excited at the thought.


    At the night market.


    Gerard, Healy, and Kearney sat at a small round table, digging into some steaming hot dogs and


    skewers.


    The frosty winter night was biting.


    Biting into a piping hot dog thered in spicy sauce made your whole body tingle with warmth.


    ¡°Healy, George, Kearney, let¡¯s have a toast,¡± Healy lifted his shot ss filled with beer.


    Gerard joined in, downing the liquor in one gulp.


    ¡°Gerard, you seem down, buddy?¡± asked Healy.


    Gerard remained silent.


    Healy continued, ¡°The whole mess with the secret admirer¡¯s notes isn¡¯t sorted yet, eh? You don¡¯t


    think your grandma would actually make your dad marry that woman and have another child, do


    you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s highly likely,¡± Gerard replied, gripping his whiskey ss.


    J adored Edna, and with the way things were going, it seemed only a matter of time before


    she''d be part of the family.


    Not quite sure how to console his friend, George ventured, ¡°You know, having a little sister might not


    be so bad.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want a sibling.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure,¡± George said. ¡°What if one day you be super protective of her?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re dreaming,¡± Gerard scoffed, pushing back his chair. ¡°I need to hit the restroom.¡±


    Watching Gerard walk away, Healy nudged George, ¡°He can¡¯t stand little girls, especially those who


    try to act like his sisters!¡±


    Because of Darleen, Gerard had always harbored a dislike for the idea of sisters, even avoiding


    young girls at school.


    Scratching his head, George conceded, ¡°I¡¯ll be more careful with my words next time.¡±


    Gerard finished washing his hands in the market''s public restroom and identally bumped into


    someone. Instinctively reaching out to help the person up, he realized the other was quick on their


    feet and steadied him instead, ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    The voice was pleasant to the ear.


    Looking up, Gerard saw a pretty face.

 Chapter 204

    The dim light cast a soft glow on her face, giving it an ethereal quality.


    Unexpectedly, Gerard found himself standing opposite a girl about his age.


    He had always pictured young girls as delicate and frail.


    Yet here was a girl with the reflexes of a seasoned athlete, which was quite the eye-opener.


    It took a moment for Gerard to regain hisposure and retract his hand.


    Just then, Sarah came running over and asked, "Ann, what''s going on?"


    Anthea nced back at Sarah and assured her, "It¡¯s all good."


    Turning to Gerard, she inquired, "You alright?"


    "I''m fine," Gerard responded with a slight shake of his head.


    "Good to hear," Anthea said with a gentle smile. Once she knew Gerard was fine, she walked away


    with Sarah.


    As Gerard watched their retreating figures, he felt a momentary daze.


    This was aplete stranger, yet he felt an inexplicable connection to her. It was as if they had


    known each other for ages. A very strange sensation indeed.


    Was it just his imagination?


    Lost in thought, Gerard remained staring until they vanished into the crowd. He was jolted back to


    reality by a p on the shoulder.


    "Gerard! What are you gazing at?" Healy hade over.


    Gerard snapped out of it, "Huh? Oh, it''s nothing!"


    Curiosity piqued, Healy looked in the direction Gerard had been staring but saw nothing noteworthy


    and let it go.


    "Let''s roll, Gerard! Time for some drinks!"


    Gerard followed Healy, his mind preupied. The boys drank more than their fair share, their


    teenage bravado overtaking their better judgment.


    Being 18 and strictly raised, they couldn''t possibly return home in such a state.


    Fortunately, George''s parents were out of town, so they decided to crash at his ce. With the


    weekend ahead, there was no worry about school the next day.


    They arrived at George''s, took a casual shower, and crammed into one bed, quickly sumbing to


    a deep sleep.


    When Gerard awoke, he noticed the snow had stopped outside, and the sunlight was piercing


    through the window.


    The room was filled with a symphony of snores, each more sonorous than thest.


    Gerard looked at his phone and saw it was already half-past ten. George was up, but Kearney and


    Healy were still asleep.


    Rubbing his temples, Gerard got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. He was


    well-acquainted with George''s house after many visits.


    After freshening up, George walked in, removing his cap and announcing, "Gerard, I grabbed some


    breakfast. Are Kearney and Healy still out?"


    Gerard nodded.


    "I''ll go wake them up." George set the food on the table and grumbled, "Man, can they sleep!


    They''ve been out since 11st night. What are they, hibernating bears?"


    Throwing open the windows, George let in the chilly breeze, jolting the others awake with shivers.


    "Damn, it''s freezing! What''s the rush this early, mom?"


    Georgeughed, "Look again, Healy. And, for your information, it''s nearly eleven in the morning!"


    Finally, Healy came to his senses.


    George tossed clean clothes at them. "Get up, guys! Gerard''s waiting to have breakfast with you!"


    Reluctantly, they got dressed.


    Kearney asked while dressing, "Did you get my favorite bacon sandwich?"


    "Got ''em," George nodded, "Hurry up, or it''ll be lunchtime."


    Among the four friends, George was the caregiver, always keeping things in check and looking after


    the others.


    Healy was the mentor, not the best academically but with a knack for life skills.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Kearney was the easygoing one, following the lead of his friends without a second thought.


    Gerard was the quiet one, a man of few words, but when he spoke, it counted.


    The boys made quick work of their morning routines, and in less than ten minutes, they emerged


    refreshed in the living room, ready to tackle breakfast.

 Chapter 205

    At that moment, the shrill ring of a phone cut through the silence.


    Gerard set down his half-eaten bagel and picked up the call.


    Whatever was said on the other end, Gerard simply replied "Alright" before hanging up, turning to


    George, "Hey man, where''s yourptop? I need to borrow it for a sec."


    "Sure thing, I''ll grab it for you."


    In a sh, George returned with hisptop and handed it over to Gerard.


    Taking theptop, Gerard plopped down by the floor-to-ceiling window, his fingers rapidly dancing


    across the keyboard.


    Kearney, curious as ever, muttered, "What do you reckon Gerard''s up to? All cloak and dagger, isn''t


    he?"


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    "Who knows?" Healy shrugged helplessly.


    It wasn''t unusual for Gerard to be all secretive; they never pried too much into each other''s


    business.


    About ten minutester, Gerard returned,ptop in one hand and resuming his attack on the


    doughnut with the other.


    The others chatted amongst themselves, careful not to disturb Gerard.


    After breakfast, they shouldered their backpacks and headed their separate ways.


    Just as Gerard got home, he bumped into Edna.


    "Gerry, where were youst night? Your grandma mentioned you didn''te home," Edna inquired,


    a tinge of concern in her voice.


    "Thanks for worrying, Edna," Gerard replied coolly.


    Edna continued, "Gerry, you''re at an age where curiosity peaks. But try not to stay out all night; it


    really worries your grandma and me."


    A trace of impatience flickered across Gerard''s face as he thought, ¡°Did Edna really see herself as


    the hostess in my house now?¡±


    Right then, J''s voice chimed in from inside, "Gerry,e here."


    "Coming," Gerard responded and headed inside.


    J was sitting on the couch, looking a bit under the weather, "Where were youst night?"


    "Grandma, I crashed at a friend''s ce." replied Gerard.


    "Which friend''s house?"


    Gerard stayed silent.


    "Was it that George guy?" J pressed.


    "Yeah," Gerard nodded.


    J mmed her cup on the table so hard that the scalding coffee sshed onto her hand.


    "Grandma!" Gerard eximed, startled, and quickly reached for a napkin to dab at her hand.


    Seeing this, J sighed deeply, "Gerry, I''ve told you countless times. I have no problem with you


    having friends, but think about who you''re associating with. Hanging around with the wrong crowd


    will bring you down!"


    Gerard paused before retorting, "Grandma, he''s my friend!"


    "He''s not your friend!" J raised her voice, "He''s not from our world!"


    George''s parents were just average office workers, with a mortgaged house in the Capital City.


    What right did he have to be friends with someone like Gerard?


    The poor only attract the poor.


    Eventually, Gerard would be surrounded by them, just like Jonah, who never learned to choose his


    company wisely, and ended up with Carole...


    If Gerard continued this way, he was bound to follow in Jonah''s path.


    "Grandma, George is my friend, regardless of wealth or status. Everyone in this world is equal! I


    hope you won''t look at him differently!"


    "You won''t even listen to me?" J''s eyes were filled with pain.


    She remembered how sweet and obedient Gerard had been as a child.


    Whatever she said, he did. When had he started to defy her?


    Gerard looked at J earnestly, "Grandma, I''m 18 now. I can tell right from wrong. I know the kind


    of friends I should keep."


    "If you listen to me, you''ll cut ties with George."


    "I''m sorry, but I can''t do that."


    The colder Gerard''s expression, the angrier J became. She was reminded of Carole.


    If only Edna had been Gerard''s mother, he surely wouldn''t be defying her this way.

 Chapter 206

    "Grandma, I''m gonna head back to my room if there''s nothing else," Gerard said before turning on


    his heel and leaving.


    J watched Gerard''s retreating back, her face turning as white as a sheet with anger.


    Edna walked in from the garden, attempting to soothe J. "J, Gerry''s still wet behind the


    ears. There''s a lot he needs to learn, and he''ll get it eventually. Please, don''t be mad."


    J let out a heavy sigh. "He''s getting a bit too out of hand, hanging out with a bad crowd. It''s only


    a matter of time before they lead him astray. Darleen, on the other hand, has been a blessing from


    the start ¨C never caused you a lick of trouble."


    Edna smiled wistfully. "Darleen may seem sensible, but she''s got her moments, too. And you know,


    girls, they just mature faster than boys."


    The mention of Darleen softened J''s features. "Isn''t her birthdaying up? She''s my only


    granddaughter, and I''ve got to pick out something special for her."


    J had always treated Darleen as her own flesh and blood, speaking of her with an affection that


    brooked no disputes.


    "She doesn¡¯t need anything fancy. J, you shouldn¡¯t spoil her!"


    J scolded her gently, "I''m not spoiling her! It''s for my granddaughter!"


    "You shouldn''t talk like that," Edna continued, a hint of sadness in her voice. "I know Jonah''s heart


    still aches for Carole. I never deluded myself into thinking I could take her ce. As long as I know


    Jonah''s happy, that''s enough for me."


    J''s eyes filled with sympathy as she looked at Edna.


    So many years had passed, and yet Edna remained as kind-hearted as ever.


    Eighteen years ago, had she fought just a little harder, Carole might not have had the chance she


    did. It was a bitter reminder that being too kind-hearted was not always a blessing.


    J patted Edna''s hand. "Nonsense! You''re the only daughter-inw I see, and as long as I''m


    breathing, Jonah won''t be bringing any other woman into our family!"


    Edna had already given eighteen years of her life waiting for Jonah. J wouldn''t let her wait


    another eighteen in vain.


    With another sigh, J changed the subject. "Edna, why waste your days by my side? Go keep


    Jonahpany. I had someone make him a healing broth; take it to him."


    If Edna focused all her attention on Jonah, maybe she would have married him by now.


    "Jonah needs his space; I don''t want to disturb him," Edna tly refused.


    J held Edna''s hand tighter, insisting, "Delia''s right. Gerry doesn''t see the storm on the horizon,


    and I''m counting on you to give our family another child."


    "J!" Edna''s face blushed crimson. "Please don''t tease me!"


    "I''m dead serious," J said earnestly. "You and Jonah are still young. What''s there to fear about


    having a child?"


    After insisting once more, J handed the broth to Edna. "Go on, now! Hurry up!"


    Reluctantly, Edna took the broth and headed for Jonah''s ce.


    Her car pulled up outside Capital Hospital.


    She made a beeline for the VIP suite on the seventh floor.


    Two burly guards stood watch at the door. Unfamiliar with Edna, they blocked her entry.


    "I''m here to bring Jonah some broth, from J," Edna exined with a smile.


    The guards exchanged a look before one went inside. Momentster, he returned. "The boss says


    just hand over the broth to me."


    Edna hesitated, then passed the thermos to the guard. "How''s your boss doing with his recovery?"


    The guard replied with formal detachment. "The boss is doing just fine, ma''am. No need to worry."


    A shadow crossed Edna''s face.


    Jonah was forever like this, without ever offering her a glimmer of hope.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    If only he hadn''t been so indifferent, she wouldn''t have impulsively married Darleen''s father out of


    sheer anger.


    But this time, she was determined not to let go of Jonah.


    She was going to im the title of Mrs. Lindsay! It was hers and hers alone!

 Chapter 207

    Meanwhile, on the other side of town.


    Anthea had promised Sherman Christensen a dinner out on Saturday night, so after spending the


    day window shopping, she holed up in her hotel room in the evening to look for a restaurant.


    She found a well-reviewed vegetarian bistro online and looked up at Sarah. ¡°Hey Sarah, let''s go out


    for dinner tonight.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re taking Mr. Christensen out?¡± Sarah inquired.


    Anthea nodded slightly.


    Clutching her phone, Sarah said, ¡°Ann, count me out.¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Anthea asked, puzzled.


    Sarah continued, ¡°Mr. Christensen¡¯s got this intense aura, I just can¡¯t handle it! Every time I get into


    his car, I feel like I can''t breathe...¡±


    Sarah wasn''t lying. She genuinely felt a bit intimidated by Sherman. Sure, he was handsome,


    followed a strict vegetarian diet, and was devoutly spiritual, but her fear seemed to emanate from


    her very bones,pletely beyond her control.


    Curious, Sarah followed up, ¡°Ann, aren¡¯t you even a little scared of Mr. Christensen?¡±


    Anthea raised an eyebrow yfully, ¡°Scared? What¡¯s there to be scared of? He doesn¡¯t bite!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t quite put my finger on it, but he¡¯s just... intimidating!¡± Sarah added, ¡°You go on, I¡¯ll wait for


    you here at the hotel.¡±


    Truth be told, Sarah had her own little n.


    Sherman was no ordinary guy, and neither was Anthea.


    Though Sherman was a vegetarian and seemed cold, Sarah had a hunch that he felt something


    special for Anthea.


    What if those two ended up together? Sarah definitely didn¡¯t want to be the third wheel!


    ¡°Sarah, we¡¯re going to Capital City¡¯s most famous vegetarian bistro tonight. You sure you want to


    miss out?¡± Anthea asked.


    ¡°Positive and certain!¡± Sarah urged Anthea towards the door, ¡°Oh, Ann, stop worrying about me. Go


    on, have a good time!¡±


    Anthea grabbed her hat from the coat rack and ced it on her head, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off then.¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Sarah nodded.


    The bistro wasn¡¯t far from the hotel; a mere 20-minute walk. Considering Capital City¡¯s notorious


    traffic jams, Anthea chose to walk instead of hailing a cab.


    Although it was a sunny day, patches of snow still clung stubbornly to the ground.


    At four in the afternoon, as the sun began to set, its rays refracted off the snow, casting the world in


    a golden glow.


    Anthea was dressed in ck leggings, a white knit sweater, and draped in a knee-length beige wool


    coat. Her hat, with a veil shading her face, added a touch of mystery to her already delicate


    features.


    Passersby couldn''t help but give her admiring nces.


    Twenty minutester, she arrived at the bistro.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Sherman was already there, seated by a window, dressed in a simple, elegant suit, a rosary twined


    in his fingers, his gaze serene as he looked out the window.


    The chandelier''s light yed across his sharp features, adding an icy veneer to his already cool


    demeanor.


    The waitstaff passing by didn''t dare to hold his gaze for too long.


    ¡°You¡¯re early, Mr. Christensen,¡± Anthea said as she approached.


    Sherman nced back at her, replying briefly, ¡°Only a few minutes before you.¡±


    Anthea took off her hat and ced it on the chair beside her.


    Sherman got her a cup of tea.


    Anthea took her seat and sipped the tea gently. It was crisp and sweet on the pte ¨C a sign of fine


    tea.


    She took another sip and asked, ¡°Have you ordered, Mr. Christensen?¡±


    ¡°Ladies first,¡± Sherman replied, passing her the menu.


    Anthea was quietly surprised as she took the menu. For someone of Sherman¡¯s stature in


    Luxphinia, maintaining such chivalry was no small feat.


    In his position, he didn¡¯t need to please anyone.


    In Capital City, perhaps even in all of Luxphinia, he was a man of considerable influence.


    Perhaps this was just a testament to his personal refinement.


    Anthea selected a few of her favorite dishes and handed the menu back to Sherman.


    He ordered a couple more appetizers.


    The dishes arrived quickly, and Anthea didn¡¯t stand on ceremony with Sherman. She picked up her


    fork and knife and began savoring the meal.

 Chapter 208

    After a day of hitting the shops, hunger had finally started to nudge her. She was the kind who didn''t


    fuss over table mannersfort was her priority, and incidentally, her nonchnce often painted


    the most beautiful, natural picture.


    Sherman nced sideways, catching sight of her focused indulgence.


    Was it really that delectable?


    He speared a piece of broli, chewing thoughtfully.


    It tasted... pretty ordinary, actually.


    But as he watched her relish her meal, he found himself eating more than he intended.


    Nearly full, Anthea waved over the server. "Could we get two of your desserts, please?"


    The server nodded. "Sure thing."


    Sherman''s lips parted slightly. "One is enough for me, I''m stuffed."


    "Don''t worry about it, bring two," Anthea insisted. "I can finish them both by myself."


    Sherman was speechless. He realized that she never intended to share in the first ce.


    When the desserts arrived, Anthea dove into them with gusto.


    Sherman was taken aback; she could really put it away. He had four sisters, and they all ate very


    little to maintain their figures, barely touching their food and steering clear of sweets altogether. This


    had led Sherman to believe that all girls ate sparingly.


    Clearly, he was mistaken.


    He could only imagine how his sisters would react if they knew that their self-denial didn''t


    necessarily give them the edge over someone who ate heartily with abandon¡ªthey''d be livid!


    As Anthea enjoyed her dessert, Sherman just sat there, twirling his cross pendant between his


    fingers. They didn''t speak, but the silence wasn''t awkward.


    About ten minutester, Anthea finished and headed to the bar to settle the bill, only to learn that


    Sherman had already paid.


    Anthea looked at him. "Mr. Christensen, I thought this was my treat. Why did you pay?"


    Sherman gave her a faint smile, his slender fingers tracing the cross pendant. "It doesn''t really


    matter who pays, but if Ms. Yeager feelspelled to return the favor, there''s a coffee shop not far


    from here. You could invite me for a cup. And perhaps, you could share some chess strategies with


    me."


    Anthea raised an eyebrow. "You want to y chess with me?"


    Sherman nodded, "Yes."


    Anthea checked the time on her phone¡ªit wasn''t even 7 PM yet¡ªso she agreed, "Okay."


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    They left the restaurant together, with Sherman gantly opening the passenger door of his car for


    Anthea.


    The car was spacious and clean, a reflection of Sherman''s meticulous nature.


    They arrived at the coffee shop shortly after.


    The manager, who knew Sherman well, greeted him with enthusiasm. "Mr. Christensen, wee


    back. Right this way, please."


    The manager''s eyes darted curiously to Anthea, full of disbelief. Sherman usually came alone or


    with Daniel. The sight of him with a beautiful woman was unexpected¡ªcould she be the fianc¨¦e


    from Cloudcrest everyone whispered about?


    In seconds, the manager''s head was swirling with questions.


    They were ushered into Sherman''s favorite private room, which was decorated with a ssic


    elegance. An antique chess set awaited them on a side table.


    "Ms. Yeager, please," Sherman gestured for her to sit.


    Anthea nodded and settled herself across from him just as the manager brought some steaming


    coffee. The rising steam blurred their features into soft focus.


    As far as chess was concerned, Sherman was no match for Anthea. Not even halfway through the


    game, his pieces were in disarray. Anyone witnessing the match might think he was letting her win


    on purpose.


    Sherman frowned slightly. "I lost."


    Anthea smiled and said "It''s only natural to lose to me. After all, when I''m in the game, there''s no


    beating me. I¡¯m the boss."


    Boss?


    Sherman looked at her incredulously¡ªshe wanted to be his boss?


    In that moment, Anthea realized her slip-up. She was so used to saying so during her streams that


    she had let the term slip in front of Sherman.

 Chapter 209

    Anthea nced at Sherman with a touch of surprise flickering in her eyes.


    Why was Sherman acting like some old¨Ctimer? He didn¡¯t get the joke.


    ¡°Mr. Christensen, don¡¯t you watch live streams?¡± Anthen asked, a hint of disdain in her gaze.


    Sherman coughed lightly, trying to steer away from the awkwardness. ¡°If I were you, Ms. Yeager,


    what would have been my Just now?¡±


    y next move


    ¡°Obviously, like this!¡± Anthea dered, confidently grabbing a chess piece and setting it aside.


    ¡°They say to sacrifice the pawn to save the rook, but that¡¯s not always the case. Sometimes, a little


    pawn can change the whole game, break the opponent¡¯s strategy! Just like in life, we should never


    underestimate anyone.¡±


    The chessboard, seemingly settled moments before, was now alive with new possibilities!


    Sherman¡¯s eyes lit up. He picked up his own p


    piece and ced it near Anthea¡¯s hand. ¡°My next move would be this. If your rookes over, my


    cannon will capture it!¡±


    ¡°Do you think that¡¯s enough to win, Mr. Christensen? Anthea raised an eyebrow teasingly.


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


    ¡°Is there another way?¡± Sherman¡¯s eyes were glued to the board.


    Could Anthea really have another trick up her sleeve?


    With a sly smile, Anthea picked up a piece, her voice calm and collected, ¡°If you take my rook, my


    knight will check your king! Do you know what that move is called?¡±


    Sherman was taken aback, he hadn¡¯t expected Anthea to have a contingency n. It was


    unbelievable!


    Anthea¡¯s fingertips twirled a chess piece and she said, ¡°This strategy is called ¡®bait and switch¡°,¡±


    ¡°Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!¡± Sherman didn¡¯t hold back his praise. ¡°A perfect bait and switch!¡±


    Anthea modestly replied, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing special. You¡¯re just an easy mark.¡±


    The usually unppable Mr. Christensen was for the first time called a fool to his face!


    And by a young girl, no less.


    Yet, far from being angry, he simply said, ¡°It seems I¡¯ve been short¨Csighted, not seeing that


    stratagem within a stratagem.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re actually quite good at this,¡± continued Anthea. ¡°It¡¯s rare for someone to make me exert real


    effort. You¡¯re the first¡­ no, actually


    the second.¡±


    The first was that online gamer, LeisureHermit.


    ¡°Who was the first?¡± Sherman asked, trying to hide a frown.


    Anthea was brief, ¡°An online acquaintance I met during a stream.¡±


    An online acquaintance? Who could that be?


    Male or female? How old? Have they met in person?


    Even Sherman might not have realized he had all these questions swirling in his head, his brow


    furrowed with curiosity.


    Anthea said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, Mr. Christensen, I should head back to the hotel.¡±


    Sherman, who had been keen for another game, rose immediately. ¡°Let me drive you.¡±


    ¡°That would be kind. Mr. Christensen.¡± Anthea stood, slipping on her coat and hat.


    Sherman also donned his zer that was hanging nearby. ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure.¡±


    In about ten minutes, the car pulled up in front of the hotel.


    As Anthea got out, she bid Sherman farewell and reminded him to drive safely.


    Sherman nodded slightly, ¡°I will.¡±


    Anthea turned and walked towards the hotel.


    Just inside, Sarah was all curiosity, ¡°How was it? Did you enjoy Mr. Christensen¡¯spany?¡±


    Anthea nodded slightly, ¡°It was fine?


    Sarah eyed Anthea up and down,sensing a potential romance brewing.


    He was a real looker and she was a stunner, both crazy talented to boot. They seemed like they


    were made for each other! Anthea added, ¡°Sarah, we¡¯re heading back tomorrow. Have you packed


    everything?¡±


    10:34


    Sarah nodded, ¡°All set, don¡¯t worry¡±


    The next moming, they arrived at the airport.


    Fin the ne, Sarah confided with a touch of mncholy, ¡°Christmas is around theer and I¡¯m


    still jobless. Ann, what kind of work. do you think I should hunt for after the holidays?¡±


    Sarah had been working in a factory.


    It was a monotonous life, the same routine day in, day out. She yearned for a change, but she felt


    unskilled.


    A suitable job seemed out of reach.


    Anthea looked at her friend with empathy, ¡°Sarah, you¡¯re only twenty. If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t rush


    into another job. I¡¯d pick up the books.


    again, take a gap year, study for the SATs, aim for a college of my choice, majoring in something


    I¡¯m passionate about, and afterwards, pursue a career that truly fulfills me ¡±

 Chapter 210

    Sarah gazed at Anthea in astonishment, ¡°But I¡¯m already 20 this year!¡±


    Anthea¡¯s smile was gentle, ¡°Sarah, you¡¯re only two years older than me. I¡¯m just finishing up my


    junior year in high school, and I¡¯ve got the SATS next year. If you go back and brush up on your


    high school courses now, you can join the senior ss next year, take the SATS the year after, and


    you¡¯ll only be a year behind me. At 20, your life is just beginning.¡±


    Sure, education isn¡¯t the only way to go. But for Sarah, it seemed like the right path.


    And nowadays, qualifications matter no matter where you work!


    Anthea¡¯s serious tone made Sarah waver, ¡°Ann, do you really think I can do it?¡±


    Anthea nodded, ¡°Sarah, if you¡¯re willing to learn, I¡¯ll help you with your studies.¡±


    After a pause, Anthea asked, ¡°By the way, Sarah, what was your dream when you were in


    school?¡±


    It took a long time for Sarah to answer, ¡°I used to dream of bing awyer¡±


    ¡°Then work hard towards that goal! Get into a goodw school! Be an outstandingwyer!


    Sarah, you¡¯re 20 now, you¡¯ll be 22 at the SATS, and 26 when you graduate college. If you pursue a


    master¡¯s, add another two or three years, and you won¡¯t even be 30 by the time you¡¯re done! At 30,


    do you want to live the life you desire, or do you want to be a housewife, preupied every day


    with the mundane?¡±


    ¡°Ann, don¡¯t you find my dream a bitughable, a bit unrealistic?¡± Sarah¡¯s eyes betrayed a hint of


    self mockery.


    Anthea took Sarah¡¯s hands firmly. ¡°It¡¯s notughable, nor is it unrealistic. The onlyughable people


    are those without dreams.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Her words struck Sarah like a wake¨Cup call. She clung to Anthea¡¯s hands, ¡°Ann, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great, really d to hear you¡¯ve thought it out,¡± Anthea said with relief.


    Once Sarah had made up her mind, she felt a weight from her shoulders.


    After a five¨Chour flight, the two arrived in Cloudcrest


    Nanson Yeager had been waiting outside the airport, knowing Antheas flight schedule. The moment


    he saw Anthea and Sarah, he rushed over, ¡°Ann! Sarahl Over here!¡±


    Anthea scurried toward him, dragging her suitcase, ¡°Uncle Nanson!¡±


    Sarah followed suit, calling out, ¡°Nanson!¡±


    Nanson took over their luggage, ¡°Let¡¯s head home.¡±


    ? ? ? ? ? ?


    Nanson dropped Sarah off first, then drove home.


    Carole had taken the day off work and prepared a feast at home, awaiting Anthea¡¯s return.


    A week apart felt like a year to the mother and daughter When Anthea arrived, she enveloped


    Carole in a big hug. ¡°Mom! I¡¯ve missed you


    so much!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve missed you too, honey!¡±


    After dinner, Anthea presented the gifts she had bought for Carole and Nanson. They scolded her


    for spending money carelessly, but were clearly delighted.


    Anthea also brought out a gift from a patient named Kendrick, ¡°Mom, one of my patients gave me


    this. It¡¯s full of jewelry. You should


    wear it


    we go out together, Caroleughed off the suggestion, ¡°I¡¯m too old for jewelry! But Anthea insisted,


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re not old at all. When we people think we¡¯re sisters! Besides, I¡¯m still in school, and


    we¡¯re not allowed to wear jewelry. Most importantly, as a student, it doesn¡¯t suit me to wear gold


    bracelets and nes.¡±


    Only then did Carole agree to ept the jewelry.


    That evening, Anthea settled in to live stream her chess game.


    When she logged into her ount, she was astounded to see another spike in her follower count!


    Moreover, the footage of her at the RealTimeFlow anniversary party had been edited into a video


    that was now viral, with over a hundred million views!


    Upon opening thements, they were all chanting. ¡°Antheal Awesome!¡±

 Chapter 211

    Many had sent messages to Anthea, privately reaching out to apologize for the hate they''d spewed


    before.


    Anthea was slightly taken aback by the apologies, but quickly brushed it off and started her live


    stream.


    She had gotten used to not showing her face, so this time was no different.


    [Caught Ann''s g live stream. So cool, so gorgeous!]


    [Ann, show your face, please!]


    [Love Ann for eternity!]


    [User: ThorHammerStriker has sent ten sports cars!]


    [User: Pupper has sent a sports car!]


    [Why are you hiding your face again, Ann?]


    "I''m afraid if you guys see my face, you won''t pay any attention to my chess skills!"


    [Ann, you''re so vain! But I love it!]


    [You could live off your looks, but our Ann insists on talent!]


    Anthea streamed for an hour before signing off.


    Reba was glued to her screen until Anthea ended her stream, seething with envy.


    Why could Anthea continue streaming when all she could do was secretly watch behind a screen? It


    wasn''t fair!


    Right at that moment, Reba''s phone buzzed. The caller ID shed - it was her agent, Jack.


    "Hey, Jack," Reba answered.


    "Reba, after everything that''s happened, don''t you think you should go live and exin yourself?


    Do you realize you''ve lost twenty million followers?" Jack''s tone was stern. "Look, life throws you


    curve balls, and none of this mess started with you! You''re a victim too!"


    "I''m sorry, Jack, I''m just not in the right headspace for streaming right now." Without the adoration,


    the filters, or the chess prowess, what did she have to offer? How could she win back her fans?


    "But hiding away isn''t solving anything, Reba. Silence is admission! Do you have any idea how


    many followers Griffin has gained?" Jack pressed on.


    Now, Anthea had managed to amass more followers than Reba.


    Reba bit her lip and said in determination, "One month, Jack! Give me one month! I''lle back


    with a response that will satisfy everyone!"


    In a month''s time, Kendrick would surely be back in good health! Then he would publicly thank her


    at Cloudcrest.


    With Kendrick''s gratitude, she''d gain trust points and level up her system.


    With that system boost, she''d outshine her current self!


    And with the Wright family''s support, her family would rise higher.


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


    Jack sighed, "Alright, as long as you have a n."


    Time flew by quickly.


    A month had passed, just as Reba had anticipated. Kendrick, who was far away in Capital City,


    had made a remarkable recovery.


    So, Kendrick decided to visit Cloudcrest to properly thank Anthea.


    Kendrick had lost the number Anthea had given him and only knew that a Miss Yeager lived in


    Cloudcrest, without any specific address.


    During this time, Reba had Daly keep an eye on the situation in Capital City.


    On the evening of the 25th, Daly brought good news, "Reba! A big shot came from Capital City


    today, looking to repay a life-saving debt to some miracle healer! But..."


    He hesitated, "They''re looking for a healer with thest name Yeager."


    Everything matched except for thest name.


    Reba''s eyes lit up, "Dad, do you forget? Myst name used to be Yeager! They''re looking for


    Miss Yeager, and that''s me!"


    It was understandable for Kendrick to get thest name wrong, given his age and herplicated


    background!


    Besides, without her medicine, Kendrick had no cure.


    So, the visit was undoubtedly to thank her for saving his life!

 Chapter 212

    Reba¡¯s words were like a sh of lightning, illuminating a path through Daly''s thoughts.


    Yes, of course! After all, she used to be known as Reba Yeager.


    So, the big shot from Capital City had to being to show his gratitude to Reba!


    The thought of his family rubbing shoulders with such an influential figure sent a rush of excitement


    through Daly''s veins. He turned to Reba with a gleam in his eye, "Reba, can you let me in on


    who this big shot is??"


    Up until now, all he knew was that someone important from Capital City was looking for Reba,


    someone with a lot of clout, but no name had been mentioned.


    "Dad, have you ever heard of the Wright family from Capital City?" Reba asked.


    "The Wright family?" Daly narrowed his eyes in thought, "You mean the Wright family behind LP


    Tech?"


    Reba shook her head.


    Daly frowned, "Not LP?"


    In Capital City, there were two Wright families that were a big deal. One kicked off LP Tech and the


    other was top-tier among the city''s elite!


    Any other families bearing the name Wright paled inparison.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    If it wasn''t the head of LP Tech, then surely, Reba hadn''t saved someone from the most


    prestigious Wright family?


    At that thought, Daly''s face became a mask of awe and fear.


    Reba, seeing the realization dawn on her father, smiled gently, "Dad, you guessed it. It''s that


    Wright family!"


    Daly swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper, "You mean the top dog among the elite?"


    "Exactly," Reba nodded, "I saved Kendrick. Kendrick Wright!"


    Daly felt as if his world had just turned upside down.


    Kendrick Wright! A man of legend, spoken about in hushed, reverent tones!


    In Capital City, his influence was only outshone by Mr. Christensen himself.


    With the Morris family''s modest means, they couldn''t even aspire to connect with the likes of the


    Wright family behind LP Tech, let alone the most prestigious Wright family.


    Daly was so ovee with emotion that words failed him.


    This was the Wright family, for heaven''s sake!


    Reba had done the impossible! She had be the savior of Kendrick Wright!


    She was truly a Morris through and through!


    If it had been Anthea, that good-for-nothing... Would she have managed anything like this?


    Seeing her father in such a state, Reba couldn''t help butugh, "Dad! You''re really overdoing it. I


    just saved Kendrick, and you''re this worked up. What if I were to marry Mr. Christensen someday?


    You''d probably keel over from shock!"


    Inparison to Mr. Christensen, the Wright family was still leagues behind.


    Daly finally came back to his senses and took Reba''s hand, "Reba, tell me everything. How


    on earth did you end up saving Kendrick?"


    His biggest fear was that this was all just a big tease. He needed to understand the situation.


    Reba was well aware of her father''s concerns, "A year ago, Kendrick fell seriously ill. No doctor


    could cure him, and the hospital had written him off. But you know my abilities, Dad. I gave Kendrick


    a pill left by the legendary healer, and it was that pill that cured him."


    Could any regr doctor have saved a man diagnosed with an incurable disease?


    Now that Kendrick hade to Cloudcrest to find his lifesaver, who else could it be but her?


    Understanding the full picture, Daly could hardly contain his excitement. He looked at Reba,


    "Reba, our family business is at a crucial point. If we could get the Wright family on our side, we


    could definitely snag the CY Group''s tender..."


    The CY Group contract was a juicy deal. There were so manypanies vying for it.


    The Morris family was just a small, unremarkable contender in a sea of bidders, with virtually no


    chance of winning.


    Reba patted Daly''s hand reassuringly and said, "Dad, I get what you''re saying, and don''t worry.


    I''m Kendrick''s lifesaver, and even if I don''t ask for their help, they know what they ought to do."


    The Wright family''s entire standing rested on Kendrick.


    So, to them, she was more than just Kendrick''s savior. She was their beacon of hope.

 Chapter 213

    If it weren''t for her, the entire Wright family would have toppled over like a house of cards.


    Yes, she was nothing short of a guardian angel for the Wrights.


    Forget a business deal, if she fancied the stars in the sky, the Wrights n would find a way to pluck


    them down for her.


    A glint of determination sparkled in Reba''s eyes, her lips curling into a sly smile.


    Daly turned to Reba, "You outshine your brothers by miles, Reba. Our Morris family is going


    to be resting on your shoulders."


    Just imagine - the day Reba bes Mrs. Christensen, that''s when the real glory days for their


    family will kick in.


    Daly had his reservations, wondering if Reba could really snag Mr. Christensen.


    After all, he was a man who seemed to live in the stratosphere.


    But now, it seemed like his daughter had hit a new high, gracing the skies even more spectacrly


    than a shooting star!


    Mr. Christensen would be on his knees before her in no time.


    Then Daly would be Mr. Christensen''s father-inw, and half of the Christensen Group''s wealth


    would fall into theirp!


    Once Reba bore a child and cemented her position, the Christensen empire would be at the


    Morris family''s fingertips.


    The more Daly thought about it, the more his heart raced with excitement.


    Sandra breezed in with a tray of coffee, "What are you two chatting about so cheerfully? Here, have


    a sip."


    Reba took a sip of her coffee.


    Daly exined to Sandra what was going on.


    Hearing that Reba was the savior Kendrick had been desperately seeking, Sandra was even


    more thrilled than Daly.


    She had just caught wind of Kendrick''s plight in thedies'' circle today.


    Little did she know, her daughter was the heroine of the hour!


    If those society matrons caught wind of this, they''d be green with envy! Soon, she''d be the queen


    bee of the elite circle.


    Those who looked down on her woulde crawling, begging for her favor.


    Sandra was grinning from ear to ear; she had always known that her daughter was anything but


    ordinary.


    One day she was going to soar to incredible heights!


    "Good thing we called off that engagement with the Christensen family. That washed-up bunch


    couldn''t possibly be worthy of my daughter!" Sandra added, "Speaking of which, are the


    Christensens still in Cloudcrest? We can''t let them see Reba now. What if theytch onto us,


    knowing she''s Kendrick''s lifesaver?"


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    The likes of the Christensen family would stoop to anything, shameless as they were.


    Sandra felt nauseous just thinking about thest time the Christensen matriarch and Adah Bowman


    came knocking, proposing marriage.


    That ancient engagement, and they had the nerve to take it seriously!


    "They''re broke, penniless. Even if they wanted to leave, they couldn''t," Reba chimed in. "Last


    time I saw that Christensen hag, she was begging on the streets!"


    "Really?" Sandra gasped in surprise.


    The Christensens used to be the toast of Cloudcrest, and now they had fallen so low!


    Sandra''s surprise was tinged with a sense of triumph.


    They used to look up to the Christensens, constantly trying to please them, even promising their


    unborn daughter. Now, the tables had turned.


    Reba nodded, "I saw it with my own eyes. How could it be false?"


    If the Christensens hadn''t fallen into ruin, why would Karen Christensen be dressed in rags?


    The image of Karen, disheveled and pitiful by the street that night, shed before Reba''s eyes.


    Daly squinted thoughtfully, "Just keep your distance from them, Reba. The Christensen family is


    no longer on our level."


    "You don''t need to tell me that, I''m well aware," Reba replied.


    Having been given a second chance at life, she was determined to wear the heaviest crown and


    marry the most noble man.


    Otherwise, what was the point of her second chance?


    That''s precisely why, just like in her previous life, she broke off the engagement with the


    Christensen family as soon as she returned.


    Last time, her mistake was marrying the wrong man, ruining her life.


    This time, she would not falter.


    ¡°Anthea became more dazzling by the day, huh?¡± she thought.

 Chapter 214

    ¡°So, Anthea took my ce and married him instead!¡± Reba thought.


    She was determined to make Anthea experience the same suffering she endured in her past life!


    With this thought, a glint of determination shed in Reba''s eyes as she spoke, "Hey Mom, Dad,


    I''ve got something I want to run by you."


    "What''s up?" her father, Daly, turned around.


    "I''m going to drop off a gift at the Yeager''s ce, and I was hoping you coulde with me, Mom,"


    Reba continued.


    "What? A gift for the Yeager family?" Sandra''s eyes widened in disbelief, "You mean, at Carole''s


    ce?"


    "Yeah," Reba nodded calmly.


    Sandra was bbergasted, "Reba, have you lost your mind?!"


    That shameless Carole, who swapped her daughter and tormented Reba for years!


    And now Reba wanted to give her a gift! That''s madness!


    "I''m perfectly sane, Mom." Reba assured her.


    "Why though?" Sandra pressed on, "You know how Carole has treated you over the years. I''d feel


    like even killing her wouldn''t be enough, and you want to give her a Christmas'' gift?"


    Instead of directly answering Sandra, Reba shifted the topic, "Mom, do you know the Peterson


    family?"


    "The Petersons?" Sandra was confused for a moment.


    Reba suppressed the fear in her heart, "The Peterson Group, Alex Peterson."


    As the name dropped, Reba continued, "Alex is still unmarried..."


    "You want Anthea to marry Alex?" Daly cut through Reba''s thoughts with his blunt question.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Reba nodded affirmatively.


    "The Petersons are high rollers here in Cloudcrest, and with Alex as the sole heir to the Peterson


    empire, he''s already running the show at The Peterson Group. Not exactly on Mr. Christensen''s


    level, but he''s no slouch," Daly paused, then added, "Reba, I know you''ve got a heart of gold,


    but Anthea doesn''t deserve your efforts."


    Alex was known in Cloudcrest not just for his corporate prowess, but also his striking looks. At 26,


    he was both handsome and capable, poised for a meteoric rise¡ªif not for the shadow of Mr.


    Christensen, Alex would be a fine match for Reba.


    Anthea was nothing inparison.


    Reba was always too nice for her own good. She saw Anthea as a sister and even tried to


    match her with Alex...


    Reba chuckled softly, "Dad, you''re only seeing half the picture. I have my reasons for this


    arrangement."


    Alex might have been reputable on the outside. But inside, he was rotten to the core, dark as night.


    Reba was married to him. But he never treated her as his wife, neverid a finger on her.


    Instead, he tormented her day in and day out, eventually causing the downfall of the Morris Group


    and the death of her parents in a fire.


    To say Alex had no hand in that fire was something Reba could never believe!


    To her, Alex was the devil incarnate! A devouring demon.


    Even now, the mere thought sent shivers down her spine.


    How could she have ever been naive enough to see Alex as a good man?


    The thought wasughable now!


    "But no matter what, we can''t let Anthea marry Alex!" Sandra interjected, frowning, "Anthea doesn''t


    care about you anymore. If she bes part of the Peterson family, she''ll definitely use Alex to


    crush us! If you ask me, we should teach that little cunt a lesson now, put her in her ce, make


    sure she can''t turn things around on us!"


    "Mom, don''t worry," Reba''s eyes shone with resolve, "Alex won''t do that!"


    Alex was a heartless demon. Would he stand up for a woman?


    In all the time Reba was married to him, she''d never seen him treat any woman well.


    To him, women were nothing more than toys!


    With hands stained in blood, he didn''t even spare his own father.


    For Anthea to marry him would be like falling into a living hell!

 Chapter 215

    No! It would be worse than falling into a living hell!


    Sandra couldn''t fathom why her daughter was so adamant. "Even if Alex doesn''t stand up for


    Anthea, Reba, you know darn well who the Petersons are. What makes you think Alex will listen


    to you and actually marry Anthea?"


    The Petersons were like the unofficial kings of Cloudcrest, and even the bigwigs of Cloudcrest had


    to tip their hats to the Petersons.


    "We''ve been invited to the Petersons'' soir¨¦e the day after tomorrow," Reba continued. "I n to


    take Anthea with me."


    From what Reba knew about Alex, he had a penchant for toying with pretty women.


    Otherwise, her past self wouldn''t have met such a gruesome end.


    Anthea, with her stunning looks, was likely to fare ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times


    worse!


    A sinister smile crept across Reba''s lips.


    "You got an invite to the Petersons'' bash?" Both Daly and Sandra were taken aback.


    Since when was Reba so chummy with Alex?


    Truth be told, even Reba was in the dark.


    In her past life, she had just returned to the Morris fold when she received an invitation from the


    Petersons. At the party, she fell head over heels for Alex. He was the only one she''d marry.


    Little did she know it would turn into her nightmare.


    This life was different.


    With Anthea as her stepping stone, Anthea would plummet into a living hell while she ascended to


    the pinnacle of sess!


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Alex was so charming, Anthea would undoubtedly fall madly in love with him.


    With this thought, Reba''s lips curled up, her eyes brimming with smugness. "So, Mom, you''ll


    apany me to the Yeagerster. Make sure Anthea knows we still care about her."


    Sandra''s brow furrowed deeply. "Reba, I''m more confused by you with each passing day. The


    Petersons are not just any ordinary n. How can you set Anthea up with them?" She genuinely


    couldn''tprehend why Reba was being so kind to Anthea.


    "Instead of giving Anthea that little tramp a leg up, why not have your cousins apany you to the


    Petersons? They''re blood, after all. If Alex takes a shine to one of them, at least our family would


    bask in the glow."


    Reba wanted Anthea to go? That good-for-nothing? How could she be worthy of Alex?


    Daly nodded in agreement. "I think your mother''s making a lot of sense."


    Reba shook her head slightly. "Bask in the glow? Mom, Dad, you''re oversimplifying things. Do


    you really think marrying into the Petersons is like winning the jackpot? Let me tell you, Alex is far


    more terrifying than you can imagine. I bet you wouldn''t want my cousins to meet their demise at


    such a young age, would you?"


    "What do you mean by that?" Daly''s brow furrowed.


    Reba replied inly, "Just what I said."


    "Daly narrowed his eyes. "Reba, do you know something?"


    Reba kept it brief. "Mom, Dad, just trust me on this one. Neither the Petersons nor Alex are good


    news. And you''ll soon see what bes of Anthea."


    Reba''s earnestness wasn''t lost on Daly.


    His daughter was smart and beautiful, never one to waste effort.


    She must have her reasons for doing what she was doing.


    Daly turned to Sandra. "Since Reba insists, you''d better go with her to the Yeagerster."


    Sandra was somewhat disgruntled but nodded in agreement.


    Daly seemed to remember something else. "Reba, since Kendrick has been looking for you,


    you''d better clear things up with him soon. The Christmas'' just around the corner, and we can''t


    afford to dy the CY Group''s coboration."


    "No rush," Reba said with a smile. If Kendrick hade all the way from Capital City to find her,


    it meant he valued his life-saver highly.

 Chapter 216

    If Reba went chasing after Kendrick, wouldn''t she look desperate?


    Besides, when they were in Capital City, Kendrick had the nerve to kick her out of the Wright family.


    This time around, she was determined to make Kendrick apologize to her face! She wanted him to


    know how it felt to p himself silly. After all, she was the descendant of the legendary healer,


    comparable to Hippocrates!


    Was she someone to be trifled with?


    It was December 20th. Following the traditions of Cloudcrest, everyone was getting ready for


    Christmas.


    The Yeager family lived on the ground floor, so Carole set up the table in the front garden,ying out


    the feast.


    ¡°Mrs. Yeager.¡± A voice, hauntingly familiar.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Carole looked up and locked eyes with Reba, her daughter she had nurtured and cared for the


    last eighteen years.


    ¡°Reba, what brings you here?¡± Carole murmured, incredulous.


    It had been almost half a year since Reba had returned to the Morris family.


    This was her first visit back.


    Instinctively, Carole felt that Reba''s visit wasn''t out of goodwill.


    The girl had always been peculiar, distant.


    Even though they were once mother and daughter, their connection had be as flimsy as a


    house of cards.


    Reba smiled and said, ¡°Mrs. Yeager, let me introduce you, this is my mother.¡±


    Sandra offered a stiff smile, nodding at Carole.


    Carole then said, ¡°Please,e in and make yourselvesfortable.¡±


    Their three-room apartment wasn''t spacious.


    Reba surveyed the modest surroundings with disdain.


    Logically, with Anthea''s current status on RealTimeFlow, she should be doing well financially.


    How could they end up in such a shabby ce?


    Could it be that Nanson, the no-hoper and gambler, had squandered all their money?


    Anthea was still managing to get by with her RealTimeFlow broadcasts.


    But once Anthea lost her appeal, they''d probably have to retreat to a basement apartment again.


    "I''m about to reim my glory, with beauty beyondpare, and unmatched chess skills," Reba


    thought to herself, "And Anthea? She''s nothing inparison!"


    A triumphant gleam shed in Reba''s eyes as she continued, ¡°Mrs. Yeager, my mother and I


    came to drop off a Christmas'' gift. By the way, is Anthea not at home?¡±


    Carole wasn''t one to take advantage of others, and besides, she sensed that Reba''s intentions


    were questionable, ¡°Reba, you''re too kind! We can''t ept this gift.¡±


    Reba insisted, ¡°Once a gift is given, there''s no taking it back. Please, keep it.¡±


    Carole remained reluctant.


    Sandra stood aside, her eyes filled with contempt.


    She couldn''t stand to be in such a filthy ce a second longer than necessary!


    If Reba hadn''t insisted on it, she would never have stepped foot here.


    Sandra couldn''t imagine how much Reba had suffered living with Carole all these years.


    Just then, Anthea emerged from the apartment. The cecked central heating, but she didn''t


    seem to feel the cold, wearing only a white spaghetti-strap dress, her delicate corbones


    shimmering in the air.


    She was stunningly beautiful. Even dressed so simply, she was captivating.


    Reba''s eyes narrowed with envy.


    But it would soon be over. Anthea, with all her beauty, was destined to fall from grace and suffer.


    As Reba remembered her own torments from a past life, she didn''t feel fear, but exhration!


    After all, she had escaped from hell, and Anthea was on the brink of entering it!


    ¡°Anthea, dear,¡± Reba greeted her with a warm smile.


    Anthea wasn''t in the mood for pretenses today, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Sandra spoke coldly, ¡°Is that how you address your sister?¡±


    Carole frowned slightly.


    At home, she had never spoken harshly to Anthea. What right did Sandra have?


    Her daughter wasn''t born to be belittled by others.

 Chapter 217

    Carole nced back at Sandra, her voice tinged with a mix of indignation and pride. "Ann is my


    daughter now, she doesn''t have any sisters! Mrs. Morris, if you¡¯re here to look for trouble, you can


    go back now!"


    Sandra''s face turned ashen.


    ¡°What in the world was Carole? A shameless home-wrecker, who had given birth to a child out of


    wedlock! And she had the nerve to speak to me like that.¡± she thought.


    Reba held Sandra''s hand, signaling her not to get upset, then looked at Carole with a feigned


    smile. "Mrs. Yeager, my mom''s just got this way about her, but she''s really got a good heart. Please


    don''t take it personally."


    Carole''s frown deepened, sensing that Sandra and Reba had ulterior motives. "I''m not taking


    any of your stuff. We run a modest household here; we don''t have room for high and mighty guests.


    Maybe you should head back to your affluent neck of the woods."


    Reba didn''t seem to take offense, continuing smoothly, "Mrs. Yeager, I know there''s been some


    bad blood between us in the past. I was young and ignorant, and I''m sorry if I ever made you angry.


    I came here today to apologize."


    Carole just watched Reba.


    The Reba of today was d in luxurious fashion, her makeup meticulous, a far cry from her


    former self. The only thing that seemed to have changed was that Carole thought Reba didn''t


    look as pretty as she used to.


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


    The Reba of the past was like a beacon of light.


    She brought radiance wherever she went.


    Carole couldn''t fathom what Reba truly wanted.


    Anthea stepped forward, looking down at Reba with a hint of supremacy. "We''ve made it clear


    you''re not wee here. Do I need to say it again?"


    Without more idle talk, Reba pulled out a crimson invitation from her bag. "Anthea, the day after


    tomorrow is Audrey Peterson''s 78th birthday celebration. I hope you''ll join me. Here''s the invitation."


    With those words, Reba turned to Sandra. "Mom, let''s go."


    Sandra nodded, following Reba''s lead.


    Anthea watched the two leave, raising an eyebrow slightly before picking up the invitation from the


    table.


    The Petersons?


    Anthea knew a little about Alex Peterson.


    Recently, Talbot had been looking to coborate with Alex.


    But Alex was in high demand, and Talbot hadn''t managed to secure an appointment.


    Anthea was curious about him too.


    Talbot was her business partner, after all. And she would consider his business agenda.


    Narrowing her eyes, Anthea had initially been indifferent to the birthday bash Reba mentioned.


    But now, it seemed like a must-go event.


    She closed the invitation, plotting in her mind.


    Just then, Carole, clutching the items Reba had brought, ran towards the door.


    "Mom, what are you doing?" Anthea called out.


    Carole replied, "They left their things. I''m going to return them." She genuinely didn''t want anything


    that Reba had brought.


    "They drove here, Mom. You won''t catch them now," Anthea pointed out.


    Carole frowned. "What should I do then? Should I take a cab to drop them off?"


    Anthea offered a small smile. "Isn''t there an orphanage across the street? Why don''t you donate


    these items there? Oh, and I bought some clothes and toys. They''ll be delivered soon. I''ll go with


    you."


    Anthea had been an orphan in a past life.


    In this life, she wanted to use her power to do something for children without homes.


    After researching the orphanage, Anthea had bought over five hundred down jackets for the kids


    and some toys.


    On the way to the orphanage, Carole asked, puzzled, "Ann, what was the real reason for Reba


    and her mother''s visit today? Were they sincerely bringing us holiday gifts?"


    "Of course not."


    "Then what were they after?" Carole inquired.


    Anthea replied calmly, "Reba''s true motive was probably to get me to attend Audrey''s birthday


    celebration with her."


    Carole knitted her brows and said, "She''s definitely plotting something! Ann, you better steer clear!"

 Chapter 218

    "Don''t worry, Mom," Anthea said, wrapping her arm around Carole''s, "she doesn''t scare me."


    Yet, Carole couldn''t shake off her concern.


    High society was aplex web of alliances and rivalries. She feared Anthea might be taken


    advantage of.


    Anthea reassured her, "Mom, I''ve grown up in those circles. Trust me, I know how to handle myself.


    Besides, this party''s a big deal for me. I can''t miss it."


    Hearing her daughter''s confidence, Carole reluctantly gave in, "Alright, just make sure you keep


    your phone handy. If anything feels off, you call me right away."


    "I will," Anthea nodded, reassuringly.


    The day of the party arrived quickly.


    Anthea, dressed to the nines, stepped out to the lobby of their apartment building and saw the


    Morris family''s limo already waiting.


    Reba, her gown concealed under a down jacket, stood outside waiting, "Anthea, you made it."


    With the Christmas around the corner and it being Audrey''s birthday bash, Anthea had chosen a


    burgundy dress. It was a simple design that seemed casual but somehow, she made it look


    effortlessly chic and international.


    Reba frowned subtly.


    Anthea was always pushing the envelope with her fashion risks.


    In such chilly weather, she didn''t even bother with a coat! How was she not freezing to death?


    If there was a free ride on offer, Anthea wasn''t one to turn it down. She strode forward confidently


    and settled into the car, calling out to Reba, ¡°We can head out now.¡±


    Reba was momentarily speechless. Why was she ying the host?


    But this wasn''t the time to spar with Anthea.


    Reba slid into the car and instructed the driver to proceed, then turned to Anthea with feigned


    concern, "Aren''t you cold, dressed like that?"


    Anthea offered a light smile, "Doesn''t Ms. Morris know about thermostatic dresses?"


    "Thermostatic dresses?" Reba''s brow furrowed.


    That exined Anthea''sposure. It was high-tech fashion.


    Reba had heard of temperature-adjusting clothes but hadn''t managed to purchase any due to


    the waiting list. Did Anthea have a connection?


    "Where did you get your dress, Anthea?"


    Anthea''s brow arched slightly, "are you into that?"


    Despite her reluctance to concede in front of Anthea, Reba couldn''t help but nod, taking out her


    phone, "I want this one."


    Anthea nced at the screen, her tone nonchnt, "Five million."


    If you could fleece Reba for money, why not?


    "Five million?" Reba''s eyes widened.


    Despite the absence of price tags on the AY website, their priciest attire didn''t exceed the hundred-


    thousand mark. How could it possibly fetch a price of five million?


    Anthea nodded, "Is it too much? This is a signature design from AY Tech''s top designer. If you''re not


    buying, there''s a whole line of people waiting to snatch it up!"


    The weather was indeed getting colder.


    Reba was eager to resume her live streams and re-establish her presence in front of Mr.


    Christensen. But wrapped up withyers, how could she showcase her beauty to him?


    She was truly smitten with the dress and, considering her unsessful attempts to reserve one,


    Reba yed along, "Are you sure it''s avable for five million?"


    "Mhm," Anthea''s tone was light, "Pay today, delivered tomorrow."


    "I''ll have my assistant transfer the money."


    Well, it was just five million. Once she married Mr. Christensen, even five hundred million wouldn''t


    matter.


    Anthea''s lips curled into a sly smile. Fool''s money was still money.


    In light of the five million, Anthea decided she''d be a bit nicer to Reba for the time being.


    Soon, the limo pulled up in front of the Peterson family''s estate.


    The day was Audrey''s birthday celebration, and the Peterson estate was decked out in festive


    grandeur.


    Anthea and Reba handed their invites to the staff at the gate and followed a server into the heart


    of the estate.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

 Chapter 219

    The Peterson estate was nothing short of a royal pce. Every corner shimmered with splendor


    and luxury, a testament to their status as local royalty.


    Guests, a veritable who''s who of high society from across the nation, mingled with ease and


    elegance among the opulent surroundings.


    Reba scanned the room. And there he was, the man she loathed to her very core.


    Dressed in a tailored suit that looked like it had been pressed just seconds before, Alex stood


    amidst a cluster of fawning admirers. Between his fingers, a lit cigarette added to his insouciant


    charm. His eyes were slightly squinted, as if he was savoring the act of overturning the natural order


    of things.


    In the past, Reba couldn''t fathom why Alex always squinted. It was onlyter that she realized


    this was the way he looked at his ythings. Contempt, disdain, and revulsion lurked in the depths


    of his gaze...


    Thest image Reba had seen before her untimely demise was of Alex, eyes narrowed, corners


    of his lips upturned in a smirk, "Tsk, you''re a tough one, aren''t you? Still clinging to life even now!"


    After those words, darkness embraced Reba forever.


    "Ms. Morris," a pleasant male voice broke through her reverie, and she looked up to find Alex


    approaching her.


    Just like before, Alex took the initiative to greet her. In her previous life, she had naively thought it


    was love at first sight.


    When Audrey showed up at the Morris Manor to seek a marriage, she had still foolishly believed


    that Alex loved her. Back then, her mind was filled with whimsical notions of marriage. Little did she


    know that from that day on, she was stepping out of heaven and into hell.


    There is no such thing as love at first sight in this world!


    "Mr. Peterson," Reba managed to conceal the fear in her eyes, "this is my sister, Anthea


    Yeager."


    ¡°In this life, Anthea was Alex''s prey,¡± Reba thought, ¡°I have no reason to be afraid of him.¡±


    But as she stood there, a cold sweat broke out on her back. She had thought with Anthea present,


    she wouldn''t be afraid of Alex. Yet, seeing him again, she couldn''t suppress the terror emanating


    from her very bones.


    Alex shifted his attention to Anthea and offered his hand, "Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Yeager."


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Nice to meet you," Anthea replied, taking his hand.


    Just then, a servant approached Alex and whispered in his ear. Alex''s expression remained


    unchanged as he turned back to Anthea and Reba, "I apologize for anyck of hospitality at my


    home today due to therge number of guests. I hope you''ll forgive us."


    Reba didn''t respond, her difort evident.


    Anthea smiled lightly, "Please, Mr. Peterson, attend to your other guests."


    As Alex nced at Reba, his eyes narrowed slightly before he turned and walked away.


    Momentster, he returned, "Ms. Yeager, may I have a moment? Pleasee with me."


    "Is something the matter, Mr. Peterson?" Anthea asked, setting down a delectable cherry


    cheesecake she had been enjoying.


    Alex''s gaze lingered on the dessert for a moment. "It''s Kendrick Wright; he heard that Ms. Yeager


    was at the party and specifically asked me to bring you to him."


    Reba''s eyes widened in disbelief, convinced she was hallucinating. She was supposed to be


    Kendrick''s lifesaver, not Anthea!


    "That''s a mistake, Mr. Peterson. Kendrick is looking for me," Reba blurted out, unable to contain


    herself any longer.


    What if Kendrick left upon realizing Anthea wasn''t his savior? She couldn''t wait any longer!

 Chapter 220

    Hearing that, Alex nced back at Reba, a faint curiosity flickering in his eyes.


    Under his gaze, Reba felt like she was transported back to her past life, to the foul stench of an


    animal cage where Alex loomed over her. Despite his regal aura, as if he were carved of jade, he


    seemed like a demon crawled straight from the bowels of hell, dark and terrifying!


    He could snatch her life away at any moment.


    A cold sweat formed on Reba''s brow, yet she mustered all herposure and spoke again, "Mr.


    Peterson, I am the one who saved Kendrick''s life."


    Alex idly twirled the si ring on his thumb and asked, "Ms. Morris, yourst name was Yeager


    before?"


    "I was a Yeager until I turned eighteen," Reba exined.


    Alex nodded slightly, "Then Ms. Morris, please follow me this way."


    With immense pressure bearing down on her, Reba followed Alex''s stride.


    Anthea, realizing she was no longer needed, picked up her half-eaten slice of cherry cheesecake


    and continued indulging in her dessert.


    The Peterson Manor was vast.


    Since the front hall was bustling with guests and unsuitable for private conversations, Kendrick was


    waiting for them in the inner salon of the backyard.


    Kendrick had old ties with the Peterson family and was quite familiar with Audrey.


    At the moment, Kendrick was in the front hall, chatting with Audrey.


    Audrey was a remarkably kind-hearted olddy. She was 78 that year.


    A severe illness in her youth had aged her appearance beyond her years, but her spirit remained


    lively.


    "I''m truly d to see you well. Myte husband would be overjoyed in his rest," Audrey sighed, then


    added, "At our age, each time we meet could be thest."


    Both in theirte seventies, even if they lived to a hundred, there wasn''t much time left.


    The thought cast a somber mood.


    Kendrick exhaled deeply.


    Audrey continued, "I heard the doctor who cured you is quite young and ady at that?"


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Kendrick nodded, "Yes, don''t let Miss Yeager''s youth fool you. Her skill is immense. I owe her my


    life."


    Kendrick had been prepared for death, his will already penned. It was a miracle he was still here.


    Curiosity lit up in Audrey''s eyes.


    What did this youngdy look like?


    They say when God opens a door for you, he closes a window.


    Perhaps she wasn''t much to look at ¨C her medical prowess was otherwise too extraordinary.


    "Mr. Wright, Ms. Morris has arrived," Alex''s voice interjected, cutting the elders'' conversation short.


    Kendrick''s face brightened, then he frowned, "Ms. Morris? Alex, you''re mistaken. I''m looking for


    Miss Yeager, who has the Yeager surname!"


    Alex rified, "Ms. Morris imed she was a Yeager until she turned eighteen."


    Kendrick nodded slightly, "I see. Where is Miss Yeager now?"


    "Just outside."


    "Please, bring her in," Kendrick urged, rising to his feet.


    Alex nodded and turned to leave. Kendrick followed suit.


    Moved by curiosity about the miraculous doctor Kendrick spoke of, Audrey also stepped out.


    Reba waited outside, her heart pounding with anticipation for Kendrick''s heartfelt gratitude.


    Once she received his thanks, she could upgrade her system. With the upgrade, not only could she


    unlock top-tier chess skills, but also max-level beauty enhancements.


    What would Anthea matter then?


    Reba could crush her in a heartbeat.


    But Kendrick seemed to look right past her, turning to Alex with confusion, "Alex, didn''t you say Miss


    Yeager would be outside?"

 Chapter 221

    "Mr. Wright, this is Ms. Yeager."


    Reba stood tall, a polite smile gracing her lips, "Kendrick, we meet again."


    Audrey nced at Reba, thoughts churning. Her suspicions were confirmed.


    The youngdy before her appeared to be around eighteen, with well-proportioned features. Not


    exactly stunning, but certainly nothing to scoff at either. However, her im to remarkable healing


    abilities was truly extraordinary.


    Beauty is for the eyes to behold, while medical skill saves lives.


    Between the two, skill is undoubtedly the more precious.


    Kendrick frowned, "The Miss Yeager I''ve been looking for isn''t her!"


    Reba''s smile froze.


    If not her, then who? Besides her, who else possessed the miraculous ability to snatch life from the


    jaws of death?


    Was Kendrick losing his marbles, failing to recognize his own lifesaver?


    "Kendrick," Reba pressed on, "Have you forgotten? I am a descendant of the legendary healer


    of the country, and it was my pill that cured your ailment."


    Without her, Kendrick would likely be six feet under by now!


    And yet, the ungrateful man had forgotten his own savior.


    Reba felt a surge of indignation, nearly choked by Kendrick''s ingratitude.


    The debt of a life saved is immeasurable, and he had the audacity to forget her.


    Kendrick waved dismissively, "I remember you, yourst name is Morris, but that pill you gave me¡ª


    I never took it! My illness was cured by Miss Yeager!"


    Without another look at Reba¡¯s face, Kendrick turned to Alex and said, "Alex, I''m looking for


    Miss Yeager! She is a very pretty youngdy, a bit shorter than you, fairer skin too!"


    Kendrick reminisced about Anthea¡¯s appearance, describing her to Alex.


    Reba was at a loss for words.


    She had cured Kendrick, yet he denied it, insisting on crediting someone else as his savior.


    Who could stand for that?


    "Kendrick, the person you''re looking for is indeed me!" Reba struggled to contain her anger.


    "I may be old, but I''m not blind!" Kendrick retorted bluntly. "Corrin! Return Ms. Yeager''s pill to her!"


    Corrin hurried out, clutching a small wooden box, and upon opening it, said, "Ms. Morris, this


    medicine has been in safekeeping, and now it''s time to return it to its rightful owner."


    Reba was taken aback.


    It was indeed her medicine, procured from her system, and unmistakable.


    Kendrick had not taken her pill. What was going on?


    If Kendrick hadn''t taken her medicine, then who had healed him?


    Who had stolen her credit?


    Holding the pill box, Reba was rooted to the spot, her face ashen, a cold sweat breaking out on


    her back.


    She had thought herself Kendrick''s savior, but it was all a misunderstanding.


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    The embarrassment of just having proimed herself as Kendrick''s lifesaver was unbearable,


    wishing she could vanish into thin air.


    What now?


    Kendrick ignored Reba, turning to Alex, "Alex, where is Miss Yeager? Take me to the front hall!"


    "The front hall is too chaotic, Mr. Wright. Please wait here a moment." With that, Alex hurried


    towards the front hall.


    Anthea was already on her fourth piece of cake.


    She was devouring each bite with such gusto, making a simple b of cake seem like gourmet fare.


    Concentration always draws attention, even when it''s just eating.


    "Ms. Yeager, hello, my name is Bryce Harper, may I have the pleasure of knowing you?"


    Anthea had just finished her cake when a pleasant male voice reached her ears.

 Chapter 222

    "Hey there," Anthea said, her eyes glinting with the reflection of the chandelier''s light, like a pair of


    shimmering gems.


    Caught off-guard for a moment, Bryce managed a smile, "Ms. Yeager, I hear the Petersons have a


    splendid garden. How about we take a stroll out back?"


    Nothing could be more romantic than a moonlit walk with a beauty by his side.


    Bryce was a notorious yboy, juggling several girlfriends and a trail of flings he couldn''t even


    count. But now, the ridiculous thought of cutting ties with all of them to woo this captivating girl, to


    spend his life with her, was taking hold.


    It was all because she was irresistibly alluring.


    To say she was just ''pretty'' felt like an understatement.


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    "Thanks for the ttery, but I''m afraid I''m not that blessed," Anthea''s gaze drifted past Bryce, "I think


    thedies over there might be more interested in enjoying the garden with you."


    Anthea knew his type well, a Casanova of the modern age, a man who cast a wide.


    Bryce didn''t expect to be turned down.


    Coming from the wealthy Harper family and being the pampered only son, Bryce was used to


    getting his way. Her rejection was a foreign concept to him.


    But Anthea''s refusal only steeled his resolve to win her over. Once he got bored, he nned to drop


    her harshly.


    After all, Anthea was just a faux heiress of the Morris family. No status, no position, no backing.


    Being pursued by him should be an honor for her.


    Perhaps, Anthea was just jealous, why else would she bring up those otherdies?


    Yes, she must be green with envy.


    "Ms. Yeager, there seems to be a misunderstanding. I barely know those people, and I''m currently


    single," Bryce continued, "How about we exchange contacts? We could get to know each other


    better."


    The implication in hisst sentence was unmistakable.


    "Really?" Anthea raised an eyebrow, a faint smile ying on her lips, "Are you even in my league?"


    Bryce frowned, "Don''t get cocky!"


    There was always a power imbnce between men and women, and it was the women who lost


    out.


    He had forced himself on women before, but Anthea was not going to be another one of those


    conquests.


    "You looking for a duel?" Anthea set down her ss and cracked her knuckles, looking down at


    Bryce with a mix of amusement and disdain, as if he were a mere jester.


    Bryce felt his pride challenged like never before. No woman had ever dared to speak to him like


    that! He reached out to grab her, expecting no one woulde to her defense at this high-society


    event.


    But Anthea effortlessly lifted her hand. And just like that, she caught Bryce''s wrist.


    Truth be told, she preferred kicking to punching, but her dress made it inconvenient tonight.


    Bryce suddenly felt weightless, tumbling forward andnding face-first on the ground, legs in the air.


    Themotion drew everyone''s attention.


    Such arge man brought down so easily was embarrassingly weak!


    Anthea looked down at Bryce with a hint of mockery, her tone light and teasing, "Mr. Harper, you''re


    flopping around like a damsel in distress.


    Laughter erupted from the crowd.


    There Brycey, his face scrunched in anger. He had never been so humiliated.


    He hadn''t anticipated Anthea''s skill.

 Chapter 223

    Bryce grudgingly bit the bullet, his wounded pride forcing him to swallow the pain.


    The humiliation was already unbearable, and the thought of people finding out that he, a grown


    man, had been taken down by a slip of a girl was too much to stomach. Where could he possibly


    hide his face?


    Gritting his teeth against the agony, Bryce picked himself up and hastily retreated from the party.


    From the corner of the room, Anthea watched his retreating back, her voice tinged with a hint of


    mockery, "Careful, Mr. Harper. We wouldn''t want you to take another spill!"


    Alex, having witnessed the entire debacle from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes, which glinted with


    a dark intensity. After a moment, he approached Anthea, "Ms. Yeager."


    "You¡¯re looking for me, Mr. Peterson?"


    He gave a slight nod, "Yes."


    "What''s the matter?"


    "Kendrick is asking for you."


    Anthea''s eyebrows knit together slightly, "You sure you''ve got the right person this time?"


    "I was mistaken earlier," Alex said smoothly, his tone gentle, "I hope you won''t take it to heart, Ms.


    Yeager."


    She pressed on, "The Kendrick you mentioned, is he the one from Capital City?"


    "Yes." His response was sinct as he gestured for her to follow, "This way, Ms. Yeager."


    Anthea stepped forward to keep pace.


    As they walked side by side, Alex led the way.


    Exiting the main hall, they needed to traverse an open-air path to reach the back of the venue. It


    was the dead of winter, and although Cloudcrest never saw snow, the chill was prating.


    Alex instructed a servant to bring a down jacket for Anthea.


    "Thanks, Mr. Peterson," Anthea replied, "but my dress has temperature control built into it. I won''t


    be needing that jacket."


    "From AY Tech Co., Ltd?" Alex seemed to recall something.


    She nodded slightly, "You''re familiar with AY?"


    "I''ve heard a few things."


    AY Tech Co., Ltd was a rising star in the industry. Though new, their strength was undeniable. They


    first secured a global patent for temperature-adjustable clothing and then made a powerful entry


    into the market.


    Recently, the CEO of AY had invited Alex for a partnership. At the time, he hadn''t paid much


    attention, but now it seemed he couldn''t afford to dy any longer.


    With their own thoughts, they stepped onto the open-air path.


    The garden was aze with camellias, their fiery blooms nearly covering the entire path. Anthea''s


    dress matched the flowers, making her seem part of the vibrant scene under the shroud of night.


    It made one wonder if she was an enchantment borne of the camellias themselves.


    A cold breeze brought with it the scent of camellias mixed with a crisp fragrance that lingered


    enticingly.


    This scent didn''t belong to the camellias.


    Alex, sensitive to smells, nced at Anthea.


    She looked straight ahead, focused on the path.


    In Alex''s world, there seemed to be two types of women: those who instantly fell for his charms, and


    those, like Reba, who kept their distance.


    Anthea was different from both.


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    He was curious whether she was naturally like this or if she was just clever at hiding her feelings.


    Just then, Anthea sensed a searing gaze upon her.


    She lifted her eyes slightly.


    And there was Reba, standing not too far off, her eyes seeming ready to devour Anthea whole.


    That little wretch! Reba could never have imagined that the Miss Yeager Kendrick had


    mentioned would be Anthea.


    As a child, Anthea had usurped her ce in the Morris family.


    Just when she had reimed her position following the revtion of the truth, Anthea had snatched


    away her chess glory and forced her to downgrade her system!


    And now, she was taking away the life-saving gratitude that should have been Reba''s!


    She should not have underestimated Anthea from the start, nor should she have let her go.


    She should have kept Anthea trapped in the Morris family, tormenting her relentlessly before


    marrying her off to Alex, letting her suffer and die!


    Reba was filled with regret.


    She truly regretted it.

 Chapter 224

    Fortunately for her, she had sessfully brought Anthea to Alex''s attention.


    With someone as nefarious as Alex involved, Anthea was sure to be in for a world of trouble!


    Anthea''s lips curled slightly as her gaze met Reba''s.


    Reba hadn''t expected Anthea to lock eyes with her so suddenly. She quickly averted her gaze


    and, head down, made her way to another exit.


    It wasn''t long before she reached the back hall.


    In stark contrast to the brightly lit front hall, the back was much more subdued.


    Two elderly gentlemen, one tall and one short, stood outside the door.


    "It''s Miss Yeager!" Kendrick''s face lit up with excitement as he spotted Anthea, "Miss Yeager!"


    "Hey, Kendrick," Anthea acknowledged him.


    "It really is you, Miss Yeager!" Kendrick continued, "I''ve been looking for you for three days now!"


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


    Alex chimed in with a reminder, "Mr. Wright, it''s gettingte. Perhaps we should invite Ms. Yeager


    inside to talk."


    "Right, of course!" Kendrick ushered Anthea inside.


    Outside earlier, Audrey hadn''t gotten a clear look at Anthea.


    But now, upon seeing her, Audrey was bbergasted.


    This youngdy was stunning!


    Not only was she a brilliant physician, but she was also beautiful.


    Audrey nced from Alex to Anthea, her eyes brimming with satisfaction.


    Perfect! They were a perfect match! She had never seen a couple so well-suited for each other.


    Alex was 28, Anthea 18. Despite the ten-year gap, the girls these days often preferred a man


    slightly older than themselves.


    An older man brought a sense of security.


    Audrey immediately took Anthea''s hand, "Miss Yeager, I am Alex''s grandmother. Just call me


    Audrey."


    "Audrey."


    "Yes, dear!" Audrey responded, her face beaming with a smile.


    The Peterson family had only one heir for three generations.


    Her biggest regret in life was never having a granddaughter.


    Anthea perfectly filled the void of that unfulfilled dream.


    Audrey promptly had the servants bring out the finest tea and fetched some snacks that young girls


    often favored, even more enthusiastic than Kendrick.


    After all, one must charm a future granddaughter-inw.


    Lately, Audrey''s health had been failing.


    She truly feared that after she passed away, Alex would be left all alone.


    The boy had already suffered too much; for the rest of his life, Audrey wanted him to have a taste of


    sweetness.


    With great solemnity, Kendrick expressed his gratitude to Anthea and presented her with a


    document, "Miss Yeager, this represents thirty percent of the shares in the Wright Group. Please,


    you must ept it."


    Thirty percent of the shares represented a substantial figure.


    What Kendrick was offering wasn''t just a share; it was half the empire of the Wright Group.


    Anthea stood up from her chair, declining, "Kendrick, when I left your home the other day, you had


    already given me a generous token of appreciation. I cannot ept these shares!"


    "Miss Yeager, you saved my life. You deserve this share," Kendrick insisted.


    Anthea offered a slight smile, "Kendrick, it''s the duty of a physician to save lives. That''s what I''m


    supposed to do. There''s no need to dwell on it."


    Kendrick was lost in thought before continuing, "That may be true, but the doctors had already


    diagnosed my condition as terminal. It was you who snatched me back from the grip of death. Last


    winter, those doctors told me I wouldn''t make it through to this year."


    "Kendrick, I''m still a student. Even if I epted your shares, I wouldn''t know how to manage the


    company, let alone the distillery business. Giving me the shares would be a waste, so please take


    them back."


    The Wright family owned thergest bourbon brand in Luxphinia.


    Kendrick stated firmly, "I''ve already arranged a witnessing attorney, and all other formalities have


    been handled. Miss Yeager, you must ept these shares."

 Chapter 225

    Kendrick wasn¡¯t just blowing smoke when he talked about gifting shares.


    As the words settled, Kendrick continued, ¡°Miss Yeager, don¡¯t go thinking you can¡¯t handle the


    business. I¡¯m still in fighting form, and as long as I draw breath, you won¡¯t have to worry about


    company matters.¡±


    Damian was not promising.


    Rather than waiting till Kendrick kicked the bucket and his life¡¯s work got carved up by his family,


    he¡¯d rather hand over thirty percent of his shares to Anthea while he still could.


    Sure, giving away thirty percent meant a loss, but holding onto the other seventy percent was a win,


    especially with Damian gripping the reins tightly.


    Kendrick was confident in Anthea''s integrity, entirely convinced that she wouldn''t harbor any ill


    intentions. However, he was not quite as sure about those distant rtives.


    A pack of wolves in sheep''s clothing, they were!


    What mattered more, Kendrick believed Anthea could take the Wright Group to new heights.


    But Anthea was hesitant to ept, so Kendrick shelved the idea for the moment and said, ¡°Miss


    Yeager, I feel a real kinship with you. As it happens, I¡¯ve got a granddaughter about your age. Why


    don¡¯t I take you on as my god-granddaughter?¡±


    A god-granddaughter?


    Widening one''s social circle was never a bad idea. After all, the more friends, the more paths you


    have open to you.


    Anthea didn¡¯t refuse Kendrick¡¯s offer, ¡°As long as you are okay with it.¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Kendrick beamed with joy. ¡°From now on, Miss Yeager, you¡¯re my


    granddaughter!¡±


    For Kendrick, epting Anthea as his god-granddaughter was a triumph.


    Anthea was only just starting out, and she was already such a skilled doctor. In the future, she¡¯d


    certainly do even greater things. Before long, there¡¯d probably be a line from here to Capital City of


    people wanting to cozy up to her.


    ¡°Kendrick, no need to be so formal. You can just call me Anthea.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll call you Annie,¡± Kendrick decided.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Anthea nodded slightly, ¡°that¡¯s what my family and friends call me.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll call you Annie too,¡± Audrey said with a smile in her voice.


    ¡°As you like, Audrey.¡±


    Like it? How could anyone not!


    Who wouldn¡¯t be thrilled with a young woman so beautiful and talented in her field?


    Audrey was half-tempted to have Anthea move into the Peterson household right then and there.


    After the dinner party, Alex had his driver take Anthea home.


    Watching the ck car fade into the night, Alex turned to his assistant, ¡°Check into what¡¯s been


    going on with the Morris familytely. I want to know why Ms. Morris went by Yeager before she


    turned eighteen.¡±


    ¡°Sir,¡± the assistant stepped forward, ¡°there¡¯s no need to dig.¡±


    Alex looked at him, ¡°You know something?¡±


    The Morris family''s mishap had been the town''s hot topic, with the exception of Alex. He never


    cared for gossip and paid no mind to things that didn¡¯t concern him.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    The assistant ryed the whole Morris family baby mix-up to Alex.


    In the darkness, Alex massaged his temples, a mysterious veil cast over his face by the night, ¡°So,


    thedy who was Ms. Morris before isn¡¯t the real Ms. Morris?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± the assistant added. ¡°The Ms. Yeager who showed up tonight was actually a fake


    Ms. Morris.¡±


    This was clearly something Alex had not anticipated.


    Narrowing his eyes, Alex turned and walked back into the house.


    The assistant followed.


    Alex slipped off his silver watch andid it on the table. Looking back at the assistant, he said, ¡°You


    can clock out. I¡¯ll call you if anythinges up.¡±


    ¡°Alright then.¡± The assistant left the room.


    Alex headed to the bathroom to shower. His white dress shirt came off, revealing 8 packs.

 Chapter 226

    Alex''s physique was nothing short of impressive, the sort that even a professional fitness trainer


    might envy. His only w was the patchwork of scars,rge and small, that crisscrossed his back.


    Though they were old, they remained stark against his skin.


    Around his neck, he wore a simple red cord, from which dangled a small wooden charm, polished to


    a shine through years of wear. Such charms were typically worn for protection by children under the


    age of ten, yet Alex clung to his as if it held some deeper significance. The red of the cord had


    faded, but it was clean and well-kept.


    After a long shower, Alex emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a ck silk robe that hinted at the


    sculpted abs beneath.


    He let his damp hair air dry as he settled down at his desk, ready to draw.


    His childhood injuries had left him with fragmented memories, and sometimes a sudden sh of


    recollection wouldpel him to capture the fleeting images on paper.


    Soon, the page was filled with a haunting scene: a frail boy sat huddled in a corner, his gaze vacant,


    his skin marred by numerous scars. Before him stood a little girl, bending down as if speaking to


    him, offeringfort to ease his pain. She was his sole beacon of hope in the darkness.


    Staring at the drawing, Alex''s eyes were a well of unspoken torment, which only began to dissipate


    as he took the wooden charm from around his neck and rubbed it between his fingers.


    The next day, Kendrick arrived at the Yeager householdden with gifts. Anthea had agreed to his


    request to be his god-granddaughter, but the consent of her parents was still essential ¨C a


    matter of basic respect.


    Upon arrival, Kendrick discovered that Anthea came from a single-parent family, raised by a


    devoted mother and an uncle. "Please make yourselffortable, Kendrick," said Carole,


    weing him warmly.


    Nanson busied himself preparing a pot of tea for their guest. Kendrick replied with a smile, "Thank


    you, Annie''s Mom, your home exudes warmth andfort."


    And he meant every word. The Yeager residence was a cozy three-bedroom home, a stark contrast


    to the cold, sprawling estate where Kendrick lived, whichcked the warmth of a true family home.


    "Here''s your tea," Nanson offered, cing a steaming cup before Kendrick.


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


    "Thank you," Kendrick said, taking a sip before asking about Anthea. Carole informed him she had


    gone for a run and would be back soon.


    After exining the purpose of his visit, Kendrick was relieved to find that Carole and Nanson were


    not at all surprised, as Anthea had already shared the news with them.


    Carole responded with a smile, "Kendrick, Annie never had the chance to know her grandfather.


    Now that you be her grandfather, we see it as a blessing for her. I couldn''t be happier."


    Kendrick felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He had been concerned that Carole might object, but her


    open-heartedness exceeded his expectations.


    For lunch, Carole prepared a spread of homestyle dishes, and Kendrick found himself enjoying a


    meal that felt like home. It had been ages since he had partaken in such aforting feast, and he


    found himself wishing he didn''t have to return to the Capital City for the Christmas'' festivities, for he


    would have dly stayed for dinner at the Yeager''s.

 Chapter 227

    On Christmas Eve, Anthea returned to Carole''s side, marking their first holiday season together


    since the reunion.


    Though the household was small, just the three of them, the festive spirit was palpable.


    Early in the morning, Carole got up to start preparing the feast for the night''s celebration.


    Meanwhile, Nanson went out to gather some holiday decorations.


    Anthea, returning from her morning jog, saw Nanson crouched in the front yard, stringing up fairy


    lights around the garden. Electronic firecrackers, tinynterns...


    "Uncle, let me give you a hand," Anthea said, rolling up her sleeves and walking over to Nanson.


    Nanson chuckled, "You think you can handle this kind of work, kiddo? Why don''t you go inside and


    wash up? Breakfast''s almost ready."


    "Uncle, are you underestimating me?" Anthea raised an eyebrow slightly.


    "Why don''t you give it a try then?" Nanson handed her the string of lights.


    Anthea took them and began carefully attaching them to the line, not even flinching at the sight of


    the exposed copper wires.


    "Look at you go!" Nanson was genuinely surprised.


    Anthea dusted off her hands, "What did you expect? I learned from my Uncle after all!"


    Nanson couldn''t help but beam with pride.


    "Annie! Time to call your uncle in for breakfast!" Carole''s voice called from inside.


    "Got it!" Anthea responded, "Uncle, let''s head back in for some food."


    Nanson nodded in agreement.


    While they enjoyed their cozy family moment, the Lindsay family, miles away, was in a less cheery


    state.


    At the dinner table, J spoke up while watching Jonah and Gerard eat, "I''m thinking of inviting


    Edna and Darleen over for dinner tonight."


    Although J had five sons, the other four lived at a distance and would only bring their families to


    visit the day after Christmas.


    This meant that every year, it was just the three of them in the house, whichcked any real holiday


    cheer. Both Jonah and Gerard were of a reserved nature, which didn''t help the atmosphere.


    J hoped to bring some warmth into the home by having Edna and her daughter Darleen join


    them.


    "That''s not proper," Jonah put down his fork.


    "What''s improper about it?" J frowned.


    "They are still outsiders," Jonah said, his brow furrowing.


    J set down her fork, "And if you were to remarry, wouldn''t your wife be an outsider?"


    "That''s why," Jonah¡¯s face remained expressionless, "I have no ns to remarry."


    J''s face darkened, "It''s the holidays! Are you arguing with me?"


    Jonah remained silent, as did Gerard. The silence from the father and son was palpable.


    J''s thoughts drifted to Darleen, who would have surely tried to reason with Jonah. Darleen was


    a sweet and sensible girl, raised well by her mother Edna. J couldn''t help but think of the


    difference a mother''s presence made. Carole might have never taken her motherly duties seriously,


    and Gerard still seemed to hold her in his heart.


    The ringtone of a phone call broke the silence. Gerard walked into the living room to answer.


    It was Healy on the line.


    "Hello, Gerard."


    "Go ahead."


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "The candy wrapper you asked about, turns out it''s from Cloudcrest. If it''s something your mother


    left behind, she might be in Cloudcrest now."

 Chapter 228

    Gerry sped his phone tightly, Healy''s words echoing in his mind.


    His expression was unreadable, a mix of sorrow and joy.


    When Healy didn''t hear a response, he asked with a hint of confusion, ¡°Hey? Gerry, you there?¡±


    Still, there was no reply.


    ¡°Gerry?¡±


    Just when Healy thought there might be something wrong with his phone, Gerry finally spoke, ¡°You


    sure it''s from Cloudcrest?¡±


    Gerry himself probably didn¡¯t expect his voice to tremble as he spoke.


    Eighteen years, and this was the first time he had heard anything about his birth mother.


    For Gerry, there couldn¡¯t be a better Christmas'' gift.


    ¡°Yes, Gerry,¡± Healy continued, ¡°Zack traced the factory address, it''s definitely from Cloudcrest.¡±


    ¡°Healy.¡±


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    ¡°What?¡±


    Gerry looked up at the sky, a slow smile spreading across his face, ¡°Merry Christmas.¡±


    ¡°Merry Christmas, Gerry,¡± Healy replied. ¡°Are youing out for the fireworks at midnight?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    After hanging up, Gerry walked into the dining room.


    J looked up at Gerry, ¡°Who was that on the phone?¡±


    ¡°A friend,¡± Gerry answered.


    ¡°That George guy?¡±


    Gerry didn¡¯t respond.


    Taking his silence as an affirmation, J said, ¡°How many times have I told you, you and George


    aren¡¯t cut from the same cloth! Why won¡¯t you listen?¡±


    ¡°Mom, Gerry¡¯s got his own friends. Let it be,¡± Jonah interjected calmly.


    ¡°Oh really?¡± J shot Jonah a nce, ¡°Am I now deprived of the right to even care for my own


    grandson?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Jonah said smoothly. ¡°It¡¯s just that Gerry¡¯s grown up now. He knows who


    he should and shouldn¡¯t hang out with.¡±


    ¡°If I don¡¯t step in, should he take after you?¡± J contained her anger, ¡°It¡¯s Christmas Eve, and I


    don¡¯t want to argue.¡±


    With that, J turned to Gerry, ¡°How about we invite Edna over for the Christmas Eve dinner?


    What do you say?¡±


    There were three people in their family.


    As long as Gerry agreed to have Edna over, Jonah had no say.


    ¡°Grandma, I don¡¯t like Edna,¡± Gerry sat down, ¡°I don¡¯t want her to be my mom, and I don¡¯t want her


    coming over for Christmas.¡±


    For the first time, Gerry voiced his thoughts in front of Jonah, directly to J.


    J mmed her hand down, her bottled-up fury erupting, ¡°You and your father, you¡¯re both trying


    to drive me insane!¡± Christmas Eve was supposed to be a time of joy, and J had not wanted to


    lose her temper.


    But she couldn¡¯t hold it back any longer.


    Edna was so wonderful, a thousand, no, ten thousand times better than that wretch Carole. How


    could she not be good enough for Jonah?


    In her anger, J began to cough violently, clutching her chest.


    ¡°Mrs. Lindsay, are you alright?¡± Delia rushed over to soothe J.


    ¡°Jonah, young master, Mrs. Lindsay is already in frail health. Why must you upset her on Christmas


    Eve?¡± Delia sighed, then continued, ¡°Even though I''m just a servant, I feelpelled to voice my


    thoughts. Miss Edna has done so much for this family, for Mrs. Lindsay. If it weren¡¯t for her bringing


    nourishing soups to Mrs. Lindsay day after day, how would she be now? Even her own children


    don¡¯t show such care, yet Miss Edna does! Even the coldest stone can be warmed with enough


    time, let alone a human heart.¡±


    The implication was clear: Jonah and Gerry, father and son, were being used of heartlessness.

 Chapter 229

    Edna had been a rock for the Lindsays for years, her dedication in for anyone with eyes to see.


    Yet, somehow, Jonah and his son Gerard remained willfully blind to her contributions.


    Delia had been working with the Lindsays for nearly two decades, always at J''s side. With


    J''s backing, she never shied away from speaking her mind, even if it meant ruffling the feathers


    of Jonah and Gerard.


    And her words struck a chord with J.


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


    Edna was a gem, and her sacrifices over the years were countless.


    Yet this father and son pair chose to ignore it all!


    The nerve of them! Heartless!


    Now even Delia, an outsider in family matters, feltpelled to take Edna''s side.


    "Mom, don''t get upset," Jonah said, looking up at J, "I can agree to anything else you ask, but


    this is something I just can''t do. I''ve told you before, Edna and I are not possible!"


    Gerard, hearing his father''s firm stance, breathed a sigh of relief. If his dad showed the slightest


    weakness, his grandmother might orchestrate Edna''s entry into the family by tomorrow.


    J, fuming, lost her appetite for breakfast and asked Delia to help her back to her room to rest.


    Jonah instructed the house staff to prepare some medicinal tea for his mother.


    Once in her room, Delia tried to console J. "Mrs. Lindsay, it''s the holiday, try not to let it get to


    you. Miss Edna is such a wonderful person, she will eventually win over Jonah and the young


    master."


    J sank into the couch, "I''m old and powerless now, my words don''t carry weight anymore..."


    "Actually, Jonah used to listen to everything you said," Delia remarked.


    J pondered this. When did Jonah start rebelling?


    Up until he was eighteen, he did everything she asked. It must have been after he met Carole that


    he changed, always defying her...


    It was all Carole''s fault! That flirtatious bitch had only brought misfortune to their family!


    If it weren''t for Carole, how could she and Jonah havee to this pass?


    "Man, our family just can''t catch a break!" Jmented, her hands beating against her chest.


    Delia continued, "Mrs. Lindsay, please don''t think that way. Miss Edna is virtuous and kind, and her


    presence in this house would surely ease the tensions between you, Jonah, and the young master.


    This family can do without many things, but it certainly needs ady of the house."


    J nodded in agreement, "You''re absolutely right."


    It was clear to her that she needed to find a way to bring Edna into the family sooner rather than


    later.


    Meanwhile, at the Fletchers''.


    The Fletchers were arge n, with Edna having four elder brothers.


    All four brothers and their parents lived under one roof.


    Including Edna, her daughter, and the grandchildren, the household numbered over thirty members.


    Luckily, the Fletchers'' sprawling triplex mansion had enough space for everyone.


    Edna, being married off and with a child in tow, would have been shown the door if not for the


    support of the Lindsays.


    Even with that support, her sisters-inw seldom missed an opportunity to show their disdain.


    Like now, for instance.


    "Edna, dear," cooed Samantha, her third sister-inw, "you and Jonah have been an item for so


    long, and with the holidays around the corner, you''ll be another year older. Hasn''t he mentioned


    anything about settling down? We would love to share in the joy of your wedding toast!"


    Patsy, the second sister-inw, chimed in, "Samantha''s right. Time isn''t on your side, Edna. You


    can''t keep dragging your feet, or you''ll be left on the shelf. And if Jonah isn''t willing tomit,


    remember that Edgar I mentionedst time? He''s not a bad catch either!"


    Who''s Edgar? Edgar was a nouveau riche from Capital City.

 Chapter 230

    Despite being barely literate, an ugly face, and some odd quirks, he had managed to drive away


    five wives. One even took such a desperate leap from the eleventh floor that she was still in aa


    at the hospital.


    Biting back her anger, Edna looked up at her two sisters-inw. "Thanks for the concern, but Jonah


    and I are doing just fine. We haven''t tied the knot yet because we''re taking the kids'' feelings into


    ount. Oh, and would you mind letting Mom and Dad know that I won''t be home for dinner


    tonight?"


    With that, Edna stood up to leave.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Patsy, puzzled, asked, "Where are you off to on The Christmas Eve?"


    Samantha was equally curious.


    Edna replied with a smile, "Tonight, I''m taking Darleen over to Jonah''s ce for Christmas."


    Visiting the Lindsays for Christmas was something J had mentioned to her a while back.


    The room fell silent at her words.


    It had been years. This was the first time Edna was going to spend Christmas with the Lindsays.


    Could it be that things were finally getting serious?


    "Really?" Patsy was skeptical.


    The others might not know the full story, but she knew it all too well.


    Over the years, Jonah had never truly shown interest in Edna.


    It had always been a one-sided affair for Edna and J.


    Otherwise, Patsy wouldn''t have tried to set Edna up with Edgar.


    "Patsy,e on, do you really think I''d lie about something like this?" Edna''s smile hid her sharp


    retort.


    Her family were all smiling tigers ¨C hoping she would marry Jonah and elevate the Fletchers to new


    heights, yet fearing she would be thedy of the Lindsay estate.


    How absurd.


    Patsy smirked without humor, "Well, ns can change. Some words are better left unsaid."


    "You''re right, Patsy. It''s just a shame when someone wastes eighteen years for nothing, only to end


    up with broken dreams," Samantha chimed in with sarcasm.


    Edna''s expression remained unchanged, but inside, she sneered.


    Just wait! When she became thedy of the Lindsay family, she''d make them all regret their actions


    today!


    Just then, Jessica Fletcher came downstairs.


    Hearing her daughters-inw''s mocking of Edna, she did not interject but instead turned to Edna.


    "Your sisters-inw are right. A woman doesn''t get a second chance at another eighteen years.


    Edgar may not be a looker, but he''s wealthy and influential. I''ve heard that the newly appointed


    official is his rtive!"


    Pausing for emphasis, Jessica continued earnestly, "Don''t miss out on a good opportunity for a man


    who doesn''t have you in his heart. I''m your mother, I wouldn''t steer you wrong."


    Edna''s eyes shed with scorn.


    Her mother was always shrewd, stillying out ns for her sons even as she neared her twilight


    years.


    Marrying Edgar ¨C who stood to gain the most? Clearly, the Fletchers!


    Did they really think she was that naive?


    She had waited for Jonah for eighteen long years. She couldn''t just give up now!


    Edgar was nothingpared to Jonah ¨C not worth the dirt under Jonah''s fingernails.


    "Mom, I know you mean well, but there''s no love between Edgar and me. Please, let''s not talk about


    this anymore. By the way, have you seen Darleen?"


    "Mom, did you call me?" Darleen, along with some cousins, came in from outside.


    Edna nodded, "We''re going to spend Christmas Eve at Keeley''s ce. Get ready, darling."

 Chapter 231

    "Really?" Darleen''s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    Seeing Edna and Jonah heading straight for a fairy-tale ending brought her immense joy.


    She fancied herself not as Miss Fletcher, the lesser-known daughter of a local family, but as the


    rightful Miss Lindsay, heiress to the Lindsay legacy.


    The Lindsays and the Christensens were as thick as thieves, and soon enough, Darleen would rub


    shoulders with Mr. Christensen and take on the esteemed role of Mrs. Sinir.


    Edna nodded affirmatively, "You better get ready."


    "I''m on it!" Darleen dashed into the house with the speed of a gazelle.


    Jessica, lost in thought, gave Edna a meaningful look before speaking, "I''ve got a jar of pure


    wildflower honey, brought from the countryside by a friend. Take it to J, will you?"


    A smile curled at the corner of Edna''s lips, "I''ll be sure to pass on J''s thanks."


    Jessica instructed the maid to fetch the honey.


    In no time, Darleen re-emerged, dressed to the nines.


    Just then, Edna''s phone rang. Her expression shifted noticeably as she answered, but she quickly


    regained herposure and hung up with a smile, waving at Darleen, "That was J, hurrying us


    along. Let''s not keep her waiting!"


    "Sure thing," Darleen nodded in agreement.


    Edna bid farewell to the elderly Mrs. Fletcher, ignoring the subtle shifts in the room''s atmosphere,


    and promptly escorted Darleen out the door.


    "Pfft! What''s there to be smug about?" Patsy huffed.


    Samantha shared the sentiment, "Indeed! As if Jonah would ever spare her a second nce!"


    "Both of you zip it!" Jessica''s voice was stern, "Once she marries into the Lindsay family, our family


    will benefit. Can''t you even pretend to be happy? Shallow fools!"


    Silence fell like a heavy curtain.


    Patsy and Samantha exchanged nces, neither daring to utter another word.


    Stepping out of the Fletcher estate, Edna''s sunny disposition clouded over.


    They hopped into a rideshare and left the vi neighborhood.


    Curiously, Darleen asked, "Huh, why didn''t J send a car for us?"


    Edna''s face was a mask of sternness, and Darleen, adept at reading her moods, immediately


    straightened up, staying as quiet as possible.


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


    Edna''s expectations for Darleen were sky-high.


    Proper posture for standing and sitting, mastery of the arts, and Darleen''s childhood was virtually


    nonexistent, spent in various sses and workshops.


    Even now, Edna''s demands were stringent ¡ª nothing less than top grades would do. Failure meant


    a chilling silence or worse, physical reprimand. Thankfully, Darleen had always risen to the


    asion, never disappointing Edna.


    Soon, they arrived at a hotel in Capital City.


    Darleen was confused. Weren''t they supposed to visit the Lindsays?


    Looking at Edna, she asked, "Mom, are we in the wrong ce?"


    Edna replied, "J''s tied up today. We''re not going to her ce for Christmas."


    "Oh." Darleen''s heart sank with disappointment, but she didn''t press further.


    At the Yeager residence in Cloudcrest, the holiday vibe were in full swing, with the TV broadcasting


    holiday specials.


    Nanson and Anthea were busy hanging festive banners and window decals.


    Carole''s voice floated from the kitchen, "Annie, we''re fresh out of vinegar. Could you do a quick run


    to the market and pick some up?"


    "Sure thing," Anthea replied, setting down the banner. "Be right back!"


    She grabbed her phone and coat, and hurried out the door.


    The market was just outside the neighborhood.


    Carole needed the vinegar pronto, so Anthea jogged along, but as fate would have it, she collided


    with someone rounding the corner.

 Chapter 232

    The vinegar bottle slipped from her grasp.


    The ss shattered on the pavement, a sharp tang of vinegar filling the air.


    "Oh my goodness, are you alright?" Anthea blurted out an apology.


    "I''m fine." The man brushed off his ck trench coat nonchntly.


    That voice, it sounded oddly familiar.


    Anthea looked up, and it was Alex.


    Alex hadn''t expected the person he bumped into to be Anthea, "Ms. Yeager, I''m sorry about your


    vinegar."


    "It''s okay, it wasn''t your fault. I wasn''t watching where I was going. I''ll just pop back to the store for


    another bottle," Anthea said. But instead of heading straight back to the store, she squatted down to


    pick up the broken pieces, tossing them into a nearby bin to prevent any passersby from getting


    hurt.


    Alex crouched down too, helping Anthea with the cleanup.


    Two pairs of elegant hands identally reached for the same shard.


    Their fingertips grazed each other lightly.


    A spark, quick and unexpected, and they both paused.


    Anthea didn''t show any awkwardness, simply releasing the shard and grabbing another.


    Nor did Alex''s face betray any emotion.


    It was as if nothing had happened at all.


    Once all the pieces were collected, Anthea headed back to the supermarket for vinegar.


    But as she went to pay, Alex beat her to it.


    "Mr. Peterson, you really didn''t have to. I could''ve managed."


    Alex just smiled faintly, "It''s only a bottle of vinegar, Ms. Yeager. No need to fuss."


    "Well then, I won''t fuss." Anthea lifted the vinegar bottle and pointed in a direction, "My ce is just


    over there. Since it''s the holiday, I won¡¯t keep you long."


    "Sounds good," Alex nodded slightly.


    "I should get back, my mom''s waiting for this vinegar for the cooking."


    "Take care, Ms. Yeager." As she turned to leave, Alex seemed to remember something, pointing at


    Anthea''s arm, "It looks like you got some vinegar on your sleeve. I have a handkerchief here if you


    want to roll up your sleeve and wipe it off?"


    "It''s fine," Anthea said with little concern, "I''ll just change when I get home. Goodbye, Mr. Peterson."


    "Goodbye." Alex nodded again.


    After Anthea had turned away, a shadow of disappointment briefly crossed his eyes.


    It disappeared as quickly as it hade.


    Just then, a luxury car pulled up to the curb, the door opened, and a driver stepped out, bowing


    respectfully to Alex, "Boss."


    Alex got into the car, the winter sun casting a cold light across his features, "Let''s go."


    The driver got in as well, and the car sped off, soon arriving at the Peterson Manor.


    As the car came to a stop, an assistant came over to open the door.


    "Get me everything on Anthea and Reba, and bring it to my study."


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Right away," the assistant nodded.


    "And photos," Alex added, "Summer ones, preferably full-length."


    The assistant nodded again.


    After Anthea got home, she couldn''t wait to take a shower.


    The vinegar had left her arm feeling sticky and smelling sour.


    Stepping out of the shower, she went to dry her hair, rolling up her sleeves to her elbows.


    Her skin was fair, her wrists delicate, easily encircled by one hand. Near her elbow, there was a


    faint but noticeable bite mark.


    Though light in color, it stood out starkly against her pale skin.


    "Annie, what happened here?" Nanson, ever observant, noticed the mark on Anthea''s arm right


    away.


    "I''ve had it since I was little. I think a kid bit me when I was little."


    Anthea found the bite mark curious.


    In her previous life, she had an identical mark on her arm.


    And now, the original owner of this body had it too.


    Could it be a coincidence?

 Chapter 233

    Nanson frowned slightly, "Bitten? Which kid''s been that naughty? Does it hurt?"


    Anthea smiled, "It stung a bit at first, but it''s all good now."


    Nightfall came swiftly.


    The family of three sat down for their festive dinner.


    Carole had prepared a feast for tonight, including a bubbling fondue pot, and an assortment of


    chicken, duck, and fish dishes.


    Nanson raised his ss and stood up, "Sis, Annie, this is Annie''s first Christmas back with us, and


    our first celebrating a fresh start. Here''s to brighter days ahead! Cheers!"


    "Cheers!" Carole and Anthea stood, raising their sses as well.


    That''s when colorful fireworks began to paint the sky outside their window.


    The air was filled with the deafening sound of fireworks and crackers.


    Watching the disy, Anthea''s lips curved into a gentle smile, "Mom, Uncle, shall we go set off


    some fireworks after dinner?"


    "Sure thing," Nanson nodded.


    Carole chuckled, "You two go on, I''ll sit this one out." Tomorrow was the Christmas Day, and she


    had a lot to do.


    As she spoke, Carole handed Anthea an envelope, "Annie, here''s some pocket money for you. I


    hope good luck finds you in theing year!"


    "Thanks, Mom." Anthea paused, then epted the envelope with both hands.


    "And here''s something from me," Nanson handed her another envelope, "I''ll just wish my dear


    Annie stays forever young and beautiful!"


    "Thank you, Uncle!"


    Anthea never knew how happy it could be to receive pocket money. It felt so good to have family!


    After the dinner, Anthea joined Nanson outside to light fireworks.


    The noise from the crowd mingled with the sound of fireworks, adding to the festive atmosphere.


    Nanson picked up a rocket firework, "Think you can handle lighting this by yourself, Annie?"


    "What''s there to be afraid of?" Anthea''s eyes sparkled with mischief, "I''ve even lit bigger things than


    that."


    "All talk and no action!" Nanson didn''t take her seriously.


    Anthea didn''t bother to exin. She took the rocket and lit it.


    Whoosh¡ªBang! The rocket soared and exploded in the sky.


    Throughout it all, Anthea didn''t even blink, nor did she cover her ears.


    Cool as a cucumber.


    Not what you''d expect from a young girl.


    "Light that big one over there," Nanson pointed to arger firework.


    "OK." Anthea shed an "OK" sign and crouched to light it.


    This firework was specially chosen by Nanson.


    It was named ''Celestial Maidens Scattering Flowers,'' rumored to be breathtakingly beautiful.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    The fuse was lit, and a firework shot up.


    But the sky remained empty, and no fireworks appeared.


    Nanson frowned slightly, had he been cheated by The owner?


    Just as Anthea turned back towards him.


    A multitude of fireworks burst into life behind her.


    Bang! A cascade of brilliant colors framed Anthea''s silhouette.


    Nanson quickly grabbed his phone to capture this beautiful moment.


    Anthea looked absolutely radiant.


    He posted the video to his social circle, "Just showing off, this is my dearest niece."


    At that moment, Anthea''s phone chimed.


    She pulled it out of her pocket.


    It was a message on WhatsApp.


    The first to message were Lizzie and Tanya. Then came Sarah.


    Anthea sent the video of herself with the fireworks to the three of them, followed by an emoji.


    She wanted to share that joy.


    After replying to their messages, Anthea received another greeting.


    "Merry Christmas."It was from Sherman.


    This was probably the first message between the two since they''d shared contacts.

 Chapter 234

    Anthea sent back a cheerful "Merry Christmas!" and, getting into the festive spirit, shot over a virtual


    gift¡ªa digital cash gift, tagged with the note: "A small Christmas gift."


    Sherman stared at his phone, a little taken aback.


    He''d grown quite a bit since thest time he¡¯d received Christmas gifts from anyone other than his


    parents or rtives.


    And speaking of which, he hadn''t gotten any since he turned eighteen.


    He tapped to ept the gift.


    It wasn''t a lot¡ªjust $20.


    Sherman chuckled and sent a Christmas'' gift in return, "As the saying goes, one good turn deserves


    another."


    Anthea opened her gift to find $120¡ªa hundred more than she¡¯d sent.


    A sly smile yed on her lips. For all the talk of the stinginess of the wealthy, it seemed Sherman


    was an exception.


    "Thanks, boss man ," she texted back.


    "Don''t mention it. What¡¯s Ms. Yeager up to?" Sherman typed.


    "Lighting fireworks ," replied Anthea, attaching a video she¡¯d just taken.


    Her surroundings were bursting with excitement.


    Sherman nced at his stark office desk and walked over to the window.


    In Capital City, fireworks were banned.


    Christmas Eve was unusually quiet here, hardly any different from any other night.


    Sherman snapped a photo and sent it over.


    "You in Capital City?"


    "Yeah. Heading back day after tomorrow." As soon as Sherman hit send, he froze. Why was he


    reporting his travel ns to Anthea?


    "Safe travels."


    "Thanks."


    After her firework disy, Anthea went home and started her live stream.


    No sooner had she begun than she received a challenge from LeisureHermit for a virtual duel.


    She raised an eyebrow. LeisureHermit was persistent, challenging her time and again despite


    numerous losses.


    Elsewhere, Gerard and his friends arrived at their chosen spot for setting off fireworks.


    The fourds had brought a generous stash.


    "Merry Christmas, Gerard!"


    "Merry Christmas, guys."


    They lit the fireworks and settled down to chat.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "So, Gerard, now that you''re sure your mom''s in Cloudcrest, what''s your n?" Healy asked.


    The other two turned to Gerard, curious.


    "I''m going to find her."


    "Alone?" George chimed in.


    Gerard nodded.


    "But Cloudcrest is thousands of miles away from here! Plus, it''s a huge ce. Where will you even


    start?"


    It was like looking for a needle in a haystack.


    "I''ve done my research. Cloudcrest is a direct-controlled municipality with twenty districts. The


    central area has ten, with a poption of 31.26 million, including 12 million non-residents. I''ll


    search, bit by bit. If I don''t find her this year, or the next, I''ll keep looking the year after and the years


    following, until I do."


    The longing of a child who''d never known his mother was something perhaps others couldn''t fully


    grasp.


    But one thing was certain: he would never give up the search until he found her.


    The others stared at Gerard in surprise.


    "But what if she''s moved on, remarried, and forgotten about you?" Healy prodded.


    Eighteen years is a long time. Anything could have happened.


    "I''ll just take a look from afar, and not disturb her."


    Just a nce. Even if he said nothing at all.


    "And what if she''s already left Cloudcrest?"


    Gerard paused, clearly not having considered this.


    After a moment, he said, "Then, I guess that''s just my fate. But until I go to Cloudcrest, I refuse to


    ept it."


    "Gerard," Healy pped him on the shoulder, "I believe you''ll find your mom."


    "I believe it too!" George added.


    "Count me in!" Kearney jumped in. "Actually, I have a rtive in Cloudcrest. I can ask her to keep


    an ear out for any news about your mom. Do you have any other info about her? Like what she


    looks like, any distinguishing features?"

 Chapter 235

    Gerard shook his head.


    "No worries, man," Kearney said, pping Gerard on the back with aforting smile. "Hey, I have


    rtives in Cloudcrest. Even if you''re clueless about the ce, I can get her to keep an eye out for


    you."


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Thanks, Kearney."


    Kearney''s old cheeks flushed a shade of pink. "What are you thanking me for? We''re brothers!"


    Healy chimed in, "So, when are you nning to head to Cloudcrest?"


    "sses start mid-February. I''m thinking of catching a flight over on the 8th."


    Healy nodded in understanding.


    Meanwhile, at the Morris household.


    Around the dinner table, Daly looked over at Reba, a puzzled frown on his face. "Reba, I told


    you to reach out to Kendrickst time, and you didn''t. There''s been no word since then. You think


    he''s forgotten all about his lifesaver?"


    Daly had even nned a celebration banquet, eagerly awaiting Kendrick''s visit to express his


    gratitude. His daughter would be hailed as Kendrick''s savior, and surely, some of that glory would


    reflect on him.


    Just thinking about it was enough to make Reba''s blood boil. If it hadn''t been for Anthea stealing


    her thunder and the credit that was rightfully hers, would she be in this mess? Banned from


    streaming, clueless about chess...


    And now theughingstock of the inte.


    "Kendrick probably won''t being back," said Reba, her voice t.


    "Why not?" Daly''s face darkened.


    Reba sighed, "It''s...plicated. Let''s not get into it right now, Dad."


    Seeing her like this, Daly knew better than to push. His daughter always had her reasons, perhaps


    some other n up her sleeve.


    After dinner, back in her room, Reba sifted through a barrage of Christmas'' greetings. Among


    them were messages from Sallie and Ste Lyons of the Lindsay family. Those two sisters, always


    looking to step on others to raise themselves higher, had never given her the time of day when she


    hung around Carole. Now that they knew she was Ms. Morris, they were suddenly all sweetness


    and light, messaging her with nauseating affection.


    Reba''s eyes narrowed as she thought of Felton Yeager and Gemma. What if they knew that not


    only had Carole opened a restaurant, but their granddaughter Anthea had be a big-shot live


    streamer? She could just imagine their reaction.


    Anthea liked to make her life difficult, right? Steal her spotlight? Well, Reba would see to it that


    Anthea not only had to deal with that scumbag Alex but also a few despicable rtives that would


    stick to her like gum on a shoe.


    She''d make Anthea''s life miserable. Once those rtives got their ws in, not even Anthea''s


    savvy could save her.


    With that thought, Reba''s lips curled into a sly smile, and she texted Sallie back.


    [Merry Christmas, Sallie!]


    Sallie was taken aback by Reba''s response.'' After a moment''s pause, she replied.


    Reba continued to message: [It''s been a while. Got time to catch up soon?]


    Sallie replied: [Sure.]


    Reba said: [Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today? Free tomorrow afternoon?]


    Sallie agreed: [That works.]


    Nanson was up and about bright and early the next morning, eagerly preparing to visit friends after


    breakfast.


    Holding two pairs of pants, he stopped by Anthea''s door and asked, "Hey, Annie, which pair makes


    me look younger? The dark blue or the charcoal grey?"


    Anthea looked at Nanson, pondering seriously for a split second before replying, "Uncle, are you


    sure you want the truth?"


    Nanson nodded, eager for her opinion.


    Anthea continued, "Honestly, I think diapers would shave off the most years."

 Chapter 236

    "Diapers?" The chuckle escaped Nanson before he could catch it.


    Anthea may appear all prim and proper with her stunning looks and cool demeanor, but beneath


    that polished exteriory a spirit brimming with cheeky humor.


    She could always crack you up when you least expected it.


    "Then let''s go with ck," Nanson grinned, "You girls are always saying ck is slimming and


    makes you look taller. ck it is, then."


    With that, he scooped up the pants and headed for his room, eager to dodge any more zingers from


    Anthea that might leave him without a stitch to wear.


    Anthea closed her bedroom door behind her, slipping into her clothes for the day.


    It was the Christmas Day, and she intended to dress with a bit of festive ir. She chose a wine-red


    peacoat, ck leggings, and a pair of ck Doc Martens.


    She looked sharp, her outfit striking the perfect bnce between the vivaciousness of youth and the


    elegance of her age.


    Before stepping out, Anthea casually reached for a pearl hair clip from her vanity and secured it at


    the side of her head. The wine-red pearl perfectlyplemented her coat.


    Upon entering the dining room, her mother, Carole, had alreadyid out breakfast on the table.


    She prepared lots of food.


    Though Anthea was slender, her appetite was anything but meager.


    Just as she set down her fork, Latonia and her family arrived to exchange Christmas'' greetings.


    "Merry Christmas, Carole!"


    "Latonia, Keeley, you''re up early! We''ve barely finished breakfast! Come in,e in!" Carole


    eximed and then called back into the house, "Anthea, Latonia and Sarah are here!"


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


    Anthea hurried out to greet everyone warmly and then set about making tea.


    "Sarah, would you like some fruit tea?" Anthea asked, holding up a selection of tea leaves.


    "What vors do you have?" Sarah approached to take a look.


    Anthea inspected the packaging. "Looks like pineapple and hawthorn."


    "I''ll have that," Sarah nodded.


    "Walter, how about you?"


    Walter Allen chuckled, "Just a regr green tea for me, thanks."


    "All right then."


    After the Allens had settled in for a while, Sarah suggested an outing. "Anthea, let''s go check out


    the fair! On our way here, we saw lots of people heading to the Chapel!"


    "Is it far?" Anthea inquired.


    "Not too far," Sarah replied. "We take a 30-minute drive, but since the chapel''s on the hilltop and


    there''s no cable car, we''ll need to walk up."


    "Are you guys heading to the Chapel?" Nanson joined in. "I''m actually going that way myself. I can


    give you a lift."


    "Sounds great," Anthea nodded, then turned to Walter. "Walter, do you want toe along?"


    Walter was a shy, young man who often blushed uncontrobly when talking to Anthea. "I''ve got


    ns with my high school friends, so I won''t join you."


    Sarah linked arms with Anthea. "Forget him, let''s just go, Anthea."


    Nanson was the sentimental type. Despite his courier business doing better by the day, he still


    drove the same second-hand minivan.


    Though it was pre-owned, Anthea had souped up the van so well that its performance was top-


    notch, which was the main reason Nanson couldn''t bring himself to part with it.


    Soon enough, they arrived at the foot of the hill where the chapel was perched.


    The van couldn''t make the ascent.


    A crowd had gathered at the base of the hill.


    Nanson got out and opened the door for the girls. "Anthea, Sarah, when do you n on heading


    back? I can swing by and pick you up."


    Anthea looked up towards the chapel at the hilltop. "Probably a couple of hours. I''ll give you a call."


    "Alright," Nanson nodded, reminded them to stay safe and to call him if they needed anything, then


    left.


    Anthea and Sarah began their hike up the hill.


    The steep path was challenging, but the promise of the fair above spurred them on.

 Chapter 237

    After a vigorous hour-long hike, Annie and Sarah finally crested the hilltop.


    They''d picked up some candles at a quaint little shop along the way and dropped a couple of coins


    into the donation box before heading into the chapel to offer a heartfelt prayer, their foreheads softly


    touching the ground in reverence. Once their spiritual moment wasplete, they stepped back


    outside into the hustle and bustle of the fair.


    The first of the month always saw the area around the Chapele alive with vendors of all sorts.


    Food and fun. Everything your heart could desire.


    "Annie, check out the ring toss over there!" Sarah pointed excitedly towards a crowd a short


    distance away.


    Annie nodded in agreement.


    Ten bucks got you twenty rings, and whatever you hooked, you kept.


    But with the prizes set at a challenging distance, many had dropped a pretty penny only to walk


    away empty-handed.


    Undeterred, Sarah bought twenty rings and handed half to Annie.


    Annie raised an eyebrow with a yful smirk, "With all these rings, if we hook everything, how on


    earth are we going to carry our loot back down?"


    The booth owner, overhearing her, chuckled and said, "Now, that''s some confidence! Tell you what,


    if you manage to hook every single prize, I''ll personally help you carry them down the hill."


    "Gentlemen''s agreement?" Annie asked, her eyes sparkling with challenge.


    "Can''t back out of it now!" The owner eximed with a grin. His livelihood had been built on this ring


    toss game over thest twenty years, and the best he''d ever seen was someone hooking half the


    prizes with twenty rings. He was pretty sure this sprightly young thing, who looked to be no older


    than eighteen, didn''t stand a chance.


    Annie smiled, "With your word on it, I''m all in. Could you pass me another forty rings, please?"


    After all, with the owner''s offer to help carry the prizes down, she wasn''t worried about the logistics.


    "Sure thing," The owner replied, handing over another set of forty rings.


    Sarah was bbergasted, "Annie, you sure you''re that good?"


    "Watch me," Annie said confidently, without a hint of modesty.


    Sarah decided to give it a go first. She threw a ring.


    Unfortunately, it hooked nothing.


    The owner smiled and picked up the ring, handing it back to her.


    She tried again.


    Still nothing.


    By the third and fourth attempts, with the same result, Sarah let out a sigh of disappointment.


    The distance didn''t seem that far, so why was it so hard to hook a prize?


    The owner looked at Annie, "Your turn, miss. Give it a shot?"


    Annie nced up, "Keep your eyes peeled, don''t blink."


    With that, she casually tossed a ring, and itnded perfectly around a toy.


    "Holy smokes!" Sarah jumped up in excitement, "That was awesome!"


    The owner was momentarily stunned.


    A direct hit on the first try? Must be a fluke!


    He moved to pick up the toy, but Annie stopped him, "Just wait a sec, sir. It''ll be too much hassle to


    collect them one by one. Let me finish, and then you can pick them all up together."


    The owner chuckled, "Alright then." He was curious to see if this youngdy really had the skills she


    boasted about.


    Annie turned to Sarah, "Which ones do you like?"


    Sarah, still in shock, managed to point out, "That panda over there."


    "Anything else?"


    "Huh?" Sarah was momentarily lost for words.


    "Why don''t I just hook ten in one go? Doing it one by one is too slow," Annie suggested.


    Sarah swallowed hard.


    The owner couldn''t help butugh out loud.


    This girl was something else. In all his years, he had never met someone so full of themselves, let


    alone someone who aimed to hook ten prizes at once.


    Kids these days sure know how to talk big!


    Sarah pointed at a few more toys. Annie, not bothering to count the rings in her hand, grabbed a


    handful and threw them.


    They spread out like petals thrown by a flower girl at a wedding.


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    As the rings settled, Sarah was dumbstruck.


    No freaking way! They had all hooked prizes.


    She looked up at Annie in amazement.


    Annie was the picture of calm, as if the feat had been nothing out of the ordinary.


    The owner and onlookers were gobsmacked.


    No one had expected Annie to be so incredibly skilled.


    Annie grabbed another handful of rings and tossed them into the air.


    And, as expected, every single one hooked a prize.


    "Apuse erupted from the crowd, loud and enthusiastic. If they hadn''t seen it with their own eyes,


    who would believe that a teenager could be so extraordinary?

 Chapter 238

    Others came to y games of chance, yet she came for a wholesale deal.


    Anthea turned to The owner with a smooth smile, "Sir, could you do us a solid and deliver these to


    the base of the hill? We''ll hang out there and wait for you."


    The owner felt like he''d been hit by a truck.


    But in business, integrity''s king!


    He''d given his word to Anthea. And he''d deliver, even if it meant taking a loss.


    You live and learn.


    Next time, he won''t underestimate anyone. Especially not a pretty young thing like her.


    "Sure thing." The owner nodded. "My boy will drop it off in a jiffy. You know the big pine tree down at


    the bottom? He''ll meet you there. Oh, and here''s my card, just ring this number if there''s a snag."


    Anthea took the card graciously, "Thanks you."


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    "No problem."


    In the crowd, a man in a ck trench coat stood out like a sore thumb. His gaze fixed on Anthea,


    piercing as if it could see right through her.


    After a moment, he adjusted the wide brim of his hat, shielding his features.


    He recalled his assistant''s words from the day before.


    "Ms. Yeager''s files are encrypted. We can''t ess them without clearance."


    Encrypted. Why would an average Jane''s files be under lock and key?


    Without ess to Anthea''s records, he had to rely on hearsay.


    Was she ignorant, foolish, a deadbeat, barely literate... But none of thesebels seemed to fit the


    woman before him.


    By the time Anthea looked up again, he had vanished.


    She arched an eyebrow in curiosity. Maybe it was just her imagination.


    Soon after, Anthea turned to her friend, "Sarah, let''s go."


    "Sure thing," Sarah nodded, and they began their descent.


    They say going up is easy,ing down is hard ¨C and they weren''t kidding.


    The climb took an hour, but half an hour into their descent, they''d only covered a third of the


    distance.


    Chatting as they walked, Sarah marveled, "Annie, you''re a real ace at those games! Teach me your


    ways!"


    Anthea chuckled, "Sure thing, but don''t you have exams to hit the books for? You''ve got college on


    the horizon, remember?"


    "Oh, right," Sarah sighed. "Guess I''ll learn after the big test."


    "I''ve got some study guides at home that could help. I''ll grab them for youter," Anthea offered.


    "Awesome! You''re a lifesaver, Annie."


    "Watch out!"


    Suddenly, Anthea reached out and grabbed the wrist of a man in front of her.


    She was surprisingly strong.


    The man barely caught himself, sitting on the steps as he turned to thank her, "Much obliged."


    That''s when they both did a double-take.


    "Mr. Peterson?"


    "Ms. Yeager?"


    Their names fell from their lips in unison.


    "Do you have hypoglycemia, Mr. Peterson?" Anthea asked, crouching beside him.


    Alex nodded, hisplexion deathly pale, but his lips were an incongruous, striking red, as if


    painted on.


    Anthea fished out a few candies from her pocket, handing them over, "Here, have some candy. It''ll


    perk you right up."


    "Thanks," Alex mumbled, epting the sweets.


    "Boss, you alright?" Two men in sharp suits rushed over.


    Alex slowly unwrapped a candy and popped it into his mouth, "I''m fine."


    The sweetness spread over his tongue, cloying and intense.


    Looking up at Anthea, his dark eyes roiled with curiosity, "Where''d you get these candies, Ms.


    Yeager?"


    "ust some White Rabbit Creamy Candy from the grocery store," Anthea replied, somewhat


    perplexed. "You''ve never had these before, Mr. Peterson?"


    White Rabbit Creamy Candy. Alex frowned, a headache brewing.


    Anthea added, "Since your assistants are here, I''ll head down with my friend."


    Alex stood with their help, still a bit weak, "I owe you one for today, Ms. Yeager."


    "Don''t mention it."


    After Anthea left, Alex extended a hand to his assistant, his expression frosty, "Pen and paper."

 Chapter 239

    Knowing how unpredictable his boss could be, the assistant always carried pen and paper. At a


    moment¡¯s notice, she handed them to Alex.


    Despite trembling hands, Alex plopped down on the floor and began to sketch.


    In Capital City, Edna and her daughter Darleen had spent a night at a hotel.


    Early the next morning, they brought a jar of wildflower honey¡ªa gift from Jessica¡ªto pay a


    Christmas'' visit to the Lindsays and to greet J.


    Seeing Edna and Darleen instantly made J forget any annoyance she might have felt.


    Edna handed the honey to the housekeeper. ¡°J, my mother sent this for you¡ªwildflower honey,


    excellent for the health of the more... seasoned folks among us. Remember to stir a spoonful into


    your tea,¡± she said with a smile.


    J chuckled warmly. ¡°Your mom¡¯s too kind. To think she¡¯d part with such a treasure and bring it to


    me!¡±


    Darleen chimed in, herughter light and carefree. ¡°Oh, J, you mustn¡¯t feel like an outsider.


    Grandma always says, ¡®We¡¯re all family here.¡¯ No need to split hairs over what¡¯s yours or mine.¡±


    That struck a chord with J. As far as she was concerned, Edna and Darleen were already part


    of the family.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    J, beaming, took Darleen¡¯s hand. ¡°Exactly, Darleen, exactly! We are family, and family shouldn''t


    keep score. Since we¡¯re family, you shouldn¡¯t call me J anymore!¡±


    Darleen feigned confusion. ¡°Oh? What should I call you then?¡±


    J yfully tapped Darleen¡¯s nose. ¡°You¡¯re so sharp when ites to school, always at the top


    of your ss. How can you be so clueless now? You should call me ¡®Grandma,¡¯ silly!¡±


    ¡°Grandma,¡± Darleen cooed sweetly.


    Delighted, J pulled out a thick envelope. ¡°Here¡¯s a little gift for the Christmas.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Grandma,¡± Darleen said, epting it gracefully before adding with feigned concern,


    ¡°But won¡¯t Gerry be upset if I call you that? I feel like he doesn¡¯t quite like me.¡±


    J¡¯s face hardened as she remembered the previous night''s events. ¡°He¡¯d better not be!¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t be mad, Grandma,¡± Darleen said, hugging J¡¯s arm. ¡°I was just saying. Actually,


    Gerry¡¯s really obedient. Mom always praises him and tells me I could learn a thing or two from him!¡±


    Who was Darleen? Edna¡¯s daughter, schooled in the art of winning favor and sowing discord without


    making a sound.


    What was Gerardpared to her?


    A child who didn¡¯t even know his own mother. What right did he have topete with her?


    One day, she¡¯d make sure J sent Gerard packing.


    And then, Edna would bare a younger brother for her. She would be the esteemed daughter-inw


    of the Christensen family, while her brother would take over the Lindsay legacy.


    Who in all of Capital City could rival her then?


    A smug glint shed in Darleen¡¯s eyes.


    J¡¯s expression soured. ¡°If only Gerry had half your sense, I¡¯d be grateful.¡±


    If Gerard really had been sensible, he wouldn¡¯t have refused to let Edna and Darleene to the


    Lindsay family¡¯s celebration.


    And to think Edna was so fond of him.


    If Gerard hadn¡¯t looked so much like Jonah, she might have doubted whether he belonged to the


    Lindsays at all.


    ¡°Grandma, you jest! I¡¯m nowhere near Gerry¡¯s level.¡± Darleen then produced a pair of insoles. ¡°Oh,


    and since it¡¯s the Christmas, I don¡¯t have much to give. I stitched these insoles for you myself.


    Please don¡¯t dismiss them.¡±


    The insoles weren¡¯t Darleen¡¯s handiwork at all.


    In fact, they were cheaply bought from a street vendor¡ªthree pairs for ten bucks.


    She dared to im they were her own making, confident that J wouldn¡¯t question her.


    The olddy was easy to fool¡ªboth blind in sight and judgment.


    Indeed, Darleen¡¯s assessment was spot on. J epted the insoles with joy. ¡°The gift is trifling,


    but the sentiment is profound! Darleen, you¡¯re so sweet!¡±

 Chapter 240

    It wasn''t just about insoles; it was about the fact that Darleen had crafted them with her own hands.


    Such a gesture was priceless!


    In this age of automation, which youngster would willingly stitch a pair of insoles for the elders at


    home?


    That granddaughter! She had every reason to be fond of her.


    The more J thought about it, the happier she became.


    With a smile, Darleen said, ¡°Grandma, I am your granddaughter, isn¡¯t it natural for me to look after


    you? Wait until I start making money, and I¡¯ll take you on a world tour! We¡¯ll travel in different


    cultures andndscapes.¡±


    Girls are always more considerate. Unlike Gerard, who had never spoken such endearing words to


    her. Did the Lindsay familyck the funds for a world tour? No, what theycked was a loving and


    dutiful child.


    ¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± J said, patting Darleen¡¯s hand. ¡°Grandma can¡¯t wait for that world tour with


    you.¡±


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    ¡°Oh, by the way, Grandma, where are Gerry and Keeley?¡± Darleen asked.


    ¡°They went out early to visit folks for the holidays and haven¡¯t returned yet,¡± J replied.


    Edna chimed in, ¡°J, howe I haven¡¯t seen your other sons and their wives and kidse by


    yet?¡±


    Jonah was the youngest child in the family, with four elder brothers.


    ¡°They called earlier to say there was a snowstormst night, which has made the roads


    treacherous. They probably won''t arrive until the afternoon,¡± J exined.


    She couldn¡¯t wait to see all her children and grandchildren, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in a year.


    Sadly, the weather had other ns.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Grandma. Even if the uncles can¡¯t make it back in time to be with you, I¡¯ll keep you


    company,¡± Darleen said, clinging to J¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Bless your heart!¡± J said, her face beaming with a smile.


    However, a sh of disgust passed through Darleen¡¯s eyes.


    She had always been particrly sensitive to the smell that clung to the elderly.


    But for now, Edna wasn¡¯t yet a fully-fledged member of the Lindsay family, and her position was


    precarious. She had to endure it.


    Someday, all this swallowing of pride would pay off.


    Just then, J seemed to remember something. ¡°Oh, Edna, someone sent over some gifts a few


    days ago. Take some back for your mother, will you? Tell her it¡¯s a token of my appreciation for her


    lovely honey.¡±


    A gift in return was always wee.


    J¡¯s return gifts were as revered as decrees in the Fletcher family.


    In truth, this wasn¡¯t just a mere gift; it was also a testament to J¡¯s affection and approval.


    Despite her joy, Edna responded, ¡°J, we¡¯re all family. There¡¯s no need for such formalities.¡±


    J smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s for your mother, not for you, so no refusals allowed!¡±


    With J insisting, Edna couldn¡¯t decline. Triumph glinted in her eyes.


    In the afternoon, J¡¯s four sons arrived with their wives and children in tow.


    The Lindsay family''s home suddenly buzzed with activity.


    Edna moved about the house as if she were thedy of the manor, busy with the guests.


    In fact, J¡¯s daughters-inw had indeede to ept Edna as one of their own. After all, over


    the years, no other woman had been by Jonah¡¯s side.


    In Cloudcrest City.


    In the afternoon, Reba arrived at the caf¨¦ punctually to meet Sallie.


    Upon arrival, she discovered Ste was there too.


    ¡°Reba,¡± Sallie and Ste greeted her earnestly.


    Despite being a high-profile attorney, Sallie could be as proud as the rarest of blooms, but she


    would still humble herself in the presence of Reba, a genuine blue-blooded debutante.


    Reba greeted them with a smile.


    ¡°Please, sit down, dear Reba,¡± they invited her.


    Reba gracefully took a seat and casually inquired, ¡°I''m surprised that on Christmas Day, you


    both have the time to join me for coffee. Didn¡¯t Mrs. Yeager take Anthea to your family¡¯s gathering?¡±


    Ste replied with a neutral tone, ¡°Our families have severed ties!¡±


    Though Carole was Ste¡¯s aunt, she never acknowledged their rtion, always referring to her by


    name.


    ¡°Severed ties?¡± Reba looked at Ste in surprise. ¡°Whatever for?¡±

 Chapter 241

    Ste took a sip of her coffee, her eyes clouding with disgust. "The Yeagers are at our door every


    day, looking for a handout. Even if we were loaded, we couldn''t bear this constant sponging! My


    mom felt sorry for Carole and set her up with a big-shot CEO, but can you believe it? Instead of


    being grateful, she let that good-for-nothing Anthea assault the guy! A bunch of ingrates!"


    Reba nodded in agreement. "I see what you mean. They really don''t know when they''re well off!


    I noticed Mrs. Yeager''s been opening up a bunch of eateries, and I thought maybe your family had


    invested in her. From what you''re saying, that doesn''t seem to be the case."


    "Eateries?" Ste furrowed her brows. "You''re talking about Carole?"


    "Yeah," Reba continued, "Her ce is over on Arcadia Avenue. It was booming before the


    holidays started¡ªlines out the door every day! Plus, the Yeagers moved out of their dingy


    basement, and I heard Mrs. Yeager dropped a cool 2 million to buy that restaurant outright..."


    Even Ste''s eyes widened in shock, and Sallie was bbergasted.


    2 million? What kind of money was that? Their entire family assetsbined were worth only 3


    million. Yet Carole had nonchntly put forward 2 million.


    Previously, Carole had been living in a dark and dreary basement. It was unbelievable!


    "Reba, are you sure you haven''t got it wrong?" Sallie stirred her coffee absentmindedly.


    She couldn''t even dream of earning 2 million. How on earth did Carole make it? It must be... She


    got it from men, didn''t she?


    Despite loathing Carole, she couldn''t deny that the woman was quite a looker. It was irritating!


    Just the other day, ine Yeager tried to set her up with Irvin, and she had the nerve to say she


    wouldn''t be anyone''s mistress.


    And now look at her!


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Reba went on, "It''s not just Mrs. Yeager who''s struck gold. Anthea is making a big fortune, too."


    "What could that no-hoper possibly do?" Ste said with disdain.


    Reba replied, "Anthea''s turned into quite the streaming sensation. She''s making a pretty penny


    every day.¡±


    Ste sneered, ¡°So, she''s one of those streamers who flirts around a bunch of guys?¡±


    Reba said, ¡°It doesn''t matter what kind of streamer she is, as long as it''s bringing in cash."


    "Shameless bitches!" Ste spat out. "Like mother, like daughter!"


    In her mind, Carole had no shame, ying the other woman and giving birth to a love child.


    And now Anthea was just as shameless. She was selling herself online! Disgusting!


    Reba, gauging the sisters'' reactions, added, "Anthea''s streams can pull in three million a


    session! On her best night, she raked in ten million."


    Ste''s silver spoon dropped to the floor.


    Ten million in one night? Sallie was equally startled.


    She''d once earned a maximum of 100,000 in attorney fees for winning a big case.


    She thought that was a fortune!


    She was awyer, but Anthea was just an illegitimate daughter who knew nothing.


    Why should Anthea earn ten million for doing nothing? Was it because of her face?


    The heavens truly weren''t fair!


    Sallie felt a bitter taste in her mouth.


    When they got home, the sisters told ine all about it.


    ine immediately shared the news with Felton and Gemma.


    Upon hearing this, Gemma was hopping mad. "The nerve! Now that she''s got money, she forgets


    her own parents? We''re still alive! She can''t even bring a bit of meat home for the holidays! We''re


    stuck here eating scraps while she''s out there living the high life! If I had known, I would have


    strangled that ungrateful brat at birth!"


    Felton was fuming too, taking a drag from his cigarette. "ine, is all this for real?"


    ine nodded, pulling out her phone. "Look, these three storefronts¡ªall Carole''s! Dad, and they''re


    not rented, she bought them. 2 million!"


    2 million! Felton stared hard at ine, his pupils dting.


    The most money he''d ever seen in one ce was 200,000.


    2 million? Good Lord!


    They''d struck gold! Their family was on the rise!

 Chapter 242

    "Are you for real?" Felton asked, his eyes wide as he stared at ine.


    ine chuckled, "Of course, I am! Why would I lie to you? I mean, Carole, bless her heart, but she''s


    forgotten where she came from. Ever since she struck gold, she''s turned her back on us, her own


    family! I might let it slide, but how could she forget you and Dad? You are her flesh and blood after


    all!"


    In this world, there''s no parent who doesn''t get under their kid''s skin at some point.


    No matter what had happened before, nothing could change the fact that Felton and Gemma were


    Carole''s biological parents.


    Blood is thicker than water, that means Carole had a duty to support them!


    Gemma was fuming on the side, cursing up a storm.


    ine tried to calm her down, "Mom, why are you getting so worked up over your own daughter?


    No matter what, you and Dad are her parents. Carole''s still single. She is always a Yeager. Isn''t


    everything she owns rightfully yours? Carole''s just a woman with a limited education, dragging


    around a kid ¨C she''s got no time to run a diner. What if she runs it into the ground?"


    Pausing for effect, ine continued, "If you ask me, we should let Saul take over the diner. Saul


    and his wife, they''re educated folks. Educated people know business better than someone who''s


    practically blind! It just makes sense!"


    Saul Yeager was the shining star of the Yeager family. He was the heir apparent.


    ine and her husband taking over Yeager''s Delicacies was the obvious choice.


    Carole didn''t know anything, with barely any schooling to speak of. How could she be trusted with a


    business?


    It must have been sheer luck that got her this far.


    But luck doesn''tst forever. After all, it was their family legacy!


    Gemma''s eyes lit up at ine''s words, nodding eagerly, "You''re right, ine! Saul should definitely


    take over. He can run the diner, and Vanessa, the ountant, can handle the books!"


    As for Carole. She could cool her heels elsewhere.


    "And don''t forget about the money," ine added. "Carole''s got at least fifty million in her hands.


    What''s a woman gonna do with all that cash? If she gets swindled, it''ll be a total loss. Just leave her


    a couple thousand for pocket change, the rest should be in your hands, Mom!"


    Carole was just too trusting. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have been conned so badly in her youth!


    ine was worried about leaving those millions under Carole''s unpredictable control.


    Gemma nodded vigorously, "You''re spot on, ine!" Carole was her daughter, after all. Without her


    giving birth to Carole, where would she be today?


    So, everything Carole had belonged to her! All of it!


    The fifty million was hers! The diner was hers!


    And she''d keep it all for Saul.


    Felton frowned, sensingplications. After all, Carole had cut ties with them, "What if she


    refuses?"


    "Refuses? She wouldn''t dare! I''m her mother!" Gemma eximed angrily. "If she doesn''t give it up,


    I''ll... I''ll set her straight!"


    ine smiled reassuringly, "Mom, Dad, don''t you worry. Carole wille through. At the end of the


    day, you''re her parents, and Saul is her brother. Who else would she give everything to if not her


    own family? Surely not to strangers."


    If Carole had any sense, she''d know not to benefit outsiders.


    Saul was the Yeager family''s pride and joy.


    Carole didn''t have a son, so naturally, she should leave everything to Saul!


    Gemma nodded in agreement, "You''re right, ine! Let''s go, old man, we''re visiting that ungrateful


    girl today to take back what''s ours!"


    We''re talking millions here!


    If they were toote, Gemma feared Carole might waste it all.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Felton stood up, ready to go.


    ine''s smile didn''t waver, "Mom, Dad, no need to rush. Let''s wait for Saul and Vanessa to get


    home from work. We''ll all go together tomorrow. Otherwise, Carole might trick you guys."

 Chapter 243

    Gemma finally abandoned the idea of seeking out Carole right away.


    In the evening.


    When Saul and Vanessa heard the news, they were beside themselves with excitement.


    Fifty million and three storefront properties.


    Good heavens! They had never seen so much money in their lives.


    "Honey, starting tomorrow, we won''t have to clock in at work anymore. We''re going to be rich guys!"


    Saul hugged Vanessa, his voice shaking with excitement.


    Vanessa was thrilled too, "Can you believe your little sister? Always so quiet, and now look at her¡ª


    a few months and she''s opened up her own diner."


    "She didn''t pull that off on her own!" Saul sneered, "Didn''t you hear what the eldest said? Carole''s


    being kept by some rich sugar daddy! All those goodies are from him!"


    Vanessa dropped the subject and continued, "I''ve been thinking, once we get that fifty million


    tomorrow, let''s buy a vi in the same neighborhood as your sister. With the rest, we can hire four


    housekeepers..."


    Vanessa had always envied ine for being a wealthy housewife, having several housekeepers,


    and not needing to lift a finger.


    Now, it was her time to shine, no longer living in ine''s shadow.


    Saul nodded in agreement, "Babe, don''t forget about the diner! Mom said you''re in charge of the


    finances, and I''m the boss. We''ll be the perfect team, work will be a breeze!"


    Having control over the finances was something Vanessa naturally desired.


    That night, the Yeager family, including Saul and Vanessa, hardly slept a wink.


    Driven by excitement, they were up and about at 5:30 in the morning.


    In the winter dawn, the sky was still dark.


    The family sat in the living room, strategizing the future of the diner and then discussing how to


    spend that fifty million.


    Vanessa suggested hiring a few housekeepers to take good care of Gemma.


    Gemma couldn''t stop smiling, proud of her considerate daughter-inw.


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    Not like Carole, Money had made her forget her roots.


    At seven in the morning, the family stepped out into the frosty air and headed to the condoplex


    where Carole lived.


    Gemma surveyed the surroundings. Compared to the basement Carole used to live in, this was


    heaven on earth.


    Money changes everything!


    Carole could afford such a fine ce to live, yetcked the heart to bring her family over to enjoy


    the good life! The nerve of her!


    Carole had just finished preparing breakfast when she heard a series of knocks on the door.


    As she opened it, she frowned slightly at the sight of her visitors.


    Vanessa greeted her with a smile, "Carole, we are here to see you, Merry Christmas!"


    Carole ignored her, "What are you doing here?"


    "What? Can''t I visit my own daughter''s home?" Gemma grabbed Carole''s hand, "Carole, no matter


    what, you''re my flesh and blood. Can''t your parentse over to see how you''re doing?"


    With that, Gemma muscled past Carole and made herself at home.


    "Wow, this is some fancy decor! And look at that¡ªis that ck Forest Ham? Why on earth is it just


    sitting on the floor!" Gemma hastily picked it up.


    The nerve of her, wasting such an expensive delicacy and not even thinking to share with her own


    mother! Gemma cursed inside of her.


    Carole''s frown deepened. Those ck Forest Ham and tonics were gifts from Kendrick on hisst


    visit.


    She hadn''t expected her parents to drop in unannounced, so she hadn''t put them away.


    Felton sat at the dining table with a stern face, "We haven''t had breakfast yet. Go fix us something!


    Stop standing there like a statue!"


    Just then, the door was pushed open from the outside.


    "If I''m not mistaken," a voice said from the entrance, "my mother cut ties with you allst time,


    right?"

 Chapter 244

    A faint voice echoed through the room, yet itnded with a thud.


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    All eyes turned towards the entrance.


    From the doorway, a slender sound made its entrance.


    In the midst of a frigid December, she was d in nothing but a thin white hoodie, ck jeans, and


    a pair of white sneakers that entuated her long, elegant legs.


    Her face, untouched by makeup, was breathtakingly beautiful.


    Upon seeing Anthea, Carole''s heart found its calm. With a steely face, she said to Felton, "Annie''s


    right. I''ve cut ties with you all a long time ago. Our home doesn''t wee you, so please leave at


    once!"


    "Brat! What did you say?" Felton mmed his hands down on the table, ring fiercely at Carole.


    Vanessa, ever the diplomat, knew they''de for money, and rtions mustn''t sour too much. With


    a smile, she yed peacemaker, "Dad, don''t get angry. Carole didn''t mean it like that. She''s your


    daughter. She''d never cut ties with you!"


    After her speech, Vanessa turned to Carole, "Carole, darling, that whole misunderstanding at your


    sister''s house¡ªeveryone was hot-headed, and things were said in the heat of the moment. They


    weren''t meant to sever ties. Surely, you don''t believe that! Look, your mom and dad, your brother


    and I came to apologize today. You know, as children, we should honor our parents. It''s a sin to hold


    anger against them. Carole, I know you''re not that kind of person! And besides, mom, dad, your


    brother and I, we''ve always had you and Annie in our hearts. Look, we know how much you love


    peanut brittle, so we brought you some specially."


    Vanessa was quite the wordsmith. With her eloquence, she not only appeased Carole but also


    reminded her of her duties as a daughter.


    A good daughter, regardless of her parents'' actions, must never harbor anger towards them. That


    was the duty of filial piety.


    Carole furrowed her brow tightly.


    She was never one for words. The weight of filial piety could crush a person...


    Vanessa had indeed struck a nerve with her speech.


    For a moment, Carole was at a loss for words.


    Anthea chuckled and joined in, "If you really cared about my mom, why didn''t you visit even once


    when we lived in that basement all those years? For eighteen years, even our next-door neighbor


    thought my mom was an orphan with no parents! Now that we''re doing well, youe with a bag of


    stale peanut brittle to show affection?"


    Now that Carole had opened three restaurants and moved out of the basement, life was looking up,


    and these people couldn''t sit still.


    They never considered how they had humiliated Carole back at ine''s house!


    Anthea had lived enough to see all kinds of people, but this level of shamelessness was a first for


    her!


    Vanessa''s face momentarily betrayed her embarrassment.


    The peanut brittle they brought was indeed stale, meant to cate Carole, but Anthea''s keen eyes


    saw through their ruse.


    "No, Annie, you''ve got it all wrong!" Vanessa quickly added, "Saul and I couldn''t bear to eat this


    peanut brittle, saving it for your mom! Who knew it would expire so quickly? They say it''s the


    thought that counts, and this peanut brittle represents our affection for your mom."


    Stale peanut brittle, spun by Vanessa into a priceless token of affection.


    Not everyone had such a gift of gab.


    Anthea''s lips curled slightly, "We can''t ept such valuable affection! The door is right there; please


    leave immediately! You''re not wee in our home!"


    "Carole! Is this how you''ve taught your daughter?" Saul rose from his seat, livid.


    Anthea looked up at Saul, "This is my house. How my mom raises her daughter is none of your


    business. Who do you think you are?"


    "Little bitch! Is that how you speak to your uncle? I won''t let you get away with this today!" Gemma


    leaped up, grabbing a nearby feather duster to strike Anthea, "You impudent child! Your mother


    didn''t teach you manners! I''ll do it for her today! If you don''t apologize to your uncle, I''ll teach you a


    lesson you won''t forget!"

 Chapter 245

    She was Anthea¡¯s grandma after all.


    Even if she were to cripple Anthea, there wasn''t a soul who could stop her.


    Anthea clenched a feather duster in her hand, seemingly with a light grip, yet Gemma couldn''t pry it


    away no matter how hard she tried. "You old hag! I''m warning you, this is my house! I have only one


    uncle, and his name is Uncle Nanson! If you keep spouting nonsense, don''t me me for not being


    nice!"


    Anthea had always held a deep respect for the elderly.


    In her past life, it was a kind stranger, an old woman, who had saved her life.


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    But facing Gemma''s shameless attitude, Anthea couldn''t muster any respect.


    Gemma was both angry and scared when she looked at Anthea''s face.


    That fear was instinctual and uncontroble.


    Regardless, she was Anthea''s grandmother. How dare Anthea, a younger generation, raise her


    voice at her?


    Did she have no regard for her own grandmother?


    In the moment, Gemma yed her trump card, copsing on the floor, wailing and shouting,


    "Somebody help! Come and see! A granddaughter hitting her grandmother! At my age, to be struck


    by a youngster! I can''t go on! I''m done! You cursed little wretch! The apple doesn''t fall far from the


    tree, a shameless hussy raising another nobody wants! She''s killing someone..."


    Felton mmed the table with a resounding smack, harmonizing with Gemma''s performance on the


    floor, "What a family tragedy! To think I''ve raised such an ungrateful daughter! Striking her own


    parents! Oh, Lord! Why don''t you just take us now? What purpose do we serve living in this world?


    You ungrateful child! You''ll be struck down by divine retribution!"


    Carole looked at her parents before her.


    Memories of the past shed through her mind, bringing tears to her eyes.


    As a child, unloved by her father and mother, she was raised by Grandma until she was eleven.


    At her grandma¡¯s, she had experienced a blissful childhood.


    But after her grandmother passed away, her parents took her back home, and that''s when her


    misery truly began.


    Taken back the year she was to start fifth grade, her parents didn''t allow her to continue her


    education.


    With two older sisters and a brother, the family couldn''t afford to send too many kids to school.


    At eleven, not even five feet tall, she not only had to work temp jobs at the workshop but also take


    care of all the household chores...


    Though Felton and Gemma were her parents, they had never fulfilled their parental duties.


    Carole clenched her fists, "What exactly do you want from me!?"


    Her roar drowned out every other voice in the room.


    A sudden silence fell. Even Gemma stopped her howling, she looked up at Carole.


    Carole cleared her throat and demanded, "What will it take for you to leave me alone?"


    If she had a choice, she would have preferred never to have set foot in this world.


    Vanessa spoke with a smile, "Carole, since you''ve spoken your mind, let''sy it all out on the table!"


    The facade was already torn, no need to pretend any longer.


    Gemma scrambled to her feet, "Yes, let''s speak inly!"


    Vanessa continued, "Carole, I hear you''ve struck it rich now! Running a restaurant and ying the


    bossdy, huh?"


    "No." Carole tly denied. She knew her parents'' character; if they learned she was running a


    sessful restaurant, there''d be no end to their antics.


    Vanessa persisted, "Don''t try to fool us! Your big sister spilled the beans! Carole, you''re a Yeager,


    always a part of the Yeager family! What''s yours is ours! Your money is also the Yeager family''s


    money!"


    Pausing, Vanessa added, "A woman like you, with a child in tow, can''t possibly manage a


    restaurant. So, I''ve discussed it with your brother, and we''ve decided to take it off your hands. It''s a


    tough job, but we''re family! We''ll head over to the office and transfer the ownership. Oh, and I''ve


    heard Annie''s made something of herself too, a big-time broadcaster now, must have saved a pretty


    penny. Holding all that cash isn''t safe for you two, so hand it over for safekeeping. I hear it''s about


    fifty million, right?"

 Chapter 246

    Anthea had initially thought that they came here to make a scene.


    But no, they were here for the big bucks.


    They nonchntly demanded fifty million dors.


    They had the audacity to expect it as a matter of course.


    To say they were shameless would be an insult to the word itself.


    "Fifty million? That''s chump change for us. We''ve got a hundred million," Anthea replied with casual


    indifference.


    Vanessa''s jaw dropped at Anthea''s words.


    "Are you for real?"


    It wasn''t just Vanessa who was stunned; Felton, Gemma, and Saul by her side were bbergasted


    as well.


    A hundred million! What did that even mean?


    It meant their family was about to join the ranks of the billionaires.


    Anthea gave a slight nod, "Of course it''s real. How else do you think we had the money to buy the


    storefront? And we''re not stopping at that; we''re gearing up to buy a mansion!"


    This wasn''t an empty boast.


    That hundred million didn''t even include the restaurant''s earnings. It was all thanks to Anthea''s gigs


    on tech websites, her streaming revenue, and the sales of her climate-controlled clothing line.


    As for the restaurant''s profits, Carole had been banking them all along since she was the one


    running the show.


    Vanessa''s heart soured with jealousy upon hearing that Carole had a hundred million stashed away.


    However, the thought that all that money would soon be hers eased her envy considerably. She


    followed up with, "You two are doing just fine here, aren''t you? Why move into a mansion! Head


    straight to the bank and transfer that hundred million into our ount! Such a hefty sum should be


    under our safekeeping. You, a widow and orphan, might fall prey to swindlers, you know?"


    The mansion should be theirs to purchase!


    Anthea and Carole had no right to live in such luxury.


    Vanessa had initiallye to demand fifty million from Carole. But to her utter surprise, Carole had


    a hundred million!


    What a windfall!


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    With a hundred million, she could buy several mansions, not just for herself but also for her siblings


    back home!


    She could uplift her entire family to a life of luxury.


    "Let''s go now! To the bank! And transfer that money into your uncle and my ounts!" Vanessa


    commanded. "And you, Annie, I heard you''re making a lot as a streamer. What''s a kid like you doing


    with all that money? Hand over your bank card and switch it to mine. I''ll give you a thousand a


    month for pocket money, and that''s more than enough!"


    A thousand bucks wasn''t a small sum!


    What could Anthea, a mere girl, do with all that money?


    As for the rest, Vanessa had ns for her own son and daughter.


    With this money, she could send her kids abroad for their studies.


    Anthea nced out the window with a smirk, "It''s not even dark yet, and you''re already dreaming.


    Let me tell you, you won''t get a dime of my money!"


    "What do you mean ''your money''!" Gemma interjected. "That money is mine! Even you belong to


    the Yeager bloodline! You shameless leech!"


    Vanessa slumped onto the couch, adding fuel to the fire, "Mom''s right. Not just the money, even you


    are property of the Yeagers! If you don''t hand it over, we''re not leaving. Tomorrow, we''ll lock up all


    your shops and see who can oust who!"


    Carole was unmarried, and Anthea bore the Yeager name.


    They thought they could break away from the Yeager family? Not a chance!


    Alive or dead, they were Yeagers through and through!


    Even if they took it to the cops, it would just be a family dispute.


    Carole took a deep breath, knowing this wouldn''t end unless she gave in.


    They were bound by blood, and no one could sever the ties of their troubled family roots.


    "I don''t have fifty million. How much do you want?"


    Anthea frowned slightly. She understood Carole''s mindset. But with people like the Yeager parents,


    there could be nopromise.


    Not a single cent! Because once the precedent was set, there would be no end to their demands,


    an endless source of trouble.


    Anthea had to think of a way to bolster Carole''s resolve.


    Her eyesnded on Gemma, and she had a n.


    "Don¡¯t! Mom, don''t give them anything!" Anthea eximed loudly.


    "Shut your mouth, bitch!" Gemma sprang up, hurling insults at Anthea.

 Chapter 247

    "Shut your mouth, you old hag!" Anthea cursed.


    For years, Gemma had been the one dishing out insults, targeting whoever she fancied without a


    hint of pushback. But today, the tables had turned.


    With a fire in her belly, Gemma leaped up, "You little tramp! Bastard child! Why don''t you just drop


    dead..." In her fury, she shoved Anthea hard.


    Anthea, however, didn''t dodge. She didn''t retaliate. She simply let Gemma''s push m her against


    the wall, careful to control the impact.


    It was neither too soft nor too hard, just enough to draw blood from her forehead.


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Anthea''s skin was pale, so any injury stood out starkly. Now, she looked positively ghastly.


    "Annie!" Carole rushed over and enveloped Anthea in her arms.


    "Mom! It hurts so much!" Anthea clung to Carole, unleashing her inner drama queen, as she started


    to whimper.


    Nobody had anticipated this chaotic turn of events.


    "It''s just a small cut! It''s not like she''s gonna die!" Gemma red at Anthea with contempt. "You little


    bastard! I bet you did this on purpose!"


    Just a moment ago, Anthea was swinging those feather dusters with such force; how was it that she


    had suddenly be so frail?


    "My daughter is not a bastard! She is not!" Carole couldn''t hold back any longer, and she roared,


    "Get out! All of you, get out of here now!"


    "Not without a hundred million bucks! We won''t leave!" Gemma rolled her eyes at Carole.


    Carole''s daughter was too soft, always caving in. For all her rage, Carole was probably already


    figuring out how to transfer them the money.


    Carole helped Anthea to the sofa and made a beeline for the kitchen.


    When she returned, a butcher knife was gripped firmly in her hand.


    Gemma, Felton, and Saul and Vanessa were taken aback in shock.


    "Carole! Stop this madness! Murder is a crime! I''m your brother, she''s your sister-inw, and they


    are your parents!" Saul tried to reason with her.


    Carole just stared at these four so-called family members, "You''re not my brother! I have no brother!


    And as for them, they don''t deserve to be my parents! They say that if you raise a child without


    care, you owe them nothing. Today, I''m cutting off all ties!"


    With that, Carole raised the knife and brought it down with a swift motion.


    A segment of her finger dropped to the floor.


    The room fell into a haunting silence.


    Even Anthea was taken aback by her mother''s action.


    She never thought Carole would harm herself.


    "Mom!" Anthea rushed to her side.


    "I''m okay, honey!" Carole, her face ashen, locked eyes with Gemma, Felton, Saul, and Vanessa,


    "From this day forward, I am Carole and nothing more to you people! If you dare disturb me and my


    daughter again, for every one of you thates, one will fall at my hand! Bring two, and I''ll take


    down a pair! Until there''s none of you left! If ites to it, we''ll all die together! I''m tired of living


    anyway!"


    With that, Carole mmed the knife into the wooden dining table, where the bloody fingery


    beside it, a chilling testament to her resolve.


    Gemma, Felton, and the others trembled with fear.


    They had onlye for some money. They never expected things to escte like this.


    And they certainly didn''t expect Carole to be so ruthless, even to the point of hurting herself. If she


    could do that to herself, what wouldn''t she do to them?


    Nobody doubted her words.


    What was moneypared to life?


    The intruders exchanged fearful nces before fleeing, scared that Carole might chase them down


    with the knife.


    Once they were gone, Carole exhaled in relief.


    After calling emergency services, Anthea grabbed a first aid kit and began tending to her mother''s


    wound, her vision blurred by tears. "Mom, are you okay? Does it hurt?"


    For the first time in her life, Anthea felt the full force of maternal love and understood the saying,


    "Though women are gentle, a mother is fierce."


    This was the first time Carole had seen Anthea cry, and sheforted her with a smile, "I''m fine,


    sweetheart, it doesn''t hurt at all! Stop crying, Annie. And how''s your head? Does it still hurt?"


    "I''m not in pain, not at all! I''m so sorry, Mom... I could have moved away, I shouldn''t have let it


    happen!" Anthea was filled with regret for not avoiding the confrontation.

 Chapter 248

    If Carole hadn''t outsmarted them, she wouldn''t have had to go to the extreme of severing her own


    finger.


    She had underestimated the power of a mother''s love.


    ¡°Oh, my silly girl! How could this ever be your fault? With grandparents like that, extreme measures


    were the only way to ensure peace for good, otherwise, we would never have a moment''s peace!


    Sweetie, stop your crying, mom doesn''t hurt a bit. It''s just a finger, after all.¡±


    For her daughter, she was willing to go all the way!


    Initially, Carole had thought to solve the problem with some cash.


    But the moment she saw Anthea injured, she knew.


    Without going all out, she and her daughter would never have peace.


    ¡°Mom!¡± Anthea wrapped her arms around Carole in a tight hug. Feeling her daughter''s embrace,


    Carole couldn''t help the tears that flowed freely down her cheeks.


    Before long, the ambnce arrived.


    At the hospital, Carole was rushed into the emergency room. The doctors managed to save her


    finger, saying it could be reattached because it had been well-preserved.


    Anthea breathed a sigh of relief and told the doctors to spare no expense as long as her mother''s


    finger could be saved.


    Nanson arrived while she was still in surgery.


    "Annie, what on earth happened? How did your mom end up like this?"


    Anthea¡¯s eyes were still red as she recounted the events.


    Upon hearing the story, Nanson shook with rage, his veins bulging with anger.


    He turned to storm out, ¡°Damn it! I¡¯m going to make them pay!¡±


    They always say the eldest sister is like a mother.


    This adage couldn''t be more true for Nanson and Carole.


    Even though Carole wasn''t the eldest, she had always been more responsible than ine, the


    actual eldest. If it weren''t for Carole, Nanson would have died young! That''s why Nanson had


    always revered her!


    ¡°Uncle! Please, don¡¯t be rash! Calm down!¡± Anthea held onto Nanson, ¡°Mom has already lost a


    finger, she wouldn¡¯t want you to get into trouble! Murder leads to a life for a life, it¡¯s not worth risking


    yourself for those people!¡±


    ¡°Let go of me!¡±


    ¡°Uncle!¡± Anthea continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let mom lose her finger for nothing!¡±


    She was determined to make them pay back a hundredfold!


    ¡°Annie?¡± Nanson looked at Anthea.


    Anthea nodded firmly.


    Just then, the lights in the emergency room went off. The door swung open from the inside.


    Anthea and Nanson rushed forward, ¡°Doctor, how is my mom (my sister)?¡±


    The doctor, removing his mask, smiled reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the surgery went well! The finger


    has been reattached, but she must be careful to rest and recover during this time. She''ll need to


    stay in the hospital for observation for three days!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Doctor!¡±


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    Soon after, Carole was wheeled out.


    ¡°Mom!¡±


    ¡°Carole!¡±


    Carole looked rtively well, albeit pale.


    They say each finger is connected to the heart.


    Her earlier im of no pain was a lie, she just didn¡¯t want Anthea to worry.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m okay!¡± Carole managed a faint smile, ¡°And Nanson, you better not do anything


    foolish! After today¡¯s incident, they won¡¯t dare to bother us again! I want all of you to live peacefully!¡±


    They were siblings.


    Carole knew Nanson too well. She knew he wouldn¡¯t let this go easily.


    ¡°Sis!¡±


    ¡°If you still consider me your sister, then listen to me! Otherwise, don¡¯t acknowledge me as your


    sister anymore!¡± Carole¡¯s tone was serious, leaving no room for jest.


    She had sacrificed her finger so that her family could live in peace.


    If Nanson did something reckless now, her sacrifice would be in vain!


    After a long moment, Nanson finally nodded, ¡°I understand, Carole.¡±


    ¡°And you,¡± Carole turned to Anthea, ¡°Annie, I know you¡¯re no ordinary girl, but let''s put this behind


    us. Please, don¡¯t do anything foolish.¡±


    Anthea looked at her mother earnestly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. I won¡¯t risk anything for those despicable


    people. They''re not worth it.¡±


    Carole smiled and nodded, ¡°That¡¯s my good girl.¡±


    At two in the afternoon, Nanson told Anthea to stay with Carole in the hospital while he went home


    to make some nourishing soup to bring back. Carole had lost a lot of blood and needed something


    to help her regain her strength.

 Chapter 249

    Anthea stood up decisively and said, "Uncle Nanson, you stay here with mom. I''ll head back and


    grab myptop."


    "You all should go home!" Carole insisted, pushing herself up in her hospital bed. "It''s just a finger


    that I can''t move, not like I''m paralyzed. I don''t need all this fussing over me!"


    Nanson, however, acted as if he hadn''t heard Carole''s protest. He patted Anthea''s shoulder gently


    and said, "Annie, you go on then. Just be safe on your way."


    "I will."


    With that, Anthea left the room.


    Helpless, Carole sighed deeply and said, "Really, I''m fine on my own! Nanson, you should head


    back too. Didn''t you say the office is swamped? Go take care of business. Don''t let me hold you


    up!"


    Courier services run all year round, without a single day off, even during the holidays.


    And now it was already the third day of the new year.


    "It''s not busy," Nanson said as he sat down beside Carole, peeling an apple for her. "I''ve already


    given instructions at the office. Don''t worry about it, sis."


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Carole shook her head helplessly, amused and slightly exasperated by Nanson''s stubborn


    kindness.


    Around five in the evening, Anthea returned with food and herptop.


    As soon as she entered the room, she could hear Carole and Nanson chatting andughing


    together.


    Anthea took out the food containers, handing one to Nanson, "Uncle Nanson, you must be hungry. I


    made your favorite beef stir-fry with noodles, and there''s a bowl of soup too."


    Nanson grinned as he epted the meal. "Ah, my dear Annie always knows what I like!"


    "Of course," Anthea replied with a smile, then opened another container with a nutritious soup


    meant to promote healing. "Mom, let me feed you."


    Carole chuckled. "You''re such a worrywart! My left hand is injured, not my entire body. It''s not like I


    can''t eat on my own!"


    "No way," Anthea insisted, bringing a spoonful of soup to her mother''s lips. "I need to do this."


    Seeing Anthea''s determination, Carole relented and opened her mouth to take the soup, her eyes


    brimming with contentment.


    A new patient in the adjacent bed couldn''t help butment with envy, "Your daughter is a gem.


    Not only is she beautiful, but she''s also so caring. Unlike my three sons who only give me


    headaches! Here I am with a broken leg, and they haven''t even shown up!"


    Carole smiled proudly. "Yes, my daughter is truly the best."


    After Carole finished her soup, Anthea turned to Nanson, "Uncle Nanson, I can stay at the hospital


    tonight. You should get some rest."


    Nanson replied, "I think I should stay. You go home."


    "Don''t you know it''s not appropriate for a man to stay overnight in ady''s hospital room?" Anthea


    raised an eyebrow yfully.


    Caught off guard, Nanson agreed to leave ande back in the morning to relieve Anthea.


    "I''ll walk you out, Uncle."


    Nanson started to protest, knowing his way around, but Anthea''s insistence made him realize she


    wanted to talk.


    Indeed, Anthea had something important to say. "Uncle, I''ve done some digging. Hancock has been


    keeping a mistress named Wendy on the side, and they have a six-year-old son. Hancock''s even


    looking to buy a house in a good school district for them."


    "Is that so?" Nanson''s surprise was evident. The idea of his brother-inw, a man who prided


    himself on his integrity, keeping a secret family was shocking.


    Anthea nodded, adding, "Sallie, while representing a client in court, bribed a witness. I''ve sent the


    evidence to your email. You know what to do, right?"


    Nanson nodded with a grim determination. "Don''t worry, Annie. I''ll handle the Lyons family. But what


    about the Yeagers?"


    "Don''t worry, they won''t get off easy," Anthea replied with a chilling glint in her eyes.


    With a final reminder to call if she needed anything, Nanson left. Anthea watched his figure recede


    into the distance before turning back to the hospital.

 Chapter 250

    After returning to the office, Nanson wasted no time in getting on the phone with a private detective


    agency, instructing them to dig into Hancock and Wendy''s affair.


    He then sifted through his inbox, organizing the evidence Anthea had sent him, and with a cloak of


    anonymity, he forwarded it to the victims'' families.


    The detective agency was remarkably efficient. By the next day, they had snapped a series of


    incriminating photos of Hancock and his mistress.


    Nanson bundled up the photos and shipped them off to ine.


    When ine got her hands on the pictures, she was seething with rage, a storm of fury brewing in


    her heart. She wanted nothing more than to kill the treacherous couple.


    "Hancock, you son of a bitch! When I was with you, you didn''t have a penny. And now you dare to


    betray me?"


    The idea of him ying around was bad enough, but a kid too? That was a whole new level of hurt.


    ine could hardly contain herself. In a frenzy, she dashed over to Wendy''s ce and started


    hammering on the door with the force of a hurricane.


    If she could, she''d have torn the house down brick by brick.


    "Who''s there?" Wendy called,ing to open the door.


    "You fucking bitch! Home-wrecker!" ine didn''t hesitate to p Wendy across the face.


    Stunned, Wendy clutched her cheek and screamed, "Who the hell are you? What gives you the


    right to hit me?"


    "Bitch, I''m Hancock''s legal wife! You have some nerve! I''ll make sure you pay for this today" ine


    lunged at Wendy, fists and feet flying.


    Wendy, frail and petite, was no match for the towering ine. It didn''t take long for Wendy to be


    pinned to the ground, her face reddening with each p, soon resembling a swollen balloon.


    In the chaos, Wendy''s sleeping child was jolted awake and stumbled out, barefoot and bewildered.


    Seeing Wendy being attacked, the six-year-old burst into tears.


    "Mommy. Mommy."


    ine, in a fit of rage, grabbed a mug and hurled it towards the child, "Stop your crying. Your


    mother''s a shameless bitch, and you''re no better."


    The child''s sobs grew louder.


    "Go find your grandma." Wendy managed to yell.


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    But the six-year-old was frozen in fear, unable to move.


    Suddenly, a loud thud echoed through the room.


    ine looked up to see an elderly woman at the door. The ''thud'' was the sound of her watermelon


    hitting the ground.


    "Mom?" ine asked in disbelief, seeing her mother-inw Haley.


    "Grandma." The child, seeing his savior, ran towards her.


    "Carl. Are you okay?" Haley scooped up her precious grandson and red at ine, "What are you


    doing here? Get out, now."


    "Mom. Are you taking their side? Did you know about this all along?" ine rose to her feet and


    confronted Haley.


    "You''re the real disgrace. A barren woman." Haley hugged Carl tight, "If you have any sense, you''ll


    leave right now. Let''s end this here before I get Hancock to sort you out."


    "Mom. How could you do that? I''m Hancock''s legitimate wife." ine was shattered. The woman


    she''d respected for over two decades had turned on her, and was it all because she hadn''t borne a


    son for the Lyons family?


    "So what? You can''t bear a son, but you won''t allow someone else to? Now that you know, let''sy


    everything out. My grandkid is Carl, the one who''ll carry on our family name. Everything in our


    family will belong to him. If you dare, divorce Hancock."


    Haley was itching for ine to divorce Hancock.


    If she did, Carl could take his rightful ce in the Lyons family without any more hiding.


    ine stood there, watching Haley with a mix of despair and disbelief, "Mom. What about Sallie and


    Ste? Aren''t they your granddaughters too? What happens to them if Hancock and I divorce?"


    "Those two are nothing but liabilities. They can go with whoever wants them." Haley''s only concern


    now was Carl.


    To her, Sallie and Ste were nothing more than burdens on the family.


    ine couldn''t take it anymore. She copsed to the ground, her world crumbling as she wept


    uncontrobly.

 Chapter 251

    Over two decades of waiting, and it all turned out to be a cruel joke.


    Seizing her chance, Wendy unleashed a fury of blows upon ine right there and then.


    When ine emerged from the apartment building once more, she was the picture of misery.


    She contemted her options.


    ¡°Might as well be dead,¡± she thought.


    But then again, why should she die? To make way for that homewrecker?


    No, she couldn''t die. She needed to make Hancock pay. She wanted to see him ruined, his


    reputation in tatters.


    As a doctor, he needed not only medical ethics but also morality and character.


    Having been Hancock''s wife for so many years, ine knew plenty of his dirty little secrets.


    Nothing earth-shattering.


    But certainly enough to ensure he''d never recover.


    Upon returning home, ine organized the incriminating information she had, ready to hand it over


    to Hancock''s rivals.


    That was when Hancock came back.


    Looking at Hancock who had shared her bed for over twenty years, ine felt a stir of emotion.


    She thought to herself, ¡°If Hancock were to kneel before her with tears in his eyes begging for


    forgiveness, maybe she''d give him another chance.¡±


    But he didn''t.


    Instead of showing remorse, Hancock pped her hard across the face, "You wretch. Why go after


    Wendy? Do you have any idea how much you''ve frightened Carl? You harlot. If anything happens to


    Carl, I swear I''ll make you pay."


    With those words, Hancock turned and left without a backward nce.


    He was sick of ine.


    At fifty-six, no matter how well she took care of herself, she couldn''tpete with the twenty-three-


    year-old Wendy.


    Especially since Wendy had given him a son.


    ine watched Hancock walk away,ughing bitterly, "Well done, Hancock. That p was perfect.


    You couldn''t have done it better."


    That p severed all the emotional ties of the past two decades.


    Without hesitation, ine sent the information she had gathered to Hancock''spetitors.


    Retribution, after all, was swift.


    The next day, Hancock''s affair was the talk of the town. At the hospital, he was treated like a pariah,


    with everyone shunning him.


    And that wasn''t all, he was exposed for inting medical bills and harassing female patients.


    Once the news broke, he was swiftly dismissed from his position.


    Not to mention, he was facing a slew ofwsuits from patients'' families.


    Just when ine was relishing Hancock''s downfall, another piece of news shattered her world.


    Sallie had been detained.


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    And it seemed likely that she''d be convicted.


    These sudden cmities devastated the family. ine''s hair turned white overnight as she


    withdrew all her savings, determined to bail out Sallie at any cost.


    In just two days, ine aged what seemed like twenty years. She let go of all the house help,


    mortgaged the vi and other properties, moving from a luxurious mansion to a gloomy, sunless


    basement.


    The morning calmness of the Yeager family was shattered by a sudden knock at the door.


    Vanessa walked over to answer it, "Who is it? What''s with the early disturbance?"


    As she opened the door, she was met by several police officers.


    Vanessa''s sleepiness vanished in an instant, "Good morning, officers. How can I help you?"


    "Are you rtives of Saul Yeager? Saul is a suspect in a fraud case and we need him toe with


    us for questioning."

 Chapter 252

    Hearing the news, Vanessa was dumbstruck, her lingering sleepiness evaporating in the blink of an


    eye.


    "Officer, " Vanessa stammered, "Saul is aw-abiding man, and he''d never engage in illegal


    activities. There are so many people in the world with the same name, and you''ve definitely made a


    mistake."


    "Don''t worry, madam," the lead officer stepped forward, "We don''t wrong the innocent, nor do we let


    the guilty walk free. Where''s Saul? Ask him toe out."


    "He''s not home." Vanessa blocked the doorway, preventing the officers from entering, "Please, just


    go."


    The officer pulled out a badge from his pocket, "This is a warrant for his arrest. Please cooperate


    with the police and do not obstruct our duty."


    Vanessa swallowed hard. Though she didn''t want to move aside, her feet involuntarily retreated


    several steps.


    The officers filed into the house.


    The living room was empty except for a teenage boy around sixteen or seventeen, sitting on the


    couch eating a hamburger.


    "Where''s Saul?" The officer turned to look at Vanessa.


    Shane stood up from the couch, his face pale, "What''s happened to my dad?"


    To a son, a father was always a towering figure of strength.


    The officer didn''t want Shane to see the disgrace of his father being taken away and spoke kindly,


    "This doesn''t involve you. Go back to your room, please."


    Vanessa snapped out of her daze at that moment, pushing Shane towards the door, "Go to your


    grandparents'' house. Your dad''s fine, don''t worry."


    "Mom."


    "It''s okay, really." Vanessa tried to sound calm and casual, "The officers are just here to discuss


    something with your dad. Go to your grandparents'', and tell them toe over for lunch. I''ll go buy


    your grandma''s favorite ms."


    Relieved by her words, Shane left.


    Watching Shane''s retreating figure, Vanessa mmed the door shut, her back against it, tears


    streaming down her face.


    She wasn''t oblivious to the things Saul had done.


    What she hadn''t anticipated was how swiftly retribution woulde.


    "Saul? Where is he?"


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    The conversation with the officers resumed.


    Taking a deep breath, Vanessa knew she couldn''t avoid it any longer, "He''s in the bedroom."


    The leading officer nodded to another with a buzz cut. "Check it out."


    "Roger that.".


    Then three officers moved to the bedroom.


    Sure enough, Saul was sound asleep on the bed, only to be roused as the cold handcuffs clicked


    around his wrists, "Honey, what''s going on?"


    When Saul''s bleary eyes finally focused on the officers instead of Vanessa, he was startled, sweat


    beading on his skin.


    "Officer, I didn''t do anything. Why are you arresting me?" Saul struggled vehemently.


    "Stay still." The officers pinned him down.


    "Honey. Get me awyer. The bestwyer."


    Vanessa nodded tearfully and escorted Saul to the door.


    After the officers took Saul away, Vanessa rushed to Felton''s ce.


    She was a woman alone. Despite her education, facing a crisis of this magnitude without a man by


    her side was overwhelming.


    When Gemma heard her beloved eldest son Saul had been taken away by the police, she fainted


    from shock.


    Amidst the chaos, Gemma eventually came to, only to start weeping again, "My son, my boy. How


    can I go on¡­"


    "Just shut up!" Felton turned to Gemma, bellowing for the first time in nearly forty years of marriage.


    Gemma immediately stopped crying. She was too frightened to utter another word.


    Felton pointed at Gemma, his voiceced with fury, "All you do is cry. Useless bitch!"


    Gemma sniffled, trying topose herself.

 Chapter 253

    Felton turned his head to look at Vanessa, "Did Saul say anything to you when he left?"


    Vanessa''s eyes were red as she spoke, "Saul asked me to get him awyer."


    "Awyer?" Felton furrowed his brow, then said, "Isn''t that Sallie awyer? Call Sallie, now."


    It was good to have connections in the family.


    With Sallie on the case, Saul was sure to be fine.


    Hearing this, Vanessa''s eyes reddened even more, "Sallie''s been..."


    "Where did she go?" Felton asked, puzzled.


    Vanessa recounted the events, "ine didn''t want to worry you, so she didn''t let us tell you.


    Hancock got fired from the hospital, and they had to sell their mansion, and even their cars are


    mortgaged now."


    When it rains, it pours.


    Felton''s face went pale in an instant.


    He wasn''t sad about ine''s family''s sudden misfortune, and he was worried that without Sallie''s


    help, Saul wouldn''t make it out.


    "Then get Saul the bestwyer. And grease some palms if you have to. Don''t worry about the


    money, if we''re short, we can sell the house."


    Ther weren''t that wealthy, but they had some savings.


    After all, they got five properties in one go during thest urban redevelopment.


    They lived in two and rented out the other three.


    Those three properties could sell for at least six or seven million.


    Vanessa wiped her tears, "Okay. I''ll do it right away." As long as Saul coulde out safely, she


    was willing to sell not just one house, but all of them if needed.


    Today was the day Carole was discharged from the hospital.


    Early in the morning, her brother Nanson came bearing flowers to pick her up.


    "Carole, Congrats."


    Carole smiled, taking the flowers with one hand.


    Anthea, trailing behind with the luggage, was grateful it was summer, and their clothes were light, so


    there wasn''t much to carry.


    "Uncle Nanson, looking sharp. Got a hot date?" Nanson, who rarely dressed up, was surprisingly in


    a bespoke suit and shiny ck dress shoes today. He had a good foundation, and all dressed up,


    he certainly looked the part.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "What do you mean ''looking sharp''?" Nanson took the luggage from Anthea''s hands, "I was born


    handsome, you know?"


    Carole realized now why Anthea always admired herself in the mirror, saying ''I¡¯m such a stunner!''


    It must be in the genes. They were undoubtedly a family.


    Once they got in the van, it was a short ride home.


    Anthea found a vase for the bright red roses, which added a vibrant touch to the otherwise in


    living room. A scent of perfume and roses filled the air.


    Delightful.


    For lunch, Anthea ordered from a health-focused diner.


    During the meal, she cautiously brought up the recent events in the Yeager family to Carole.


    "Mom, Hancock got fired from the hospital for keeping a mistress, something ine exposed.


    Sallie''s been detained for perjury and might even face prison."


    Carole was taken aback.


    Clearly, she hadn''t expected ine''s family to suffer such great misfortunes in just a few days.


    Just a week ago, she had seen ine, the high and mightydy of the house.


    "Mom, if inees to you for help, would you help her?"


    Carole replied, "I''m no big shot, and how can I help her?"


    "What if she asks you for money?" Anthea pressed on.


    Money talks.


    ine had moved from a big mansion to a basement apartment, and what if she came begging to


    Carole?


    Anthea feared Carole might go soft again.


    "No," Carole said calmly, "I have no rtionship with them anymore."


    After the pain of betrayal, Carole was thoroughly disillusioned with those so-called family members.


    It was best for everyone to go their separate ways.


    Seeing Carole''s resolve, Anthea continued, "There''s also trouble back home. Saul''s been arrested


    for fraud. They''re trying to sell houses and pull strings to get him out."

 Chapter 254

    Carole paused, a look of surprise crossing her face.


    What were the odds that everything seemed to fall apart all at once?


    And just after she had cut off ties with her past?


    Could it be Anthea''s doing?


    The thought flickered through Carole''s mind before she dismissed it as unlikely.


    Anthea, despite her talents, was only eighteen.


    What kind of clout could a kid like that have?


    Carole gazed at Anthea and said earnestly, "Annie, honey, I want you to know I''ve truly let go.


    Whatever happens back in our old town, whether it''s life or death, it has nothing to do with me


    anymore."


    Anthea nodded slightly, "Mom, it eases my mind to hear you say that."


    "Silly girl," Carole replied affectionately, "Annie, there''s something I want to ask you."


    "Go ahead, Mom."


    "Do you think I''m too old to start learning some newnguage?"


    "You want to learn newnguage?" Anthea was taken aback.


    She had thought Carole might ask about the recent troubles with the Yeager family.


    It seemed Carole had really moved on.


    Carole nodded. She wanted to learn French. She had never thought it was important untilst week


    when she met with some French clients. She had felt like aplete illiterate. She couldn''t


    understand a thing, not even a simple word. Thankfully, there were a couple of students from a


    language school at the next table.


    So, Carole decided to use her free time to seriously study French.


    Anthea looked up at Carole, "Mom, you can learn at any age if you''re willing."


    "Really?" Carole was surprised. At thirty-nine, she had thought it was a lost cause.


    Anthea nodded decisively, "I''ll drop by the bookstore and get you some learning materials, then find


    you a private tutor online."


    "Sounds good."


    After dinner, Anthea headed to the local bookstore and picked up some basic textbooks. She also


    arranged reliable online lessons.


    Carole was thirsty for knowledge. Not only did she absorb the new information, but she also took it


    seriously. With the restaurant still closed, she had time on her hands and decided to increase her


    daily lesson to three.


    Within three days, Carole learned basic conversational French. To elerate her learning, she


    suggested that Anthea speak French with her in daily conversation, correcting any mistakes on the


    spot.


    When Nanson returned home, he was surprised to hear Carole conversing in French with Anthea,


    "Carole. When did you pick up French?"


    "Just started, I only know the basics. Annie''s the real pro here." Carole was impressed by Anthea''s


    nearly wless pronunciation.


    Nanson was curious, "Why are you learning French, Carole?"


    "Because we often have foreigners at the restaurant, and French is useful. It can''t hurt to learn it."


    Anthea chimed in, "Nanson, you should consider learning too. Your courier business is booming,


    and it''s only a matter of time before it goes international."


    Nanson was naturally business-savvy. Within months, he had turned a failingpany around and


    was on the rise. Going global was just a matter of time.


    "I could always hire a trantor," Nanson countered.


    Anthea raised an eyebrow, "Some trantors can be crooked, twisting words to suit their needs."


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    "Annie, you''re exaggerating," said Nanson skeptically. "There can''t be that many bad trantors out


    there."


    Nanson always believed that there were more good people in the world than bad.


    "Nanson, have you ever heard the saying, ''Business is a battlefield''? What if a trantor is bought


    by a rival, leading to lost deals or leaked secrets? What then?"


    Business was a battlefield.


    One false step could lead to a lifetime of regret.


    Anthea wasn''t exaggerating at all.

 Chapter 255

    Nanson sat back, his skepticism swayed by Anthea''s impassioned plea. "Knowledge once learned


    is yours forever, no one can steal it. Besides, it won''t take much of your time, just an hour or two


    each day." she urged.


    As her words sank in, Nanson began to see the light. What if the trantor they hired turned out to


    be a corporate spy? It''d be toote for regrets then. Prevention was better than cure, after all.


    He couldn''t help but marvel at Annie¡¯s wisdom. Despite her tender years, she seemed to


    understand so much. Sometimes, Nanson even felt like he wasn¡¯t Anthea''s uncle at all, but the


    other way around.


    "Annie, can you set me up with a tutor then?" he asked.


    Her smile was slight but triumphant, "You''vee around, Nanson?"


    He nodded, "I have."


    Returning to her room, Anthea fetched a few books and handed them to Nanson, "I bought these for


    Mom recently and got an extra set just in case. Here, take these. I''ll send you the tutor''s contact info


    later, and you can talk to them yourself."


    "Thanks," Nanson said, epting the books.


    As he flipped through the pages, he couldn''t resist sharing histest sighting, "Guess what I just


    saw downstairs, Anthea?"


    "What?" Anthea asked.


    "A top-of-the-line sports car, a Silverde, and it''s a limited edition."


    Anthea remained nonchnt, "So?"


    "Do you have any idea how much that Silverde costs?"


    "How much?" she yed along.


    "You''ll drop dead when I tell you." Nanson gestured emphatically, "A billion bucks."


    "Okay." Her indifference was palpable.


    "What?" Nanson gawked at her. A billion bucks and all she had was a casual reply?


    With a roll of her eyes and a tone as dry as dust, Anthea said, "Don''t worry. I''ll buy you ten


    someday."


    Nanson was left speechless, suspecting bluster but without proof.


    He continued his spection, "Only one reason a Silverde would be in our humble


    neighborhood, and it''s got to be some tycoon or mogul visiting his trophy wife, probably to make up


    after a spat."


    Nanson was lost in his own narrative when Anthea cut in, "Wake up, Nanson. The world isn''t full of


    tycoon and trophy wife stories."


    As dusk settled, a luxurious sports car was cloaked by the dimming light. Beneath the streetmps,


    the silhouette of the limited edition Silverde became just discernible, one of less than ten in the


    world.


    The car window was down, revealing a man¡¯s chiseled profile, his features veiled by the shadowy


    light. Dressed in a in, buttoned-up coat, he twirled a crimson rosary between his fingers, which


    stood out against his pale skin.


    The car''s interior was filled with music, and through the window, a faint melody could be heard a


    sorrowful chant.


    After a moment, the man retracted his hand and picked up a lighter.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Snap. The blue me leaped from his fingertips, illuminating his exquisite profile.


    Who else could it be but Mr. Christensen?


    He didn''t know what drew him back to Cloudcrest. No sooner had hended than he found himself


    driving to this very spot. Once parked, the restlessness that had gued him suddenly stilled, and


    memories of his chess games with Anthea flooded his thoughts.


    Her voice was still in his ear:


    "You''re so clueless."


    "Losing to me is normal, don''t sweat it."


    "Life is like chess, and chess is like life. Never be fooled by illusions, Mr. Christensen. You''ve been


    a gracious opponent."

 Chapter 256

    Lost in thought, Sherman exhaled a stream of smoke, squinting his eyes slightly, the depths of his


    gaze as dark and unfathomable as an ancient well.


    This was Anthea''s home.


    The spot where he''d parked was right under the apartmentplex where she lived.


    Was he taking a special interest in Anthea?


    No.


    That was impossible.


    How could he possibly be smitten with such a young girl?


    His admiration for Anthea was purely professional.


    Admiration for her strategic mind in chess.


    Admiration for her tech prowess.


    Admiration for her insights.


    He''d never really dealt with women in his life, and suddenly being this close to a young girl was


    bound to feel a bit unfamiliar, stirring up some strange emotions within him.


    But with time, he''d grow ustomed to it.


    It was nothing to do with romance.


    Certainly nothing to do with love.


    With that thought, Sherman breathed a sigh of relief, snuffed out the half-smoked cigarette, and


    tossed the butt away.


    What seemed like a casual thrownded the cigarette butt perfectly into a trash can ten meters


    away.


    The car window rolled up, sealing Sherman''s stoic profile inside the vehicle.


    With one hand on the rosary hanging from the rearview mirror and the other on the steering wheel,


    his eyes fixed forward, he started the engine.


    The ck car departed, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust behind.


    Once the dust settled, all was calm again.


    Who would even notice that a luxury car had been parked there for nearly an hour?


    In the days that followed, Carole and Nanson took up studying French whenever they had a


    moment to spare.


    Their family''s daily interactions were now all in French.


    The events that had transpired back in their hometown seemed to have no significant impact on


    them.


    On the eleventh day of February.


    Gerard secretly purchased a ticket to Cloudcrest.


    He had nned to arrive in Cloudcrest on the eighth of February but was dyed by unforeseen


    events.


    He brought nothing but his cell phone,ptop, and a few changes of clothes.


    The temperature difference between Cloudcrest and Capital City was stark.


    Capital City could get as cold as negative eighteen degrees Celsius, while Cloudcrest''s lowest was


    around one or two degrees.


    Though not as cold as Capital City, the chill in Cloudcrest was different, and it was a dry cold.


    Stepping off the ne, Gerard shivered.


    Cloudcrest was unfamiliar territory for him. Pulling out his phone to locate his hotel, he hopped into


    a cab.


    The driver, a chatty middle-aged man, nced at Gerard''s attire in the rearview mirror and struck up


    a conversation, "You''re not from around here, are you, young man?"


    "Yeah," Gerard nodded.


    "Where are you from?" the driver continued.


    "Capital City," Gerard replied.


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    The driver expressed his surprise, "Capital City is thousands of miles from here. A four-hour flight at


    least. What brings you to Cloudcrest, sightseeing?"


    Cloudcrest was a tourist city, but in winter, there weren''t many attractions.


    It was usually busier in spring, summer, and fall.


    "No," Gerard said, stepping onto Cloudcrest soil with an indescribable feeling, "I''m here to find my


    mom."


    Were he and his mother breathing the same air under the same sky at this very moment?


    Would he be able to see her as he hoped?


    Gerard leaned back in his seat.


    Ignoring the cold, he rolled down the window and took a deep breath of the chilly air.


    "You feeling car sick, young man?" the driver asked.


    Gerard didn''t deny it, "Yeah."


    "Is your mom from Cloudcrest?" the driver inquired further.


    "Maybe," Gerard''s voice was faint.


    The driverughed, "You don''t even know where your mom''s from?"


    Gerard shook his head gently, "I''ve never met my mother."


    The driver''s smile froze on his lips as he turned to look at Gerard, apologetically saying, "I''m sorry to


    hear that, young man."


    "It''s okay."


    The driver added, "Don''t lose hope. I believe that one day you''ll find her. What''s her name, by the


    way? I''ve been driving a cab in Cloudcrest for twenty years. Tell me, I might know her."


    "I don''t know."


    "What?" The driver was taken aback, and then asked, "Do you have a picture of your mom?"

 Chapter 257

    Gerry shook his head.


    "You''ve never seen your mom since you were a kid?" the cab driver asked in a hushed tone.


    Gerry nodded.


    ¡°Man, that was rough. Such a young kid.¡± The driver sighed inwardly.


    "So howe you''re here all by yourself? Where''s your dad?"


    "He''se down with something fierce."


    The expression on the driver''s face grew even more somber.


    No leads, it was like finding a needle in a haystack.


    As Gerry was about to get out of the cab, the driver cautioned him, "Kid, Cloudcrest is a nice ce,


    but it''s crawling with con artists. You gotta watch your back, don''t let anyone take you for a ride. I


    hope you find your mom soon and have that family reunion."


    "Thank you, sir." Gerry handed the fare to the driver and gave a slight bow.


    ¡°This kid''s got manners,¡± the driver thought to himself.


    Capital City.


    Edna had whipped up some homemade pastries, intending for Darleen to take them over to Gerry.


    Even though she wasn''t looking to curry favor with Gerry anymore.


    But she still had to keep up appearances.


    "Gerard''s not home," Darleen reported.


    "Not home?" Edna continued, "Where did he go?"


    "He''s probably off to Saltwater Metropolis for a vacation," Darleen said nonchntly.


    Vacation in Saltwater Metropolis?


    School''s about to start, why would Gerry go there for a vacation?


    Gerry was always a reserved and quiet child, much like Jonah.


    It was not like him to go out and have fun.


    Edna instinctively felt something was amiss. She put down the pastries and headed upstairs, dialing


    a number as she went, "Hello, track down Gerry''s recent whereabouts for me."


    "Will do."


    Waiting was torture.


    The longer she went without an answer, the more anxious Edna became.


    "Mom."


    Just then, a knock sounded at the door.


    "What is it?" Edna frowned slightly.


    "Mom, the wellness soup downstairs is ready. You can take it to J now," Darleen said.


    Only then did Edna remember about the wellness soup.


    Even though Gerry''s situation was important, the soup was a priority.


    "Coming." Edna hurried downstairs, carrying the wellness soup over to the Lindsay family.


    J was, as usual, waiting for Edna at the door.


    "J." Edna greeted.


    "Hi, Edna." J''s face would brighten up every time she saw Edna.


    "It''s chilly," Edna said, holding the wellness soup in one hand and tucking J''s down coat with


    the other, "you shouldn''t wait outside for me, especially with your frail health. If something were to


    happen to you because of me, I''d never forgive myself."


    "Standing for a moment won''t hurt," J said with a smile, "I only rest easy when I see you''ve


    arrived."


    Delia chimed in from the side, "If strangers saw this, they''d think you and Miss Edna were mother


    and daughter. There''s more warmth here than in some actual mother-daughter rtionships."


    Delia always knew which way the wind was blowing.


    She knew exactly what to say to please J.


    "Who''s to say we''re not? In my eyes, Edna is just like my own daughter."


    After helping J inside and settling her with the soup, Edna casually asked, "I haven''t seen Gerry


    around today, where is he?"


    "He''s off to Saltwater Metropolis on a trip," J answered.


    Edna nced at J and continued, "I remember Gerry not being too keen on traveling."


    "Let him be." J waved off the concern.


    He had grown up now. She couldn''t keep tabs on him anymore.


    Edna didn''t press further, a glint of curiosity flickered in her eyes.


    ...


    After spending a night in the hotel, Gerry set out the next day on his journey to find his mother.


    Clueless, with no leads, standing amidst the bustling streets, he felt a moment of despair.


    His eyesnded on a mother and son.


    The boy was probably around seventeen or eighteen, about his age.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "Mom, what''s for dinner when we get back home?"

 Chapter 258

    "Whip up a couple of veggie sides and grill a salmon," Mom replied.


    "Salmon again? I''m not having it."


    "Well, if you don''t want it, cook for yourself. Eating salmon is not just about growing taller, it helps


    make your brain smarter too. Look at you, as clueless as a donkey."


    Their silhouettes receded into the distance.


    Tears began to well up in Gerard''s eyes.


    "Mom." He suddenly shouted towards the crowd.


    "Mom."


    No one responded to his call.


    "Mom, where the heck are you?" Gerard, clutching his head, squatted on the ground and sobbed.


    He never dared to cry back in the Capital City.


    He was afraid of what the people around and J might worry about.


    Only in this unfamiliar ce did he dare to let himself go.


    Passersby nced over with puzzled looks.


    "Hey kid, you alright?" A male voice sounded, and a hand patted his shoulder.


    Gerard looked up to see a handsome face.


    The man was in his mid-thirties, dressed to the nines. He seemed like a sessful individual.


    Gerard cleaned his tears and muttered, "I''m fine."


    Nanson handed him a tissue, "Come on, man up. Real men stand tall and don''t cry at the drop of a


    hat. Here, wipe your face."


    "Thanks, mister," Gerard said, taking the tissue from Nanson.


    Nanson watched Gerard cleaning his tears. Suddenly, he was reminded of himself, years ago, when


    he was kicked out.


    "Hey, how about we grab a drink?" Nanson suggested.


    Gerard looked up in surprise.


    "There''s a diner over there. Don''t worry, and I''m not a creep," Nanson pointed to a nearby diner.


    Gerard wasn''t used to dining with strangers.


    But he found himself unable to refuse Nanson''s offer.


    It was a strange feeling.


    Nanson also got a better look at Gerard''s face and frowned slightly.


    Why did he feel that this kid looked somewhat familiar?


    If he hadn''t been so disciplined in his younger days, he might have wondered if Gerard was his own


    illegitimate child.


    Watching Gerard, Nanson couldn''t help but think of a chick-lit novel he''d read once, "The Ice


    Queen''s Surprise Runaway."


    Too bad he wasn''t some domineering CEO, nor had he had a one-night stand.


    Gerard followed Nanson into the diner.


    Nanson ordered a bottle of vodka for himself and juice for Gerard, "You''re a kid, in the middle of


    growing. Can''t be drinking alcohol."


    "Okay," Gerard nodded.


    No one had ever said that to him before.


    J was old and besides pushing him to ept Edna, she didn''t say much else.


    Jonah was always at the hospital or in the office.


    Once the food arrived, Nanson got himself a drink, "Can you tell me what made you cry?"


    Gerard took a sip of juice, trying to suppress the bitterness in his heart, "I..." He couldn''t finish his


    sentence.


    "It''s okay if you don''t want to talk about it. Let''s enjoy our food." Nanson gave Gerard a chicken leg.


    Looking at the chicken drumstick in the bowl, Gerard choked, "I can''t find my mom ."


    After all, he was just an eighteen-year-old boy.


    No matter how strong or invincible he seemed.


    He had his vulnerable side.


    "Don''t cry." Nanson was startled and quickly stood up to wipe Gerard''s tears, "Did you get


    separated from your mom?"


    Gerard shook his head.


    "Your parents got divorced?"


    Gerard shook his head again.


    "Then what happened?"


    Gerard took a deep breath and took a sip of his juice, "I was raised by my grandmother. I''ve never


    seen my mom since I could remember. My grandma told me she died, but I don''t believe it. She


    can''t be dead. She must be alive."


    He hadn''t even had the chance to see her once.


    How could she be dead?


    Nanson had a rough understanding of the situation and patted Gerard''s shoulder, "Don''t cry. As


    long as you''re sure she''s alive, you''ll find her one day. By the way, do your grandma and the others


    know you''re out looking for your mom?"


    Gerard shook his head, "I told them I was going on a trip to Saltwater Metropolis. Otherwise, they


    would never have let mee."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

 Chapter 259

    In the Lindsay family, "mother" was like a forbidden word. No one dared mention it.


    With a sigh, Nanson looked at the young man, "Hey, kiddo, what''s your name? Leave me your


    number, will ya? I''m a born and bred Cloudcrest local. If I hear anything about your mom, I''ll give


    you a call."


    Gerard rattled off his digits. "I''m Gerard Lindsay."


    Nanson looked up at Gerard and continued, "My name''s Nanson Yeager. Just call me Nanson."


    Meanwhile, in the Capital City.


    Edna was out on her balcony, talking on the phone.


    Suddenly, her face went pale, "What did you say? Cloudcrest. He''s gone to Cloudcrest."


    If Gerard had indeed gone to Cloudcrest, all their secrets could have been exposed.


    Panic surged through Edna like never before.


    Had her eighteen years of hard work been in vain?


    No. She couldn''t ept that.


    "Keep your shirt on," the voice on the other end said, "Gerard doesn''t have a clue right now, and he


    won''t find Carole. But we need to get the Lindsay n to bring Gerard back pronto. If he keeps this


    up, trouble''s brewing."


    "I got it." Edna hung up and rushed over to the Lindsay family mansion.


    "J. We''ve got a situation."


    "What''s the fuss about?" J set down her chicken noodle soup.


    Edna continued, "Darleen Fletcher''s ssmate told her that Gerry never went to Saltwater


    Metropolis. J, are you sure Gerry went there?"


    J nodded affirmatively, "That''s what he told me."


    "Could something have happened to him on the road?" J frowned, "Where''s the butler? Check


    on Gerry''s whereabouts, stat."


    The butler promptly set out to investigate.


    It wasn''t long before they tracked down Gerard, and the butler returned with a strange look on his


    face, "Madam, Gerry..."


    "What happened to him?" J asked, impatient.


    The butler continued, "He''s in Cloudcrest."


    J was stunned. What in the world was Gerard doing in Cloudcrest? Was he looking for Carole?


    That little bastard!


    She had raised him from diapers, and he hadn''t even bothered to tell her before he went off in


    search of that flighty Carole.


    Did he even consider her, his grandmother, anymore?


    "The scoundrel. The absolute scoundrel." J mmed her fist on the table.


    "J, calm down," Edna quickly stood up to support J, "Gerry''s just a kid, and he doesn''t


    understand. Maybe he just went to Cloudcrest for a bit of fun."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    J didn''t respond directly but instructed the butler instead, "Get someone to bring Gerry back


    from Cloudcrest immediately."


    "Right away, madam," the butler hurried off to make arrangements.


    As the butler''s figure disappeared, J sat back down, unable to help coughing loudly.


    Edna soothed J, "Maybe Gerry just missed his mother, that''s all. You mustn''t get upset."


    "That woman, fit to be Gerry''s mother?" J fumed, "When he was just a little thing, no bigger


    than a kitten. I raised him with sweat and tears. Would he even be alive today if it weren''t for me?"


    The memories brought a fresh wave of anger.


    Anger at Gerard''s thoughtlessness.


    Anger at Carole''s flightiness.


    Edna added, "Gerry''s young now, but when he grows up, he''ll understand all you''ve done for him."


    "Grow up? How much more does he need to grow?" J looked at Edna, "He''s already 19 years


    old. He''s about to start college. Edna, you tell me, how much longer does he need before hees


    to his senses?"

 Chapter 260

    At 19, a kid would have started pulling their weight around the house. But not Gerard. No, he was


    still the same old clueless kid, and J was fuming.


    Edna, J''s best friend and confidant, was trying to smooth things over, "J, some kids just


    matureter than others. You know, Gerry wille around eventually."


    That was supposed tofort J, but it only twisted the knife. When exactly would "eventually"


    come? When would Gerard grow up and start acting responsibly? The thought left J with a


    heavy heart. She grabbed Edna''s hand and let out a heavy sigh, "I''ve given up on expecting


    anything. Now, all I hope for is that someday you''ll give me a grandchild. Jonah''s only got Gerry,


    and that boy doesn''t seem to realize that life''s not all fun and games."


    Edna blushed at the mention of childbirth, "J¡­"


    "What''s there to blush about? I''m practically family."


    Edna said, "J, having a baby is all about consensual love. Jonah only has Carole in his heart. in


    fact, as long as I can see that Jonah can live a happy life, I will be very satisfied."


    "Carole, that bitch, doesn''t deserve it," J said viciously.


    Edna sighed and tried to speak in Carole''s favor but J acted as if she read her mind, "Edna you


    don''t have to speak for her. I know very well in my heart what kind of person Carole is."


    Edna tried to change the subject. "You know, J, the plum blossoms in the garden are in full


    bloom. Why don''t we go have a look?"


    "Sure." J agreed, weing the distraction.


    The garden was a sight to behold, with crimson plum blossoms set against the pure white snow, a


    stunning contrast that took her breath away.


    Over at Cloudcrest, a small diner, Gerard''s spirits were lifted thanks to the pep talk from Nanson.


    Nanson was worried Gerard might do something drastic, so he walked him back to his hotel and


    they exchanged contact info, "Gerry, I live just around the corner, and I''ve sent you my address on


    messaging. If you''re ever feeling down, hit me up for a drink, or juste over for a home-cooked


    meal."


    "Thank you, Mr. Yeager," Gerard said with a deep bow of gratitude.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "No need for formalities," Nanson replied, patting Gerard on the shoulder, "Everyone hits a rough


    patch. Now, head on inside."


    Gerard walked back into the hotel, and Nanson watched him until he was safely inside before


    leaving. Nanson muttered Gerard''s name under his breath, feeling an odd sense of familiarity as if


    Gerard was a long-lost rtive. Was it just his imagination?


    The Lindsay family was quick to act. Only four hourster, they arrived in Cloudcrest. It was nine in


    the evening when the butler, apanied by several bodyguards, arrived at Gerard''s hotel.


    Gerard frowned, and who could it be at this hour? It was highly unusual for hotel staff to disturb


    guests sote. He quickly hacked into the hotel''s security system and checked the corridor


    cameras. As he suspected, it wasn''t a hotel employee at the door, but the butler.


    The butler''s presence meant only one thing Grandma knew he was in Cloudcrest. Which meant his


    mother had to be in Cloudcrest too. The realization filled him with joy, and his trip wasn''t in vain after


    all.


    Restoring hisputer to its original state, Gerard opened the door, "Gerard." the butler greeted


    him with a respectful bow.


    "What brings you here?" Gerard feigned surprise.


    "J is quite upset. She requests your return," the butler exined.


    "Why would she be upset?" Gerard yed dumb.


    The butler''s gaze held a trace ofplexity, "Please, Gerard."


    "Hang on, I need to pack up my things," Gerard said.


    "No need," the butler motioned to the bodyguards, "they can take care of it."


    "I''ll just grab my phone andptop," said Gerard, heading back inside. When he returned, he had


    both in his hands. Hisptop was notably sleek and light.


    "Can you tell me why Grandma suddenly wants me back?" Gerard asked a hint of anxiety in his


    voice.

 Chapter 261

    The butler nced back at Gerard, "Gerard, are you really clueless?"


    "I haven''t got a clue," Gerard said, shaking his head in bewilderment, seemingly oblivious to


    everything.


    The Lindsay family had their own personal jet. Once they were at the airport, the jet took off directly


    for Capital City.


    Throughout the flight, Gerard showed no particr emotion, his attention glued to hisptop.


    Landing back in Capital City, it was past one in the morning.


    The Lindsay estate was aze with lights.


    Just as Gerard stepped into the foyer, a ss came hurtling through the air.


    "Crash." The ss shattered on the floor right before him.


    Narrowing his eyes, Gerard continued to walk inside.


    There sat J, fuming on the sofa, her face a thundercloud.


    "What''s got into Grandma?" Gerard approached with a smile and sat beside J, "Who''s gone


    and ruffled the feathers of our matriarch?"


    "Spill it." J demanded, her face stern, "Where have you been?"


    "I was over at Cloudcrest," Gerard didn''t hide it.


    "And what business do you have in Cloudcrest?" J''s anger was palpable, "Do you even care


    about me, your grandmother?"


    His independence was growing.


    Now he dared to sneak off to Cloudcrest without her knowledge.


    Was his next move to bring that wench Carole home?


    Gerard was taken aback, frowning, "Grandma, what are you talking about? I just went to Cloudcrest


    for a bit of fun with some ssmates. How does that trante to not caring about you? Am I not


    allowed to visit Cloudcrest?"


    "Weren''t you supposed to go to Saltwater Metropolis?" J kept her gaze fixed on Gerard.


    Gerard exined, "Originally, we were headed to Saltwater Metropolis, but my ssmate imed


    that Cloudcrest''s Solstice Mountain was the peak of natural beauty, and he had rtives there, so


    we changed ns. Grandma, we went to Solstice Mountain yesterday afternoon, it was


    breathtaking. We even took photos, want to see how pretty it is?"


    With that, Gerard pulled out his phone and showed her a photo.


    The background was Cloudcrest''s famous Solstice Mountain.


    J''s furrowed brow softened slightly at the sight.


    Could it be that the boy really just went to Cloudcrest for a holiday?


    Had she misunderstood?


    It made sense, after all, nobody had ever breathed a word to Gerard about Carole.


    Out of the blue, how could he possibly know about Carole in Cloudcrest?


    Perhaps she was just being oversensitive.


    "Who''s this?" J pointed at a stranger in the photo.


    Gerard introduced them, "That''s my ssmate''s rtive. This is his cousin, and here''s my


    ssmate, and this one is another ssmate''s friend."


    J nodded.


    She remembered Gerard''s ssmate whose family had good money. They weren''t as wealthy as


    hers, but they still held some clout in Capital City.


    J had no objections to Gerard fraternizing with this ssmate.


    As the conversation trailed off, Gerard added, "Grandma, did you urgently call me back for


    something?"


    A sheepish smile yed on J''s lips, "Nothing urgent, I was just worried about you. Didn''t you


    say you were going to Saltwater Metropolis? Then suddenly you''re off to Cloudcrest, I feared you''d


    been duped."


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    "I''m to me for that." Gerard admitted guiltily, "I got carried away with the adventure,pletely


    enchanted by Solstice Mountain, and I should have let you know in advance. Oh, and Grandma, I


    even got you this enchanted crystal bracelet from Solstice Mountain. The hermit there said it''s


    especially good for the elderly, for peace and safety. See if you like it."


    Saying so, Gerard pulled out a small wooden box from his backpack.


    The crystal bracelet was indeed from Solstice Mountain.


    But it wasn''t purchased by Gerard on his trip.


    In fact, Gerard had never been to Solstice Mountain.


    The photo was photoshopped.


    Both the crystal bracelet and the photo were prepared by Gerard in advance, just in case.


    He hadn''t expected that they would actuallye in handy.


    Ever since witnessing how Edna and her daughter Darleen fawned over J, Gerard knew that


    keeping up appearances was crucial when dealing with J.


    After all, Darleen could make J beam with joy over a ten-dor pack of insoles.


    As it turned out, he was right.


    This tactic worked wonders on J.


    Gerard''s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.


    Cloudcrest was a destination he was sure to visit again.


    When J took the crystal bracelet from the wooden box, a deep sense of guilt welled up inside


    her.


    She had suspected that Gerard had gone to Cloudcrest to find Carole.


    Yet here he was, simply on a trip to Cloudcrest.


    And even while enjoying himself, he hadn''t forgotten about her.

 Chapter 262

    J thought, ¡°It was my fault.¡±


    She shouldn''t have doubted Gerard.


    With a flourish, Gerard slipped the amethyst bracelet around J''s wrist.


    Deep purple was her favorite color.


    J''s smile deepened, "Thank you, Gerry. I love it. You''ve grown into such a thoughtful young


    man."


    Gerard grinned, "I''m just happy you like it, Grandma. You raised me all by yourself. It''s only right


    that I show my gratitude."


    At his words, a look of sheer contentment washed over J''s face.


    She always knew that Gerard was a good, dutiful boy.


    Seeing that J''s anger had dissipated, Gerard continued, "Grandma, I''m sorry for worrying you.


    It''s gettingte, and let me walk you to your room."


    "Alright," J nodded.


    The pair ambled off, a picture of harmony and warmth.


    Delia watched their retreating figures, her brows knitting together in frustration.


    She had thought there''d be a stormy confrontation.


    A rift between them.


    But, contrary to her expectations, not only was there no rift, but J''s affection for Gerard seemed


    to grow even stronger.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Back in her room, Delia dialed Edna''s number.


    She didn''t say much, only reminding Edna that Gerard had returned and J hadn''t exploded in


    rage.


    After hanging up, Edna''s expression turned dark and dangerous, "ying games with me?"


    She had worked hard to sow discord between the two, only for Gerard to undo it with a mere


    photograph and bracelet, making J forget all the troubles.


    Edna was convinced that Gerard''s trip to Cloudcrest was to see Carole, and she would never


    believe otherwise.


    It seemed she had underestimated Gerard.


    But no matter how clever he was, what could he do?


    After all, he was just a teenager.


    Edna''s eyes narrowed, and she was determined to be Jonah''s wife, bear his children, and


    push Gerard out of the Lindsay family for good.


    In the Lindsay family mansion,


    As soon as Gerard reached his room, the smile vanished from his face. He grabbed his phone and


    texted Mr. Yeager, ¡°Mr. Yeager, I''ve safely arrived in Capital City.¡±


    ¡°Home already?¡± Despite thete hour, Nanson replied promptly.


    ¡°Yes, if you evere to Capital City, let me know. I know this ce like the back of my hand.¡±


    ¡°Will do. My niece keeps talking about getting into Capital University. If she makes it, I''ll let you


    know.¡±


    Gerard''s lips curved into a faint smile as he read the message.


    Being Nanson''s family must be nice.


    He wondered if his own mother had any siblings. If so, he might also have an uncle.


    What would his uncle be like? Like Nanson?


    Lost in thought, Gerard eventually texted back, ¡°I''ll be waiting for you in Capital City.¡±


    ¡°It''ste. Get some sleep.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, Mr. Yeager.¡±


    After sending the message, Gerard headed off to the bathroom for a shower.


    In the blink of an eye, Valentine''s Day arrived, and Cloudcrest was bustling back to life.


    Students were returning to school.


    Yeager''s Delicacies was reopening.


    Carole, unable to work with an injured hand, hired two extra hands and made herself responsible for


    supervising the shop. Though she couldn''t be hands-on, she kept busy by learning French, even


    ying French songs during the shop''s lunch breaks.


    Hard work paid off.


    In just ten short days, Carole could already manage basic conversations with foreign customers.


    Anthea, with her backpack slung over her shoulder, was off to school.


    But first, she made a detour to thepany.


    She rarely visited the office, so when she stepped into the CEO''s private elevator, the staff buzzed


    with curiosity.


    "Who is that? She''s gorgeous. The CEO''s daughter?"


    "I heard our CEO''s only 27 this year."


    "No way. Maybe that''s his girlfriend?"


    "Seems likely."


    "The CEO''s girlfriend is drop-dead beautiful."


    These whispers floated around after Anthea had entered the elevator, so she remained blissfully


    unaware.


    She walked straight to Talbot''s office and knocked.


    "Come in."


    Talbot''s voice beckoned from within.


    Anthea pushed the door and entered.


    Talbot, seated in his executive chair, was buried in paperwork, his brow furrowed. Thinking it was


    his secretary with more documents, he said without looking up, "Just put the files on the desk, and


    I''ll get to them in a bit."

 Chapter 263

    "Talbot, it''s me," Anthea''s voice was soft but unmistakable.


    At her words, Talbot looked up and upon seeing Anthea, he quickly sprang from his executive chair,


    "Annie."


    Anthea was younger than him, but Talbot never dared to truly think of Anthea as a little sister.


    Despite her youth, Anthea carried herself with a sense of authority that was undeniable.


    Whenever he saw her, Talbot felt like a schoolboy who hadn''t done his homework upon facing his


    teacher, an uncontroble sense of dread.


    Anthea pulled out a set of fashion designs from her bag and handed them to Talbot, "Here are the


    latest spring designs, and take a look."


    Talbot took the designs, his eyes filled with astonishment. Each design had two initials in the bottom


    right corner: AY.


    AY was Anthea.


    If he hadn''t seen it with his own eyes, Talbot would never have believed that a teenager could


    possess such extraordinary design talent.


    Anyone who saw her designs and finished pieces had only one thought in their mind: Buy it.


    The name AY was now legendary in the entire fashion industry. It wasn''t just about being well-


    known, it was aboutmanding respect.


    There was a saying going around in the industry circles: AY''s debut was the pinnacle of design.


    If people knew that AY was just an eighteen-year-old girl, it would surely cause a sensation.


    Most importantly, AY wasn''t just a designer, she was also the inventor of temperature-regting


    clothing.


    Talbot couldn''t even begin to imagine the waves this news would make in the business world once it


    got out.


    She was just eighteen, still a kid who hadn''t even gone through her SATs.


    Suppressing his amazement, Talbot continued, "Ms. Yeager, the pieces you''ve designed will


    definitely be the nation''s new favorite once they hit the market. Oh, and there''s this hotshot


    actress who''s been dying to have you design her a carpet gown. Are you interested in taking the


    commission?"


    "How much are they offering?" Anthea asked, her tone indifferent.


    Talbot gestured the number seven with his fingers.


    "Seven million?" Anthea quirked an eyebrow.


    Talbot shook his head.


    Her brow furrowed slightly, "Don''t tell me it''s seven hundred thousand."


    "That''s right."


    "I''ll pass," Anthea replied briskly, "Tell them I''ll consider it for seven million. And while you''re at it,


    release a statement that I''m only taking threemissions a month, no more."


    Scarcity increased value.


    In the business world, this was known as hunger marketing.


    Talbot nodded, "Understood."


    Anthea''s gaze fell on a contract on the desk.


    Quickly, Talbot slid the contract out, "This is our agreement with the Peterson Group. Would you like


    to review it?"


    "Alex Peterson?"


    He nodded.


    Anthea took the contract and skimmed it rapidly. A slight smirk curled at the corner of her mouth,


    "Cunning fox."


    "Is there an issue?" Talbot asked, concerned, "I''ve checked it thoroughly twice and didn''t notice


    anything major."


    Anthea ced the contract back on the desk, "Here, and here. But it''s not surprising you missed it,


    and he''s exploiting a loophole in the terms."


    Talbot hadn''t noticed anything amiss until Anthea pointed it out. Now, it all clicked into ce, and his


    respect for Anthea''s acumen grew even more.


    In fact, Anthea herself was somewhat surprised. She hadn''t expected Alex, only 28 years old, to be


    so astute.


    She continued, "Have someone deliver a copy of this contract to Alex tomorrow. And remember,


    don''t say a word."


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    "Not a word?" Talbot was puzzled.


    How would Alex know they''d spotted the issue with the contract if they didn''t say anything?


    Anthea seemed to read his thoughts, "If Alex is worth our time, he''lle to apologize in person. If


    he doesn''t react, it means we need to look for a new partner."


    Alex was smart.


    Even without words, he''d understand the gesture of sending the contract back to him.


    Working with intelligent people didn''t require much talk.


    Talbot caught on quickly to Anthea''s strategy, "Got it, Ms. Yeager. I know what to do."


    Anthea nodded, "I''m off to school then. Call me if there''s an issue."


    "Will do." Talbot escorted Anthea downstairs.


    The employees on the ground floor watched in awe as Talbot personally saw Anthea out, treating


    her with such deference. They began to whisper among themselves.


    "What''s the deal with our boss and that stunning girl? If they were dating, shouldn''t she be the one


    acting all respectful? The way our boss treats her is like she''s the CEO or something."

 Chapter 264

    "Could it be that the girl is the enigmatic CEO of ourpany everyone''s been whispering about?"


    "A CEO? Highly unlikely. The CEO''s daughter, maybe. That''s a possibility."


    Anthea couldn''t have been more than seventeen or eighteen.


    There was no way she was the CEO.


    "So, she''s the heiress of AY Tech?"


    "It sure looks like it."


    As Talbot escorted Anthea to the door and then returned, everyone promptly shut their mouths and


    got back to work.


    Back at the office, Talbot had someone dispatch the contract to the Peterson Group.


    Alex let out a chuckle as he reviewed the document.


    Just then, a young man named Noah White walked in and, seeing Alex''s expression, asked


    curiously, "What''s got you chuckling?"


    Alex wasn''t one to smile without cause.


    A smile from him usually meant trouble was brewing.


    Noah, who was about the same age as Alex and hung out with him a lot, waited for an exnation.


    "Take a look at this." Alex tossed the contract to Noah.


    Catching it, Noah''s eyebrows shot up, "Isn''t this your deal with AY Tech Co.?"


    "Yep." Alex nodded.


    Flipping through the contract, Noah said, "So they sent it back?"


    "That''s right."


    Noah stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Looks like we underestimated this Talbot guy."


    Alex pulled out a Tootsie Roll from his desk, "You think Talbot caught on? He may be sharp, but he''s


    green. Doesn''t have the experience."


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "What are you suggesting?" Noah frowned.


    Alex unwrapped the Tootsie Roll and popped it in his mouth, "If I''m not mistaken, that person is the


    true mastermind behind AY Tech."


    No one outside thepany had everid eyes on the mysterious owner of AY Tech. Their sudden


    emergence had sparked quite a curiosity.


    Alex stood up and headed for the door.


    "Where are you off to?" Noah asked, chewing on his own candy.


    "To make amends," Alex replied, still working the Tootsie Roll in his mouth.


    "I''ming with." Noah quickly followed suit.


    They left the building, with Noah taking the wheel of the car.


    Alex fished out another Tootsie Roll and unwrapped it.


    "Since when did you start liking candy so much? All that sweetness." Noah remembered Alex never


    having such a sweet tooth.


    "Just drive," Alex said, focused on the road ahead.


    Knowing Alex''s temperament, Noah didn''t press further and concentrated on driving.


    Shortly, they arrived at AY Tech.


    Unfortunately, Alex didn''t get to meet the legendary CEO of AY Tech.


    After discussing the partnership, Talbot personally escorted Alex back to his car. As he watched the


    sleek vehicle merge into the traffic, Talbot couldn''t help but admire, "Ms. Yeager is pretty darn


    incredible."


    He had doubted that Alex would show up to apologize, let alone so promptly.


    Meanwhile, at the school gates, Anthea was greeted by Lizzie and Tanya, who had been eagerly


    awaiting her arrival.


    Over the holiday break, Tanya had undergone a transformation, slimming down from over 200


    pounds to a slender 108.


    Already pretty, the weight loss made her stunning. Standing next to Lizzie, the two looked like


    blossoms swaying in the breeze.


    It took Anthea a moment to recognize her friends before she ran over, "Lizzie, Tanya."


    "Annie." The girls hugged Anthea tightly, "We missed you so much."


    "I missed you guys, too." Anthea hugged them back.


    She had never experienced true friendship in her previous life.


    Having real friends felt incredible.


    After a moment, they let go of each other.


    "You''ve lost so much weight, Tanya. I barely recognized you because you''re so beautiful." Anthea


    complimented.


    Tanya blushed at the praise.


    "Am I really that different?"


    "Absolutely stunning," Anthea affirmed, "Ask Lizzie if you don''t believe me."


    Lizzie teased, "You wouldn''t believe it, Annie, but there were guys asking for Tanya''s number just


    earlier."


    "Really?"


    "Totally." Lizzie nodded eagerly.


    Embarrassed, Tanya urged them, "Let''s stop talking about it and head in."


    "Look how shy Tanya is getting."


    Theyughed and chatted as they made their way into the school.


    Then Tanya mentioned, "They''ve posted the honor roll. Let''s check it out."


    End-of-term rankings were always disyed on the school''s honor board.


    None of them from the regr sses had ever made it on the honor roll before.

 Chapter 265

    The honor roll had just been posted and the whole school was abuzz with the news that someone


    from the regr ss had snagged top honors, leaving the high-achievers of the advanced


    cement ss gobsmacked.


    "Who''s the top dog this time?" Lizzie asked curiosity piqued, "Still Philip?"


    Philip was something of a legend around campus. With ast name that seemed almost redundant


    given his notoriety, everyone simply knew him as Philip. He was the benchmark of academic


    excellence, the perpetual valedictorian.


    Tanya, with a smug smile ying on her lips, dered, "Do you even need to ask? It''s our very own


    Annie, of course."


    Lizzie''s jaw dropped, her mind scrambling to process the news. She remembered when she used to


    share a desk with Anthea, back when she was the epitome of a cker, always snoozing through


    sses.


    "You said Annie A+?" Lizzie was bbergasted.


    "Yeah," Tanya affirmed.


    "Holy smokes." Lizzie whirled around to face Anthea, "You''ve really knocked it out of the park."


    Anthea shrugged modestly, "I guess I did alright."


    They approached the crowded bulletin board, where a throng of students had already gathered.


    Philip had always been the name at the top, but this sudden shift to Anthea had everyone buzzing.


    "Anthea''s amazing!."


    "I heard she used to be deadst in the advanced cement ss. How''d she do that?"


    "Do you think she might''ve¡­"


    "Holy smokes. Annie, you really clinched the number one spot." Tanya''s excitement was palpable


    as if she had won the honor herself.


    At that, all eyes turned to Anthea.


    "Wow, she''s stunning."


    "Doesn''t she look kinda familiar?"


    Amidst the attention, Anthea stood with a calm poise that set her apart from her more juvenile


    peers.


    "Annie, to celebrate your victory, you''re treating me and Lizzie to a night out," Tanya eximed.


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Anthea nodded, "Sure thing."


    "How about hitting up Yeager''s Delicacies tonight?" Lizzie chimed in, "It''s all the rage these days."


    Tanya was quick to agree, "Yes. I''ve heard their food is to die for. They''re about to open their fourth


    location on the east side of town. But today''s their grand reopening after the holiday break, so it''ll be


    packed. Maybe we should wait until it quiets down?"


    "No worries," Anthea said with a smile, "Yeager''s Delicacies is my mom''s ce. I''ll make sure we


    get the VIP treatment."


    "Seriously?"


    Anthea nodded.


    Lizzie instantly clung to Anthea''s arm, "Annie, I''ve got to try your limited-edition cmari and those


    spicy chicken wings."


    "Consider it done."


    "How about I get a taste of that exclusive snowball pastry?" Tanya asked.


    "It''s a date."


    They hooked arms with Anthea, parading her through the halls like royalty.


    Meanwhile, in the staff room, Bain was scrutinizing Anthea''s report card with disbelief. Philip was


    supposed to be the star of his ss, not Anthea, the underdog.


    He was convinced there had to be a catch. After mentoring Anthea for two years, he knew her to be


    as stubborn as a mule, and sudden genius just didn''t add up.


    Squinting suspiciously, he was interrupted by Waldron, the beaming teacher from ss 7, humming


    a jaunty tune.


    "Congrats, Mr. Waldron. Your student Anthea taking first ce. That''s something," Bain offered,


    though his tone was tinged with skepticism.


    Waldron smiled wide, "Thank you, Mr. Bain. But let''s not forget your Philip. He''s quite the contender,


    just a hair''s breadth away from our Annie."


    Bain''s expression soured. "Well, we''ll see if you''re still smilinge final exams."


    Cheat sheets might slip through the cracks of routine tests, but the finals were airtight. There would


    be no ce to hide, and Anthea''s true colors would show.


    Unable to prove anything and bound by his professional decorum, Bain held his tongue, but the


    insinuation was clear.


    Waldron''s cheer faded as he caught Bain''s drift. He retorted with a hint of sarcasm, "Right because


    only Philip could ever possibly excel. Anyone else must be cheating, which means, by that logic, our


    Annie must''ve copied from him."


    "We''ll see what''s what on exam day," Bain countered, "But mark my words, Cloudcrest''s top schr


    will be Philip from my ss."

 Chapter 266

    In the sprawling suburb of Cloudcrest, where teenagers'' dreams revolved around the hallowed halls


    of its 256 high schools, Philip was a legend. Not only did he routinely snatch the title of valedictorian


    at his school, but his academic prowess was also unmatched across the entire district.


    But even the all-time greats hit rough patches, and everyone knew the most recent finals were a


    beast. Still, our boy genius Philip really aced it. His brilliance was undeniable.


    Waldron mmed his hand down on the table. "Mark my words, the title of top schr in this town


    is going to be Anthea''s, no doubt about it." he dered, confidence oozing out of him like syrup on


    hotcakes. "Anthea''s light-years ahead of Philip."


    Bain rolled his eyes at Waldron''s bravado. "Daydreamers, all of you," he muttered dismissively.


    Undeterred, Waldron shot back, "The only daydreamer here is you, my friend."


    Bain couldn''t be bothered to argue further. After all, the truth would reveal itself soon enough,e


    the day of the SATs.


    Later that evening, after school had let out, Anthea strolled down Main Street with her best friends,


    Tanya and Lizzie, heading towards Yeager''s Delicacies, the local hotspot that Anthea''s family


    owned. The diner was buzzing with activity as they approached, and outside, a line of eager


    customers stretched down the block.


    "Holy smokes, Annie. Your family''s joint is popping." Lizzie eximed, her eyes wide with wonder,


    "It''s even busier than the rave reviews online."


    Anthea, beaming with pride, linked arms with her friends, "Well, there''s been a major online


    discount campaigntely. Come on, let''s cut through the crowd."


    As they neared the entrance, the enticing aroma of freshly baked pies and sizzling burgers filled the


    air. But suddenly, Lizzie''s steps faltered as her gazended on a middle-aged couple in line ahead


    of them. The man had his arm lovingly wrapped around the woman''s waist, and despite her mature


    appearance, she was dressed to the nines, punctuating their intimacy with a peck on his cheek.


    "What are you looking at, Lizzie?" Anthea said, turning around with a puzzled look. When Lizzie


    didn''t respond, Tanya waved a hand in front of her face, "Hello, Lizzie?"


    Snapping out of her daze, Lizzie managed a weak smile, "Nothing, it''s nothing. Let''s just go in and


    eat."


    Still, Anthea couldn''t shake her concern, "Are you sure you''re okay?"


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    "Yeah, I''m fine," Lizzie insisted, brushing off Anthea''s worries.


    As they were greeted by Carole, the warmth of the diner enveloped them. "Annie, take your friends


    upstairs, and just text me your order," Carole said, her eyes twinkling with delight at the sight of the


    teenagers.


    "Thanks, Carole," Tanya and Lizzie chimed in, their mouths watering in anticipation.


    The second floor was a cozy nook reserved for family and friends. As they settled in, Tanya gushed,


    "Annie, your mother is stunning."


    Anthea puffed out her chest, grinning, "Of course. How else do you think I got my looks?"


    Dinner was halfway through when Lizzie suddenly dropped her fork, "Annie, Tanya, I just


    remembered I have something urgent to take care of. I gotta go. Enjoy your meal." Before they


    could even respond, she had bolted out the door with her backpack in tow.


    Downstairs, Lizzie cast onest nce at the couple, still wrapped in their embrace. She snapped a


    few photos on her phone, a storm of emotions brewing within her, and then turned away.


    She walked back to her family''s grocery store. The store, a three-story building with each floor


    dedicated to different wares, was the heart of Lizzie''s world. Her mother, Gina, was the soul, usually


    found tending to the aisles and chatting with the locals.


    As Lizzie entered, Gina was busy checking inventory. "Back so soon?" she asked cheerfully. "I


    thought you were dining out with your friends tonight?"


    Lizzie brushed past the question, her voice strained, "Mom, where''s Dad?"


    Gina paused, then answered, "He''s out restocking supplies."


    "And since when?"


    "He left this morning, honey. What''s the matter?"


    Words failed Lizzie as she hesitated, the images on her phone burning in her pocket, "Maybe you


    should call him, just to check in?"


    Ginaughed softly, "Oh, sweetheart, there''s no need to fret. He''s not a child. He''ll be back once


    he''s done. You''re acting rather strange today. Everything alright?"

 Chapter 267

    "Nothing." Lizzie patted the dust off Gina''s clothes, "Mom, why don''t you ever dress up a little?"


    Gina looked at her daughter, puzzled, "What''s gotten into you today, honey? First, you''re asking


    about where your dad''s gone, now you want me to get all dolled up. What''s going on?"


    "I''m heading upstairs to do my homework, Mom."


    "Alright, sweetie," Gina nodded.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Once upstairs, Lizzie couldn''t focus on her homework at all. Her mind was haunted by the image of


    her father with that woman.


    She couldn''t believe it, the man she idolized, her down-to-earth dad, was having an affair. This kind


    of soap opera drama was now her reality, and she had no idea what to do.


    Lying on her bed, weighed down by her heavy heart, she couldn''t resist pulling out the photo she''d


    snapped, hoping against hope that she''d just seen it wrong.


    But no matter how many times she looked, the image in the photo remained unchanged. That man


    was her dad.


    Time seemed to stand still until she heard her parents'' voices drifting up from the living room.


    "I already had a bite at home, so why''d you go spend money on takeout?" That was Gina''s voice.


    "This ce is a hit, and the food''s great. My bros had to queue for ages when we went, and I


    figured you and Lizzie would love it too." That was the voice of Malcolm West, her father.


    Lizzie snapped out of her trance and shuffled down the stairs.


    Sure enough, her ¡°dear¡± dad was back.


    "Lizzie,e here, see what I brought you. Some tasty treats."


    Lizzie approached and saw the takeout from Yeager''s Delicacies.


    If she hadn''t witnessed that scene earlier, she would have been over the moon, but not now.


    To her, it was just a pile of leftovers.


    The thought that Malcolm had his little rendezvous and then had the audacity to bring home the


    leftovers for them to eat made her stomach churn.


    Unaware of anything, Gina was enjoying the food, "Lizzie, this ce really does have good vors.


    Just try it."


    Lizzie struggled to control her emotions, taking the food from Gina''s hands, "Mom. Stop eating this


    junk. It''s not good for you."


    Gina looked taken aback, "Lizzie. What''s gotten into you today?"


    Malcolm too sensed something was off with his usually sweet and obedient daughter, "Lizzie, are


    you upset about something? Talk to me, let me help you sort it out."


    Lizzie just stared at Malcolm, feeling the irony of the situation.


    Her role model of a father, Gina''s loyal husband, was nothing but a hypocrite.


    All she wanted to do was scream out the question, ¡°Why did you betray my mother?¡±


    "It''s nothing," Lizzie said, dumping the food into the trash, "I just think eating too much junk at night


    isn''t good for us."


    With that, she turned and went back to her room.


    "What''s with her?" Malcolm scratched his head, clearly confused.


    Gina frowned, "Lizzie''s not usually like this. Did she do poorly on a test or something?"


    Back in her room, Lizzie clutched her pillow and sobbed.


    She wanted someone to confide in, to give her advice, but family matters were supposed to stay


    within the family, especially when they involved Malcolm.


    Unsure who to turn to, she suddenly remembered that there were online therapists she could pay


    for advice. She picked out a professional-looking one, described her situation anonymously, and


    sent it off.


    The response came quickly, a gentle female voice.


    "Hello, my advice to you is to pretend you haven''t seen anything. Don''t interfere with your parents''


    issues. Believe that your father is still the man who loves you. This won''t lessen his care and


    affection for you. If you insist on bursting this bubble, you''re facing the potential breakup of your


    family. And I believe your mother, being a woman herself, would rather not face this reality."

 Chapter 268

    After hearing the expert''s reply, Lizzie was dumbstruck.


    Was she really supposed to keep this from her mom and let her live in ignorance?


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Tears began to pool as Lizzie typed out another message, "Dear expert, my mom is the kindest,


    most hardworking woman. She runs the household by herself, always making sure Dad and I have


    the best of everything, even if it means going without herself. She loves us so much. Wouldn''t it be


    cruel to let her stay in the dark?"


    By the time she finished typing, tears were streaming down her face.


    Torn between her mother and father, Lizzie, their daughter, was at a loss.


    Her mom, Gina, was the epitome of a traditional housewife, her world revolving around her husband


    and child.


    Gina came from a rural background.


    She and Malcolm fell in love and moved to Cloudcrest to build a life together. But it was Gina who


    was the real driving force.


    In the beginning, she¡¯d hawk goods up and down the streets, starting her day before the sun and


    ending well after it had set. Now, she looked a decade older than her peers. Standing next to


    Malcolm, they looked more like siblings than husband and wife.


    Few knew Gina was only 41.


    From nothing, she built a small supermarket and became a respected business owner. Honestly, if it


    wasn''t for Gina, Malcolm wouldn''t have made it this far.


    But now, Malcolm had betrayed her.


    Had Lizzie not witnessed it firsthand, she would never have thought her dad could be so cold-


    hearted.


    The expert replied again soon after.


    "From what you''ve described, your mother sounds like a strong woman. But often, the stronger a


    woman appears, the more vulnerable she is on the inside. If you tell her about this, it could crush


    her. She might do something drastic, and you''ll live with regret. If you truly care for her, sometimes


    it''s kinder to keep her in the dark. Isn''t it better to let her live happily unaware?"


    "As children, our job is to ensure our parents'' happiness. Your dad is happy, and your mom seems


    happy. Isn''t that enough? Why destroy that happiness with your own hands? Life is full of


    challenges. You need to learn to let go and grow from them."


    Lizzie listened to the expert''s message, her emotions a tangled mess.


    Maybe the expert was right.


    What if her mom couldn''t handle the truth and did something extreme?


    No. She couldn''t lose Gina. She couldn''t be an orphan.


    Lizzie didn''t remember falling asleep, but a nightmare jolted her awake.


    In the dream, Gina, unable to cope with the revtion, had jumped from a building. The graphic


    images of blood and brain matter haunted her.


    She woke up screaming, "Mom."


    Drenched in sweat, she sat up, the terrible images lingering, making her heart race.


    "Ding-" The rm''s chime pulled her back to reality.


    Lizzie silenced the rm and got ready for school.


    "Morning, Lizzie," Gina greeted as she brought breakfast to the table.


    Lizzie, wiping the foam from her mouth, asked, "Where''s dad?"


    "He''s still sleeping," Gina answered.


    "Why isn''t he up yet?" Lizzie couldn''t contain her frustration, feeling the injustice for Gina.


    In this house, not only did Gina manage their daily lives, but she also took care of the supermarket


    business.


    What did Malcolm do? His biggest task was supposedly stocking up supplies.


    Lizzie had believed he was actually going out for supplies. Now it seemed like a mere excuse.


    He was probably with his mistress.


    Gina was like a nanny, managing everything. And Malcolm? He acted like the lord of the manor,


    ungrateful and indulgent in his affair.


    The more Lizzie thought about it, the angrier she got.


    Noticing Lizzie''s mood, Gina furrowed her brow and asked, "What on earth is going on with you?


    Sincest night, you''ve been acting out of sorts. Tell me, what''s the matter?"


    Was this just typical teenage rebellion? Gina''s concern deepened.


    "Mom," Lizzie struggled to calm herself and managed a weak smile, "I''m fine."

 Chapter 269

    Gina let out a sigh before speaking, "Lizzie, honey, I know things are different nowpared to


    back in my day. Whatever is going on, you have to talk to us, okay?"


    Lizzie nodded, her eyes welling up as she wrapped her arms around Gina, "Mom¡­"


    "What''s the matter, pumpkin?" Gina was taken aback, "Lizzie, has someone been picking on you at


    school? If anyone''s giving you a hard time, you have to tell me..."


    Sniffing, Lizzie said, "I''m okay, Mom. It''s just I watched this horror movie onlinest night, and it''s


    still freaking me out a bit."


    Gina chuckled and said, "You''re a big girl now, still getting scared over a silly movie. It''s all make-


    believe."


    She paused, then continued, "Lizzie, I know you¡¯ll have you own little secrets. But remember, if you


    ever run into any problems, feel free to talk to me about it, okay?"


    "Sure, Mom." Lizzie nodded again.


    "Alright, go freshen up and let''s have breakfast," Gina said, patting Lizzie''s shoulder.


    Lizzie went to wash her face.


    Halfway through breakfast, Malcolm finally rolled out of bed.


    Gina promptly handed him a toothbrush with paste and ran the water for him to wash his face,


    tending to him with meticulous care.


    Once cleaned up, Malcolm walked into the kitchen and nced into the pot, "What''s for breakfast


    today?"


    "We''ve got some oatmeal, and I picked up some donuts," Gina replied, "I''ve already dished out your


    oatmeal, and it''s on the table."


    Malcolm frowned, "Donuts again?" They had been on a donut streak for a month now.


    Gina untied her apron, smiling. "Well, what are you in the mood for? I''ll go and get it."


    Malcolm considered for a moment, "How about grabbing a bagel and a couple of those sausage


    biscuits?"


    "Okay," Gina nodded, "Just wait here."


    Normally, this would seem like a routine exchange.


    But now, Lizzie was seething with anger.


    She felt like Gina''s love was being thrown away.


    Ever since she saw Malcolm with that mistress, she couldn''t stand to see Malcolm taking Gina for


    granted.


    Gina was so good to him. How could he treat her like this?


    "Don''t indulge him if he doesn''t appreciate it, Mom." Lizzie blocked Gina''s way.


    "What''s gotten into you?" Gina said, helpless.


    Lizzie took a deep breath.


    Malcolm walked out of the kitchen, hands on Lizzie''s shoulders, and said with a smile, "What''s


    wrong, my dear? Why are you mad at me? Did I do something wrongtely? Tell me, and I''ll fix it


    right away."


    He was still the same reasonable and approachable father, but all Lizzie could see was his


    hypocrisy. Thick, tant hypocrisy.


    "It''s nothing." Lizzie shrugged off Malcolm''s hands, "I''m off to school."


    Malcolm watched Lizzie retreating back, shaking his head helplessly.


    Lizzie was growing up, developing her own thoughts and feelings.


    Although Malcolm found it odd, he didn''t dwell on it.


    It was natural for kids to have their little secrets and their moods. Parents shouldn''t pry too much


    into their children''s private lives.


    Distracted, Lizzie walked to the school gate.


    Yesterday, it was her waiting for Tanya and Anthea.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Today, it was them waiting for her.


    "Lizzie." Tanya waved.


    "Annie, Tanya," Lizzie trotted over.


    "You okay fromst night?" Tanya asked, "You left before we finished eating. Annie''s mom even


    gave us each a big goody bag. Oh, and this is yours."


    Tanya handed Lizzie a tote bag.


    Lizzie looked up at Anthea, "Please thank your mom for me."


    "It''s nothing," Anthea replied, noticing Lizzie''s appearance, "You didn''t sleep wellst night, did


    you?"


    Lizzie looked particrly drained.


    Anthea, with her knowledge of natural remedies, could tell something was off.


    "Yeah," Lizzie nodded, "had nightmares all night."


    Anthea reached into her backpack and handed Lizzie a small dark bottle, "This is a natural sleep


    aid, with no side effects. Give it a try."


    "Thank you, Annie," Lizzie took the bottle with both hands.


    Anthea smiled lightly, "No need to thank me."


    Throughout the day, Lizzie was out of sorts, especially noticeable as she stood in the cafeteria line


    at lunch, frowning and sighing, clearly preupied with her thoughts.

 Chapter 270

    Tanya and Anthea exchanged a nce, Tanya nudging Anthea with her elbow, "Hey Annie, check


    out Lizzie, what¡¯s up with her?¡±


    Anthea shook her head, craned her neck to look at Lizzie, and gave her aforting pat on the


    shoulder, ¡°Lizzie, you feeling okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Annie, don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Lizzie replied, shaking her head and reaching out to take the


    tray from the cafeteriady.


    But in a moment of distraction, the tray slipped from her grasp, threatening to crash to the floor.


    In the nick of time, Anthea''s hand shot out and snagged the tray mid-fall.


    Rock steady.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Not a drop of soup spilled.


    Tanya, standing to the side, was practically starry-eyed with admiration, "Annie, you''re amazing."


    They all knew Anthea had skills.


    But every time Anthea sprang into action, it was a sight to behold.


    ¡°And that¡¯s why you¡¯re our rock star,¡± Anthea said, handing the tray back to Lizzie, ¡°You¡¯ve gotta tell


    us if something¡¯s up, Lizzie.¡±


    Lizzie nodded, her mind heavy with thoughts she wasn¡¯t sure how to express.


    After all, the person in question was her father. For now, she could only hide it, keep it to herself,


    and deal with it on her own.


    Lizzie tried tofort herself with the words of that self-help guru she liked.


    Ignorance was bliss.


    If Gina was happy now, why should she be the one to shatter that happiness?


    Tanya piped up, ¡°Lizzie, did you get dumped or something?¡±


    Lizzie looked up at Tanya, ¡°It¡¯s just some family stuff. Not a big deal but not exactly small either. It¡¯s


    just kind of a headache.¡±


    Tanya wrapped an arm around Lizzie¡¯s, ¡°You¡¯re too young to be stressing over family drama. Let the


    adults handle their own business.¡±


    The trio settled down at the dining table to eat.


    Lizzie turned to Tanya, hesitating before speaking, ¡°Tanya, how are your parents¡¯ rtionship?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re good.¡± Tanya nodded emphatically, ¡°Dad¡¯s a bit of an introvert, not much of a socializer, so


    Mom¡¯s the boss at home. They squabble sometimes, but it¡¯s always Mom giving Dad an earful, and


    he just takes it.¡±


    Lizzie suddenly felt a pang of envy.


    Why did everyone else have a great dad? Why did her own have to be after some mistress?


    Curious, Tanya asked, ¡°Why are you asking all this, Lizzie?¡±


    ¡°Just curious,¡± Lizzie said with a forced smile.


    Tanya sniffed out something amiss, ¡°Lizzie, did your parents have a fight?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t really know how to put it,¡± Lizzie scratched her head, ¡°It¡¯s not exactly a fight. "


    Since it was Lizzie¡¯s personal issue, Tanya didn''t press further.


    After a pause, Lizzie said, ¡°Annie, Tanya, I want to ask you guys something.¡±


    ¡°Shoot.¡±


    ¡°If,¡± Lizzie carefully chose her words, ¡°I mean, if you found out that your neighbor¡¯s dad was


    cheating, what would you do?¡±


    Not wanting to air her family''s dirtyundry, Lizzie disguised her identity.


    Tanya was visibly taken aback, clearly never having faced such a predicament.


    Anthea pondered seriously for a moment before responding, ¡°Does your neighbor know about it?¡±


    Lizzie nodded.


    Anthea frowned slightly and continued, ¡°And she hasn¡¯t told her mom?¡±


    Lizzie shook her head, voicing her concerns, ¡°Her mom is a really great person, and loves her dad a


    lot. If she found out, given her temperament, she might do something drastic, so my neighbor has


    been scared to tell her.¡±


    Anthea nced at Lizzie, ¡°Keeping this from her mom is incredibly unfair. I suggest you tell your


    neighbor toe clean to her mom. I believe as an adult, she can handle this situation perfectly.¡±


    Anthea may not have experienced love or marriage in a past life.


    But she absolutely detested men who cheated on their families.


    It was unforgivable.


    ¡°No, we can¡¯t let her mom find out,¡± Lizzie insisted, ¡°Annie, isn¡¯t there a way to keep it from her mom


    and still make her dade back to his senses?¡±


    Lizzie didn¡¯t want to see any harme to Gina, but she also wanted to save Malcolm.


    She wanted to keep her happy family together.


    Anthea thought for a moment, ¡°Then your neighbor should confront her dad and tear down that


    fa?ade. If he¡¯s lost all shame, why should she care about his pride? If he¡¯s a man with any sense of


    responsibility, he¡¯ll turn over a new leaf and cut ties with that mistress.¡±


    A glimmer of hope shone in Lizzie¡¯s eyes. Maybe this approach could really work.

 Chapter 271

    Malcolm loved her so much, loved their home to the core, and he had toe around.


    As soon as school let out, Lizzie bolted home, determined to have a heart-to-heart with Malcolm.


    But after a thorough search of the grocery store, Malcolm was nowhere to be seen. Reluctantly,


    Lizzie approached Gina, ¡°Mom, where¡¯s Dad?¡±


    Gina, covering for a cashier who had called in sick, was ringing up customers at the front, ¡°Your


    father¡¯s gone on a supply run.¡±


    Supply run.


    Always the supply runs.


    A cold smirk flickered across Lizzie¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°What do you need your father for?¡± Gina asked casually.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Lizzie replied, shouldering her backpack and heading upstairs.


    It was well past ten when Malcolm finally made it home.


    Lizzie could instantly smell the perfume on him, ¡°Dad, I need to talk to you. Can we go downstairs?¡±


    Peeling off his coat with a chuckle, Malcolm said, ¡°What¡¯s so important that we have to talk


    downstairs?¡±


    Though he yed it cool, Malcolm followed Lizzie downstairs all the same.


    The early spring evening was chilly, with gusts of cold wind.


    ¡°Lizzie, what''s so secretive that your mom can¡¯t hear?¡± Malcolm asked.


    Lizzie looked up at him, not beating around the bush, ¡°It¡¯s about you, Dad. Are you seeing someone


    else?¡±


    Malcolm¡¯s expression darkened.


    ¡°Don¡¯t deny it. I have proof,¡± Lizzie said, pulling out the photos she had taken before.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lizzie.¡± Malcolm was at a loss for words, caught in an affair by his own daughter, a


    feeling perhaps no one could understand.


    So this is the reason. No wonder Lizzie has been acting weirdtely.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be apologizing to me. You should be apologizing to Mom. She works her fingers to


    the bone every day for this family. She¡¯s like a maid, always waiting on you. Do you think what


    you¡¯re doing is fair to her? Don¡¯t you care about our family anymore?¡±


    The thought of Gina brought tears to Lizzie¡¯s eyes again.


    Confronted with Lizzie¡¯s usations, Malcolm panicked, his eyes welling up:


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Lizzie. I¡¯ve wronged you. I¡¯ve wronged Gina, and I¡¯ve wronged our family. Please don¡¯t tell


    your mom, okay? I¡¯ll cut ties with that woman right away.¡±


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Lizzie looked up at him, searching his face for the truth.


    Malcolm raised three fingers in a solemn vow, ¡°I swear. If I¡¯m lying, may lightning strike me down.¡±


    Hearing this, Lizzie breathed a sigh of relief. Malcolm still cared about her and Gina. ¡°I¡¯ll give you


    this one chance. I hope you remember what you said tonight.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Lizzie.¡± Malcolm hugged her, ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to your mom, I promise. She¡¯s a wonderful


    woman, and I¡¯ve done her wrong.¡±


    After that night, Malcolm truly seemed like a changed man. No morete nights, and he even


    started helping Gina with chores.


    And Gina¡¯s smile was noticeably brighter than usual. Lizzie too, returned to her usual cheerful self.


    A week flew by swiftly.


    It was Saturday.


    The weather was splendid, the temperature had climbed from a chilly zero degrees to a balmy


    eighteen.


    Willow branches by the river were sprouting new buds, and a gentle breeze carried an unfamiliar


    floral scent.


    Anthea had promised Sarah a tutoring session for today, so after lunch, she set out for the Allen


    family.


    They lived a fair distance from Anthea¡¯s house. But with the weather so fine, Anthea decided


    against taking a cab, and a walk would do her good, she thought, basking in the springtime sun.


    Saturdays were busy.


    And with Cloudcrest being a tourist hotspot, the streets were even more crowded. ncing at the


    sun, Anthea briefly regretted not calling a cab.


    Just then, a man dressed in ck sped past her, moving with incredible speed like a gust of wind.


    Anthea''s brow furrowed slightly, but before she could react, a middle-aged woman d in a light


    blue dress, her high heels clicking on the pavement, made up in fine detail, cried out, ¡°Help! Stop


    that thief.¡±


    Anthea quickly grasped the situation and turned to the woman, ¡°Madam, wait here, please.¡±


    With that, Anthea dashed after the ck-d man.


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Her pace was swift. In no time, she cornered him in an alleyway.


    The thief, pale and drenched in sweat, slumped to the ground, looking up at Anthea with defeat, ¡°I


    surrender, please, have mercy.¡±


    ¡°Hand it over,¡± Anthea extended her hand, her expression cool.


    ¡°Alright, just a second,¡± the thief muttered, fumbling in his pockets, while a sly glint flickered in his


    eyes.

 Chapter 272

    He had been in the game for years, never taking a fall.


    It was no different this time. He wouldn''t lose to some chick!


    Just now, he had intentionally sprinted into this dead-end alley because it was a blind spot for the


    cameras and his turf.


    The chick was easy on the eyes and probably even better in other ways!


    With that thought, a sleazy grin spread across the man''s face in ck.


    Since she liked sticking her nose where it didn''t belong, she couldn''t me him for what was


    coming!


    At that moment, the man in ck pulled a gleaming switchde from his pocket and stood up. He


    approached Anthea step by step. Meanwhile, three or four other men, also d in ck, silently


    appeared behind Anthea, cutting off any chance of retreat.


    Anthea was totally trapped. There was no way out.


    With her arms crossed, Anthea watched the man in ck advance toward her.


    She didn¡¯t show a hint of fear on her face. Instead, a faint smile yed at the corners of her mouth.


    The man in ck frowned.


    Why wasn''t she running?


    Wouldn''t a girl usually bolt in this situation?


    Why wasn''t Anthea moving?


    Had she been scared stiff?


    That was most likely.


    The man in ck reached Anthea and sneered, "Sweetheart, listen. If you know what''s good for


    you, you''ll y nice with us boys tonight. We''ll promise you a good time, or else, heh heh..."


    His cronies behind him joined in with leering, ominousughter.


    Lust glinted in their eyes.


    Anthea''s lips curved up slightly. "Or else what?"


    "Or this?" When she finished her sentence, Anthea grabbed the man in ck by the throat and lifted


    him off the ground, "Or maybe this? Huh?"


    Everything froze, the thugs behind Anthea growing weak-kneed with terror.


    She was lifting a grown man off his feet!


    That was downright terrifying!


    The man''s legs iled wildly, his face turning the color of liver.


    In that instant, he felt Death''s presence right beside him, ready to whisk him away.


    "Why so quiet? You had plenty to say a moment ago," Anthea tightened her grip.


    The man in ck looked at Anthea, his face twisted with pain and fear, and he gasped out, "I, I


    won''t... do it again..."


    He was scared.


    He''d thought he was dealing with a pretty little thing, but she was more like a demon in disguise.


    Anthea slowly turned to the group behind her. "And you?"


    The thugs, who were scared out of their wits, fell to their knees. "We won''t do it again, we swear!


    Mercy,dy, mercy!"


    Only then did Anthea casually release the man in ck.


    Thud! He hit the ground hard, stirring up a cloud of dust.


    "Thank you, thank you, miss!"


    "Hand it over."


    The man quickly pulled an exquisite purse out of his coat.


    Anthea took the purse. "If I find anything missing, do you believe I have a hundred ways to finish


    you off?"


    "Everything''s there, I swear!" He wasn''t about to tempt fate by crossing this fierce woman.


    With the purse in hand, Anthea quickly returned to where she hade from.


    The middle-aged woman in the cocktail dress was still waiting there.


    "Ma''am, is this your purse?"


    The woman hadn''t expected Anthea to retrieve it.


    Surprised, she looked at Anthea. "Yes, yes, that''s mine!"


    Anthea didn''t immediately hand it over but said, "I apologize, but until I can verify that you''re the


    owner, I can''t give it to you. Does it have a phone inside?"


    She recognized the purse. She had one just like it.


    It was a gift from Kendrick. And its retail price was up to six figures.


    The woman smiled. "You''re conscientious, dear. Yes, it¡¯s my purse, and my phone is inside. It


    unlocks with facial recognition. Just point it at my face, and it will unlock."


    Anthea nodded, unzipped the purse, and pulled out the phone. "I hope you don''t mind."


    When the phone''s camera faced the woman, it unlocked.


    Satisfied that the purse and the phone belonged to the woman, Anthea returned them.


    The woman looked at Anthea with a smile. "You have a strong sense of responsibility! By the way,


    how did you catch that thief?"


    Upon closer examination, she was stunned.


    The girl was stunningly beautiful.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    She always thought she looked young for her age, almost like a sister next to her son.


    But this girl was something else entirely!


    She was radiant and seemingly wless.


    She looked as if she was the goddess of a painting.

 Chapter 273

    Even though she was a woman, her heart raced at the sight. She could only imagine how men


    would feel.


    Anthea said, "I was the track star at school, and that thief figured he couldn''t outrun me, so he gave


    me back the purse."


    "Oh, my goodness, thank you so much!" The middle-aged woman clutched Anthea''s hand.


    "Sweetheart, what''s your name? How old are you?"


    "Ma¡¯am, my name is Anthea, and I''m eighteen."


    "Oh, honey, don''t call me ma¡¯am. It makes me sound old. Call me by my name, please!" The


    woman continued, "You can call me Adah. Speaking of which, there''s a dessert shop over there. Let


    me treat you to some sweets."


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Making contact with such a youngdy made Adah feel she''d shed a decade or two herself.


    And that wasn''t just any youngdy but a pretty one.


    Even the legendary beauty Carlotta would blush in her presence.


    She was just that stunning!


    Desserts were Anthea''s weakness.


    Usually, she''d jump at the offer without a second thought. But at that moment, she had to help


    Sarah study.


    "Thanks for the kind offer, but I''ve got something else to do."


    Adah held onto Anthea''s hand. "I''ll just call you Annie! Annie, you got my purse back for me. I must


    thank you properly. Oh, and what''s your Twitter? Let''s add each other!"


    Adah was too enthusiastic, and feeling slightly overwhelmed, Anthea took out her phone, "I''ll add


    you, ma¡¯am."


    "I told you just Adah, okay? Annie, rx! Here, let me add you! Show me your ount."


    Anthea brought up her ount, and they added each other on Twitter.


    Anthea tagged her as Adah.


    Adah tagged Anthea as Stunning Annie.


    After exchanging contacts, Adah said, "Where are you headed, Annie? My driver will be here any


    minute. I''ll have him drop you off."


    "Thanks, Adah. I''m going somewhere nearby. It''s just a few minutes'' walk."


    "Well, I''ve got nothing on my te right now. How about I walk you over?"


    "That would be too much trouble."


    Adah waved dismissively. "No trouble at all." Adah was a sucker for good looks. She couldn''t resist


    a pretty face. She hadn''t been a fan of celebrities, but ever since meeting Carlotta, she was hooked!


    And Anthea was even more beautiful than Carlotta.


    It was too bad that her son wasn''t interested in women.


    Otherwise, she''d have loved to lure Anthea into bing her daughter-inw.


    Dreaming of having such a beautiful daughter-inw would make anyone wake up smiling.


    With no good way to refuse, Anthea let Adah walk her to Sarah''s apartmentplex.


    "Adah, this is my stop."


    "Already?" Adah looked reluctant to leave.


    Anthea nodded.


    "Okay, Annie, you better get inside! Don''t keep your friend waiting. I''ll head back."


    "Bye, Adah."


    "Goodbye."


    Knowing Anthea was returning, Sarah had got Anthea''s favorite sweets.


    When the doorbell rang, Sarah dashed to open the door.


    "Annie!"


    "Sarah."


    "Come in, quick! I''ve got your favorite macarons, custard tarts, doughnuts, and tiramisu!" Sarah


    pulled Anthea inside.


    Anthea hugged Sarah, her excitement palpable. "Sarah, you''re the best!"


    "I knew you''d love it. Aren''t you worried about gaining weight with all these sweets?"


    Anthea replied fearlessly, "If I get fat, I''ll be on a dietter!" And this body had the same metabolism


    as her previous life. No matter what she ate, her figure remained sizzling!


    After devouring the sweets, Anthea began helping Sarah with her review.


    Sarah was decent in humanities but struggled with sciences.


    Herbined scores in math, physics, and chemistry were barely hitting 210.


    However, Anthea firmly believed in the adage that there are no bad students but terrible teachers.


    She had her teaching methods.


    Despite being all fun and games with her friends, when it came to serious matters, she was all


    business, as she was at the time.


    Sarah listened intently, barely daring to breathe. Oddly enough, all those things that confused her in


    other ces just made sense when Anthea exined them, like a clear flowing river.


    Before they knew it, the afternoon had arrived.


    The first thing Adah did after returning home from shopping was recount her day''s adventure to


    Karen, "Karen, you won''t believe it! I met this gorgeous girl today! She''s even prettier than Carlotta!"


    It was rare to hear Adah praise someone. It was a novelty indeed.


    In Adah''s eyes, Carlotta was usually the epitome of beauty!


    Karen was shocked. "Oh, prettier than the mermaid herself? But is she as lovely as my future


    granddaughter-inw Ann?"

 Chapter 274

    Adah bubbled over with excitement. "I have never seen this Ann you keep yapping about, but I can


    bet my bottom dor that Annie knocks Ann out of the park any day!"


    "Poppycock!" Karen scowled, her brows knitting together in disapproval. "No matter how striking


    Annie might be, she''s got nothing on my Ann! Ann is the belle of the ball, the talk of the town, and


    the queen bee! She''s the girl that makes heads turn and hearts flutter!"


    In Karen''s eyes, Anthea was the epitome of beauty, the perfect ten.


    Dare anyone say Anthea wasn''t a knockout, and they''d have Karen to answer to, even if it were her


    daughter-inw!


    "Karen, don''t you think you''reying it on a bit thick?" Adah couldn''t fathom anyone more ravishing


    than Anthea. "Annie''s drop-dead gorgeous, and you''re saying she can''t hold a candle to a in


    Jane?"


    Karen was blowing her trumpet way too loud.


    "How dare you?" Karen''s hands shot to her hips. "Who''re you calling a in Jane?"


    Unfazed, Adah retorted, "Well, you''re always going on about Carlotta being a fish out of water.


    What''s the deal? Is it one rule for you and another for everyone else?"


    Karen choked on her words, her cheeks puffing up with anger as she pointed at Adah. "Ann is not a


    in Jane! You should watch your mouth!"


    Adah raised an eyebrow, her voiceced with sarcasm, "Funny, you make it sound like she¡¯s the


    most beautiful girl in the world."


    Karen stood there, stumped. She''d never lost a verbal duel before, and at the moment, she''d talked


    herself into a corner!


    What an embarrassment!


    "I don''t care what you say! Ann is the belle of the ball, and there''s no denying it. Your Annie can''t


    evenpare to my Ann!" Climbing onto the coffee table, Karen locked eyes with Adah.


    She might be petite, but her spirit was as tall as a skyscraper!


    If the coffee table didn''t give her enough height, she''d scale the ceiling if she had to!


    Adah mirrored Karen''s stance, hands on hips, taunting, "A in Ann trying to match up to my


    Annie? She''s not even on par with Annie!"


    "You''re making stuff up, grasping at straws, fantasizing, fabricating, speechless, hopeless! There''s


    something wrong upstairs, and it''s never-ending!" Karen''s face turned crimson as she ranted


    without pausing for breath, "My Ann is the belle of the ball! Your so-called Annie can''t even measure


    up to Ann, not a little bit!"


    Adah''s eyebrow twitched, a sly idea forming. "How about we invite them over and settle this once


    and for all? Let''s see who''s the real beauty." She''d heard so much about this Ann and was dying of


    curiosity.


    Karen nodded, "Fine! We''ll have Sherman be the judge."


    "When should we invite them?" Adah pressed.


    Karen thought for a moment. "Ann''s booked this week. I''ll set it up for next."


    At that moment, Sherman walked in from outside, shrugging off his ck coat and handing it to a


    servant. "Mom, Grandma, why does it feel like a battlefield in here?"


    "We''re discussing your future wife!" Karen snapped back. "Your mom insists she''s not as pretty as


    that Annie or whatever! We will bring her home next week and have you y judge!"


    Sherman''s refusal died on his lips as Karen turned to him, her voice sharp. "If you dare say no, I''ll


    knock some sense into you with a good smack! I swear it."


    "Grandma, I''ve told you I''m not looking to settle down. Please stop dragging otherdies'' names


    through the mud," Sherman said sternly.


    Karen eyed him with a mischievous grin.


    Refusing to marry, eh? Fine!


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    She would ensure her blockhead of a grandson learned the hard way that pride came before a fall.


    Feeling Karen''s gaze crawling over him, Sherman stood up from the couch. "I''m heading to my


    room."


    Soon after, the song "Amazing Grace" echoed down from upstairs.


    ...


    Sunday rolled around, and Anthea had ns with Lizzie and Tanya to catch a movie that afternoon.


    The trio met up at the nned spot.


    "I''ve got our tickets," Anthea announced. "We can head straight in."


    "I''ll get the popcorn," said Lizzie, "Any other munchies you guys want?"


    "A Coke on ice for me," Tanya requested.


    Anthea gave it a moment''s thought. "And some chips, plus an iced Coke for me, too."


    Lizzie nodded and headed for the snacks.


    But as she reached the counter, she spotted a familiar figure. It was her dad, Malcolm.


    He seemed to be waiting for someone.


    Lizzie lingered nearby, and she saw the middle-aged woman soon. It was the homewrecker.


    Hadn''t Malcolm promised to cut ties with her?

 Chapter 275

    The scene before Lizzie''s eyes stung her heart.


    Since her dad, Malcolm, had transformed into someone she could hardly recognize, she had tried to


    bury the painful truth, instead painting him in her mind as a doting father and a loving husband. She


    clung to the illusion of their once-happy family of three.


    But reality delivered a crushing blow.


    In all the years that had passed, Lizzie had never seen Malcolm take Gina to a movie or give her a


    present. Gina was always giving, silently and selflessly, without expecting anything in return.


    And what does she get for it? Malcolm''s betrayal, once again.


    "Dad!" Lizzie couldn''t hold back any longer.


    Hearing the familiar voice in the movie theater, Malcolm turned around and saw Lizzie''s face etched


    with disappointment.


    The middle-aged woman beside Malcolm offered Lizzie a warm and friendly smile.


    Lizzie clenched her fists, fighting the urge tosh out.


    "Just wait here for me," Malcolm whispered to the woman, then hurried over to Lizzie.


    "Lizzie, what are you doing here?"


    "That''s not the point. The real question is, why are you with that woman? Didn''t you say you would


    cut ties with her? By doing this, where do you put Mom?"


    Malcolm''s face darkened. "What woman? All those years of education, and you talk like this, huh?"


    His expression softened slightly. "Lizzie, you''re too young to understand adult matters. That''s Cindy.


    She''s a kind and good woman who doesn''t mind not having an official title and just being with your


    dad."


    Lizzie scoffed. "Kind and good? So, she thinks it''s okay to steal someone else''s husband and wreck


    a family?"


    Malcolm continued, "Lizzie, since time immemorial, what man hasn''t been fickle? I''ve just made a


    mistake that any man would make. Think about it. In the old days, men had multiple mistresses. No


    matter what, your mother will always be my wife. I love her, but that love has expired. It''s turned into


    familial affection. Cindy and I share true love, Lizzie. I hope you can ept that."


    Had she not heard it with her ears, Lizzie would never have believed such shameless words could


    come from Malcolm.


    "And what if I don''t ept it?"


    "Do you want to see your mom and me divorce? You''re a good kid, Lizzie. I don''t think you would


    want to break up our family, right?" Malcolm had read her mind well. She harbored a love for her


    father and didn''t want to shatter their family, so she hadn''t told Gina.


    Taking advantage of her silence, Malcolm patted Lizzie''s shoulder. "The movie''s about to start. I


    should go watch it with Cindy."


    And with that, he walked away.


    Lizzie watched them leave, squat on the ground, and cried uncontrobly.


    Her friends Anthea and Tanya arrived with their tickets, only to find Lizzie in tears. "Lizzie, what''s


    happened to you?"


    All Lizzie could do was cry.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    They decided to skip the movie and helped her to a chair in the rest area.


    "Lizzie, what''s wrong? Crying won''t solve the problem. Tell us what happened, and Tanya and I will


    help you figure it out," Anthea urged.


    Tanya was totally on board. "I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but Annie''s got brains.


    She''ll figure it out!"


    Lizzie looked up at them, tears streaming down her face. "Annie, Tanya, my dad... he doesn''t want


    me anymore..."


    Tanya wiped Lizzie''s tears while Anthea put aforting hand on her shoulder. "Take your time,


    Lizzie."


    Through her sobs, Lizzie recounted everything. "The neighbor''s story I told you before... was about


    my dad. He''s having an affair! He said he would end it, but he was with that bitch again! He lied to


    me and my mom! What do I do now, Annie, Tanya?"


    Anthea looked at Lizzie, her voice calm and resolute. "You have to tell your mom. Then she can


    divorce him and ensure he doesn''t get away with anything."

 Chapter 276

    Cheating was an unforgivable sin, especially when it was someone like Malcolm who did it time and


    time again.


    To let him walk away with nothing would be letting him off too easy.


    After all, Lizzie''s mom, Gina, had given nearly two decades of her best years.


    Hearing that, Lizzie looked up at Anthea, stunned.


    Divorce?


    Since discovering her father¡¯s infidelity, the thought of her parents splitting up had never crossed


    her mind.


    She still harbored hopes of winning back her father. "Annie..."


    Anthea continued, "Lizzie, can you tell us about Gina?"


    Lizzie nodded, tears brimming as she spoke of her mother.


    No one knew Gina better than her daughter.


    As Lizzie spoke, her sorrow deepened.


    Gina had devoted her prime years to Malcolm, and Malcolm had betrayed her as she approached


    her twilight years.


    There could be no greater tragedy.


    "That jerk!" Tanya mmed her hand on the table, unable to suppress her rage. "He''s nothing but


    scum! A man like that doesn''t deserve to be your dad! And he sure as hell doesn''t deserve your


    mom!"


    Tanya was genuinely furious.


    How was Malcolm any different from those typical bad guys in old tales?


    And poor Gina was still in the dark.


    Realizing she may have gone too far, Tanya quickly added, "Lizzie, I''m angry at the situation, not at


    you. Don''t take it personally!"


    Anthea brought over three milkshakes, handing one each to Lizzie and Tanya. "Lizzie, your mom''s


    strong and kind. She''s given so much for your family. If you keep hiding this, you''re not protecting


    her but hurting her! As a wife and a mother, she has every right to know the truth!"


    "But what if... what if she can''t handle it? I''ve talked to a counselor before, and they said that as


    their child, it''s best not to get involved in my parents'' affairs, so I''ve kept it to myself..."


    Anthea frowned. "Are you sure the person you consulted was a professional?"


    Lizzie nodded.


    Tanya scoffed, "What kind of lousy advice is that? I hope that stupid expert gets a taste of their


    advice. Let her find out her husband''s cheating and her kid getting the same terrible guidance!"


    Anthea continued, "That ''expert'' is all wrong. To put it bluntly, they''ve got it all twisted. No decent


    person would ever defend a homewrecker and a cheater! You must understand how much your


    mom has sacrificed for this family over the years!"


    After a pause, Anthea asked, "Lizzie, are you afraid your mom might do something drastic, like


    hurting herself or worse?"


    Lizzie sighed and nodded.


    Anthea said, "Lizzie, your mom''s a grown woman. They say women are fragile, but mothers are


    invincible. Her resilience is far stronger than you can imagine!"


    "So, you''re saying... my mom won''t do anything rash?" Lizzie clung to that hope like a lifeline.


    "No, she won''t! You must believe in your mom. She''s a strong person. She wouldn''t throw away her


    life over a man!" After all, Gina had built a life from scratch in Cloudcrest. It was clear she wasn''t the


    type to give up easily.


    Anthea pressed on, "The truth alwayses out. If you keep shielding your dad and hiding the truth


    from your mom, and once the truthes out, she might be pushed over the edge."


    "Lizzie, remember. Your mom went through much to bring you into this world. In your family, you


    should be on her side. When she confronts disappointment and betrayal, you should stand by her,


    not cover for your dad! Doing that might make her feel like an outsider, and if ites to that, you


    might lose her for good."


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Anthea wasn''t being dramatic.


    Gina was the victim! Her two decades of devotion could end up being for nothing if she found out


    her husband and daughter had betrayed her.


    Even as a bystander, the thought was heartbreaking.


    Hearing that, Lizzie panicked, shaking her head vigorously. "No! That''s not it! I don''t see my mom


    as an outsider. I never have..."


    She wanted to protect her mother, not see her hurt.


    "But by hiding the truth," Anthea said, looking into Lizzie''s eyes with a stern expression, "you are


    treating her like an outsider. Put yourself in her shoes. Wouldn''t you feel utterly betrayed if you were


    your mom and learned the truth, wouldn''t you feel utterly betrayed?"

 Chapter 277

    ¡°Lizzie, don''t be naive! At a time like this, you can''t shelter your dad anymore. Do you want to ruin


    your mom¡¯s life?¡± Tanya stood up and eximed, ¡°Your mom needs to dump your dad now! A guy


    like that deserves to be kicked to the curb!¡±


    Tanya was beside herself with anger.


    Maybe because she wasn''t directly involved, she couldn''t fully empathize with Lizzie''s plight.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    But one thing was for sure. If Tanya were in Lizzie''s shoes, she wouldn''t keep it from Gina.


    "Tanya''s right. Once a cheater, always a cheater! Your mom can only find true happiness if she


    divorces your dad," Anthea interrupted. ¡°Don''t sweat about your mom being on her own. Women in


    this world can be happy without men!¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lizzie sniffled, trying to hold back tears.


    Anthea nodded and continued, "Lizzie, what do you think of my mom?"


    ¡°She¡¯s wonderful!¡± In Lizzie¡¯s eyes, Carole was a beautiful and gracious woman.


    ¡°You do know she¡¯s a single mom, right?¡± Anthea pressed on.


    Lizzie blinked, took a moment, then nodded.


    If Anthea hadn¡¯t mentioned it, Lizzie would¡¯ve forgotten because Carole never carried the aura of a


    single mom¡¯s struggles.


    Anthea patted Lizzie on the shoulder. ¡°Listen, your mom is even stronger than mine. Once she


    leaves your dad, I bet she¡¯ll have a better life!¡±


    ¡°Divorce him. Divorce him now! The sight of that scumbag turns my stomach!¡± Tanya said, seething.


    Anthea added, ¡°Your mom should hear it from you now than to find out on her own. Let me ask you.


    Would you rather stand by a cheating father or save a loving mother?¡±


    ¡°I choose my mom!¡± Lizzie replied without hesitation.


    Anthea nodded approvingly. ¡°Good. ording to Luxphiniaw, marital infidelity leads to leaving


    with nothing. If we can get enough evidence to prove your dad¡¯s infidelity, we can ensure he leaves


    empty-handed. From now on, Lizzie, you must learn to protect your mom and never let her down!¡±


    Hearing this, Lizzie felt a wave of rity wash over her.


    Anthea was right!


    What''s a dad who cheats worth next to a mom who loves you?


    Malcolm had already disappointed Gina!


    As a daughter, she couldn¡¯t let her mother down again!


    She needed to be strong and face this problem with her mother.


    ¡°I have photos! Of them together!¡± Lizzie quickly pulled out her phone, showing the pictures she¡¯d


    takenst time at Yeager''s Delicacies.


    ¡°That woman isn¡¯t even pretty! What was your dad thinking?¡± Tanya said incredulously. ¡°Your mom


    outshines her!¡±


    She had assumed the mistress would be some seductress. But no. She looked painfully average.


    Aside from a fashionable dress sense, her features were nowhere near as attractive as Lizzie¡¯s


    mom¡¯s.


    If it weren¡¯t for the damning evidence in the photos, no one would believe she was the other


    woman.


    Anthea raised an eyebrow. ¡°Photos alone won¡¯t cut it. We need proof of cohabitation, and did your


    dad spend money on her?¡±


    Lizzie nodded. ¡°Definitely! My dad¡¯s been racking up over twenty thousand in expenses monthly,


    probably all on her!¡±


    Anthea''s eyes narrowed. ¡°Then we need to get his bank statements.¡±


    ¡°How do we do that?¡± Lizzie frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t have his ount logins.¡±


    ¡°Do you know his ount number?¡± Anthea inquired with a slight lift of her eyebrow.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lizzie nodded.


    Anthea grabbed hertte. "Not the best ce for this. Let''s head to my ce."


    ¡°To do what at your house?¡± Lizzie was puzzled.


    Anthea replied, ¡°To pull up your dad¡¯s bank statements.¡±


    ¡°Annie, you can do that?¡± Lizzie was surprised.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Anthea nodded.


    Tanya slung an arm over Lizzie¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Jeez, you¡¯ve been Annie¡¯s desk mate for so long. Didn¡¯t


    you know she¡¯s a wizard with this stuff?¡±


    The three of them made their way to the Yeager family.


    Anthea effortlessly obtained Malcolm¡¯s bank statements.


    It turned out Malcolm had been renting an upscale apartment. There was no doubt that it was a love


    nest for his mistress.


    And he¡¯d transferredrge sums to a woman named Cindy every month, thirty grand at the highest


    and regrly a couple of grand.


    Armed with the bank statements, Lizzie shook with rage. ¡°My dad once said her surname was


    Sampson. This Cindy must be the mistress! Five years! He¡¯s been with her for five years!¡±

 Chapter 278

    "Annie, can you do some digging for me on Cindy?" Lizzie asked.


    Anthea nodded in agreement.


    It didn''t take long before Anthea unearthed all the information on Cindy.


    Cindy.


    Female.


    45 years old.


    Her husband had been bedridden for years, and she had a son studying abroad.


    Tanya frowned and said, "Holy shit! Thisdy is six years older than your dad! No wonder she looks


    past her prime! Your dad sure has some... unique tastes!"


    Lizzie felt sick to her stomach!


    Anthea raised an eyebrow. "Unique is one way to put it."


    Taking a deep breath, Lizzie said, "Annie, thanks for today. I know what I need to do now."


    "What are you nning?" Tanya asked.


    Lizzie replied, "I''m going to ensure my dad walks away with nothing!"


    She had decided that the marriage between her parents had to end!


    Even if her mother wanted to salvage the marriage, she would persuade them to divorce!


    "It''s good to see you''ve figured it out, Lizzie," Tanya said, wrapping her arms around Lizzie. "Keep


    your chin up. There''s always a rainbow after the storm, and Annie and I have got your back. Just


    holler if you need us."


    Anthea nodded slightly, "Tanya''s right. If you are in any trouble, we''re here for you."


    "Thanks," Lizzie said with a small smile.


    For the first time, she truly understood the value of having friends¡¯ support when the going got


    tough.


    ...


    Back at home, Gina was still bustling around the supermarket.


    While watching her mother, Lizzie''s heart ached.


    Gina worked hard to provide for the family, while Malcolm squandered her hard-earned money on


    another woman.


    It was ridiculous.


    "Mom," Lizzie said, trying to keep her emotions in check as she approached Gina.


    "Lizzie, you¡¯re back," Gina said, arranging items on the shelves.


    "Where''s Dad?" Lizzie asked.


    Gina''s brow furrowed, sensing something off with her daughter. "What''s with youtely, always


    asking about your father? He''s out stocking up on supplies."


    He was stocking up again.


    "Mom, why is he always ''stocking up''? Are we running that low on supplies?" Lizzie asked.


    Ginaughed. "Business has been boomingtely. Those imported candies we got have been


    selling like hotcakes. Sadly, your father has made a few trips and hasn''t restocked, so he went out


    again today!"


    Gina had known Malcolm since they were young and trusted him implicitly.


    She''d never doubted him.


    "Mom, do you trust Dad that much?" Lizzie asked.


    Gina stopped what she was doing and patted Lizzie on the head. "He''s your father and my


    husband. Who else should I trust if not him? Now, tell me, what¡¯s been bothering you?"


    Lizzie felt an overwhelming wave of sadness.


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    Gina trusted Malcolm so much. Yet he had betrayed her.


    "Mom, have you ever thought that maybe Dad isn''t really out ''stocking up''?"


    "If he''s not stocking up, where else would he be?" Gina inquired.


    Taking a deep breath, Lizzie said, "Mom, let''s talk upstairs."


    "I''m swamped right now!" Gina answered.


    She was indeed busy.


    The two-story supermarket spanned 1,200 square meters, and she only had ten employees.


    Many tasks required her attention.


    Lizzie grabbed Gina''s arm and suddenly had an outburst. "Mom, I need to talk to you!"


    Seeing Lizzie like that, Gina was startled and quickly jumped down from the stepdder, "What''s


    gotten into you, Lizzie? There, there, don¡¯t cry! I''ll go upstairs with you."


    The mother and daughter went upstairs.


    Gina hurriedly got some tissues for Lizzie. "What is it, sweetie? Did someone bully you? Tell me!"


    "Mom!" Lizzie embraced Gina, sobbing uncontrobly.


    "What''s wrong? Tell me what happened," Gina urged, growing anxious.


    It took a while for Lizzie to calm down enough to speak, her voice breaking with sobs. "Mom, Dad...


    he¡¯s not out stocking up."


    Gina froze. "I thought we were talking about something bothering you. Why are you talking about


    your father?"


    Lizzie held Gina''s hands. "Mom, just listen to me."


    "Go ahead."


    Lizzie took a deep breath, carefully choosing her words. She had thought it would be easy to tell her


    mother everything, but she realized how difficult it was to tell the truth while facing Gina.


    "Dad, he... Dad... He..."


    When she saw Lizzie struggling, Gina¡¯s face went pale with worry, "What about your dad? Did


    something happen to him on the road? Lizzie, don¡¯t scare me!"

 Chapter 279

    Malcolm was on the road, his big rig loaded with merchandise for the next delivery.


    Could it be an ident?


    The thought alone caused Gina''s eyes to well up with tears instantly.


    "Don''t worry, Mom! He''s okay!" Lizzie eximed through sobs. "He¡¯s okay, and he''s got someone


    else now!"


    Saying that felt like lifting a huge weight off her chest.


    "What?" Gina couldn''t quite grasp what Lizzie meant.


    Lizzie continued, "Dad has betrayed you! He''s got a mistress! Do you know how he''s been


    spending his allowance of thirty thousand a month? He''s been supporting her!"


    Gina stood frozen, her face a mask of unreadable emotions.


    It took her a moment to collect herself. "Lizzie, dear, stop kidding around! Your father isn''t that kind


    of man!"


    She and Malcolm grew up in the same small town, childhood sweethearts who knew each other


    inside out.


    Malcolm was a good, honest man. How could he possibly do such a thing?


    That was impossible!


    Impossible!


    Lizzie knelt before Gina. "It''s true. It''s all true..."


    Gina turned away. "No, it can''t be! Lizzie, you must be mistaken about your father!"


    "No, I''m not!" Lizzie pulled out several photos and a bank statement she printed at Anthea''s house.


    "Mom, this is the evidence! And he admitted it to my face!"


    Gina''s hands trembled as she took the photos, tears streaming down her cheeks.


    How could it happen?


    The man she had loved for over twenty years had betrayed her.


    How could this be?


    "Mom, get a divorce! And don''t worry. You''ll always have me!" Lizzie continued, "We can''t let him


    have a penny of the family money! You worked your fingers to the bone for that, not for it to go to


    some homewrecker!"


    Gina pulled out a tissue, swiftly wiping the tears from her face, pretending nothing had happened,


    and smiled at Lizzie. "Lizzie, this is something for us adults to handle. You don''t need to worry about


    it! Your job is to focus on your studies!"


    "Mom?"


    Gina patted Lizzie on the shoulder. "Trust me. I know what to do. You have examsing up, and


    don''t let this mess with your head!"


    She felt guilty for not noticing her husband''s strange behavior earlier and burdening Lizzie with


    these adult problems.


    It wasn''t something a child should worry about.


    She shouldn''t let adult problems affect her child.


    If it affected Lizzie in any way, she would regret it for the rest of her life.


    Gina tucked away the pictures and the bank statement. "I have things to do downstairs. Lizzie, go


    rest in your room! I''ll start cooking dinner at six-thirty."


    Gina''s calm reaction unsettled Lizzie. "Mom."


    "Lizzie, I''m okay."


    With that, Gina headed downstairs, interacting with the staff as if it were just another day.


    Lizzie returned to her bedroom andy on her bed, overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions.


    At six-thirty, Gina came upstairs right on time to cook dinner.


    As dinner was ready, Malcolm returned.


    "Wow, it smells amazing! What''s on the menu tonight, honey?"


    Carrying dishes out from the kitchen, Gina looked at her husband, feeling like he was a stranger.


    "You''re back. Wash your hands. And we need to talk. We''ll eat after."


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    Gina''s tone was even, but Malcolm sensed something was off.


    Yet when he looked at her again, she seemed just like any other day, so he went to wash his hands,


    then came out smiling, "What''s so urgent that it can''t wait until after dinner?"


    Gina nced at Malcolm. "If we don''t clear it up now, I''ll be too nauseated to eat."


    At those words, Malcolm felt a twinge of panic.


    ¡°Could Gina know about it?¡± he thought, ¡°Surely not. Daughters are supposed to be daddy''s baby


    girls. Lizzie wouldn''t betray me.¡±


    Malcolm smiled, trying to y it cool. "What are you talking about? You''re making it a big deal of it."


    Gina sat on the sofa, looked Malcolm straight in the eye, and said calmly, "Malcolm, do you even


    want to keep living this life?"


    Malcolm''s heart skipped a beat.


    Lizzie had spilled the beans!


    "Honey, what are you talking about? I don''t understand!" Malcolm attempted to bluff his way out.


    Gina reached under the sofa cushion, pulled the photos, and tossed them on the table. "How do you


    exin this?"

 Chapter 280

    Malcolm''s face drained of color, and he didn''t bother to exin. "Since you''ve figured it out, there''s


    nothing left for me to say. Gina, I''m sorry, but you know as well as I do. Love isn''t something you


    can control!"


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "I''m asking you just one thing, Malcolm. Me, our daughter Lizzie, our home, or that woman. Who do


    you choose?"


    From a mother''s perspective, Gina still wanted to save the family despite Malcolm''s betrayal. She


    was ready to give him a chance if he was willing to repent. Lizzie was already so grown up that


    Gina couldn''t let her child grow up without a father. And with Liz''s senior year of high school, a


    pivotal moment in life, around the corner, Gina didn''t want her to face it without her dad or the happy


    family she once knew.


    "I choose you and our family!" Malcolm dered without hesitation.


    "Fine," Gina said, her voice tinged with resolve. "I''ll give you one more chance."


    Malcolm wrapped his arms around her. "Gina, thank you. You''re an incredible woman, and I swear I


    won''t let you down again."


    Gina sighed, a mix of hope and distress. "When someonees back from messing up, it''s


    priceless. I hope you mean it."


    "I do. I swear it."


    When Lizzie came down to dinner and saw her parents acting as if nothing had happened, she was


    stunned, disbelief written all over her face. She couldn''t understand why her mother would forgive


    her father.


    After dinner, under the pretense of a stroll, Malcolm went to Cindy''s ce. Her eyebrows rose in


    curiosity upon seeing him. "Weren''t you supposed to be with your wife and kid? What brings you


    back here?"


    Malcolm massaged his temples. "Don''t ask. She found out about us. I might not be able to see you


    for a few days."


    Cindy''s eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Your daughter spilled the beans, right?"


    Caught off guard, Malcolm asked, "How did you know?"


    "I saw Lizzie at the movies yesterday. That girl is sharp, a real piece of work. And honestly, she


    doesn''t care much about you deep down."


    Cindy pulled Malcolm into an embrace. "You''re not thinking of breaking up with me, are you? I love


    you. I can''t be without you!"


    Malcolm kissed her forehead. "Of course not. Don''t worry. I''m not going anywhere. We have toy


    low for a bit for now."


    "And what about your wife?" Cindy prodded. "Aren''t you afraid she''ll file for divorce?"


    Malcolm reassured her. "She won''t do it. Trust me."


    Cindy clung to Malcolm. "I''ve been the other woman for five years without anymitment. Don''t


    you think it''s time to make things official?"


    For five years, she had waited. With the West family''s assets topping three million dors, not to


    mention the value of the supermarket, they were worth a small fortune. If Malcolm divorced Gina,


    they''d be splitting millions.


    She wasn''t with Malcolm for love alone. As a college graduate, she wouldn''t have looked twice at a


    married man if it weren''t for the financial stability he could provide.


    Watching Cindy''s calcting gaze, Malcolm faltered. "I, I thought you cared none about that..."


    Cindy''s eyes gleamed. "Malcolm, no woman doesn''t care about having a proper ce in her man''s


    life. But if it''s too difficult for you, never mind. I can wait, even if it means having no title for the rest


    of my life."


    At that moment, Malcolm felt Cindy''s understanding dwarfed Gina''s thousandfold. Gina was just


    jealous!


    So, he had another woman. What guys doesn¡¯t?


    He held Cindy closer. "Thank you for being so understanding."


    Malcolm''s visit was brief to avoid Gina''s suspicion, only a few minutes before he headed back.


    Lizzie had trailed her father to Cindy''s ce and then, full of worry, dialed Anthea''s number.


    "Annie! What do I do? Mom forgave Dad, and he''s just returned to that woman!" Lizzie was on the


    verge of tears.


    Anthea''s steady and soothing voice came from the other end of the line. "Lizzie, don''t panic. Listen


    to me..."


    After talking to Anthea, Liz felt a n forming. She went home and gathered some things. She


    headed straight for Cindy''s workce the next day, a multinational corporation where Cindy had


    climbed the ranks to a mid-level manager.

 Chapter 281

    Everyone at the office knew her as Cindy and showed her respect.


    "Hi, I¡¯d like to see Cindy," Lizzie announced as she approached the reception desk.


    The receptionist looked up and smiled. "Hey, youngdy. What do you need Cindy for?"


    Lizzie returned the smile. "I''m a rtive of hers. Could you please ask her toe out for a


    moment?"


    Charmed by Lizzie''s good looks and manners, the receptionist replied, "Cindy''s now in the cafeteria


    grabbing lunch. I''ll take you there."


    "Thanks. I appreciate it."


    The cafeteria was bustling, with over a hundred employees scattered around and immersed in their


    midday break.


    Lizzie spotted Cindy instantly and marched up to her. Before Cindy could react, Lizziended a


    stinging p across her face!


    p!


    Cindy was stunned, not even recognizing Lizzie, frowning as she said, "Who the heck are you?


    What gives you the right to hit me?"


    "Bitch! You disgusting homewrecker! Shameless!" Lizzie pped her again, shouting furiously, "You


    old tramp! You seduced my dad!"


    At her words, all heads in the cafeteria turned their way, eyes wide with curiosity.


    There was a shortage of everything but people who loved a juicy piece of gossip in this day and


    age.


    "What nonsense are you talking about? I''m no mistress! You''re ndering me!" Cindy stood up, her


    face a mask of panic. "Security! Someone call security!"


    The receptionist was dumbfounded.


    She had genuinely thought Lizzie was Cindy''s rtive, but that...


    That was one spicy piece of drama that no one sawing.


    After all, Cindy had always been super professional, keeping it strictly business with the guys at


    work.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    To everyone, she was a kind-hearted figure.


    Undeterred, Lizzie pulled a thick stack of photos from her bag, flinging them into the air. Then she


    grabbed a megaphone. "Listen up, everyone! Look at Cindy, a shameless woman! She seduced my


    father, a married man, ruining a happy family! How could yourpany hire such a disgraceful


    employee? Here is the irrefutable proof. The man in these photos is my dad, and Cindy is the other


    woman!"


    Amplified by the megaphone, her voice filled every corner of the cafeteria.


    Everyone crowded around in the blink of an eye, scrambling to pick up the photos that littered the


    floor.


    The situation had escted too quickly for Cindy to stop it. She could only helplessly shout, "Don''t


    pick them up! Please, don''t do this!"


    Lizzie continued her tirade through the megaphone.


    Photos in hand, the onlookers started gossiping and pointing fingers at Cindy.


    Cindy felt as if she was being stripped bare for all to see.


    Priding herself on her reputation, she never imagined she''d be publicly humiliated like this. It was


    worse than a death sentence.


    "Holy cow! Who knew Miss Prim and Proper was like this behind closed doors!"


    "Disgusting! What a disgrace!"


    "Mistresses will get theireuppance! She deserves to be in hell!"


    Each word was a knife cutting into Cindy, who wished she could disappear into thin air.


    Soon enough, thepany''s executive arrived, apanied by security, and the onlookers


    cleared a path for them.


    "What''s going on here?"


    Thepany executive looked young and authoritative.


    Lizzie wasn''t intimidated. She stepped forward. "Hi sir, I''m Lizzie. May I ask what your hiring


    standards are? Does yourpany condone employing someone who has no moralpass,


    seduces other women''s husbands, and destroys families?"


    The executive''s eyebrows furrowed as he turned to Cindy. "What do you mean?"


    With her eyes rimmed with red, Cindy pleaded, "It''s a misunderstanding, boss..."


    Lizzie handed a photo to the executive. "This is my dad, and I''m sure you recognize the woman


    beside him. Because of her, my parents are getting divorced! She''s turned our home upside down.


    I''m supposed to be focusing on my senior year, the most important time of my life, and this woman


    has ruined it!"


    Murmurs of sympathy rippled through the crowd.


    "Poor girl!"


    "Despicable! Go to hell!"


    "How could ourpany employ such a shameless person!"


    After a pause, Lizzie bowed deeply to the leader. "I''m sorry for disturbing your staff today. My mom


    is too kind-hearted to argue with a mistress, but I can''t stand seeing her get hurt! I didn''t know what


    else to do. I trust in justice and believe yourpany will do the right thing."

 Chapter 282

    Lizzie turned and left.


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    The gathered employees erupted in whispers. "Manager, Cindy doesn''t deserve a spot in our


    company!"


    "Yeah, she''s got to go!"


    "Fire her already!"


    The manager turned his gaze to Cindy and said, "Head to payroll and settle up for the month. Don''t


    bothering in next month."


    Cindy felt her world crumble. She had dedicated nearly two decades to her job, always diligent,


    never a mistake. Retirement was just around the corner, with a pension and benefits in sight, and


    now thepany was showing her the door!


    "No, you can''t fire me!" she pleaded.


    Those who got the axe never saw a pension or benefits. And at her age, what was she going to do?


    Where could she find work? It''d be nothing but back-breaking jobs that couldn''t hold a candle to her


    current position.


    "We can''t have someone who''s morally bankrupt working here," the manager stated firmly before


    turning to a security guard. "Please escort her out."


    It was less of an escort and more of a drag.


    Once outside, Cindy was a mix of anger and frustration. She snatched up her phone and called


    Malcolm.


    Malcolm rushed over, his heart breaking at the sight of her. "Sweetheart, don''t you worry. I''ll give


    that girl a piece of my mind when I get back!"


    "Now I''ve lost my job, my dignity... Malcolm, I might as well be dead. I can''t go on!"


    "Lost a job? So what! From now on, I''ll give you three grand a month. I''ll take care of you!"


    A glimmer of hope sparked in Cindy''s eyes.


    That''s right. Who cared about a job when Malcolm was rolling in dough?


    But Cindy kept sobbing, knowing the more pitiful she appeared, the more Malcolm would resent his


    daughter and ex-wife.


    Surely, Malcolm would demand justice for her.


    Back at home, Malcolm was fuming. "Lizzie has really crossed the line this time!" pointing an


    usatory finger at Gina. "How on earth did you raise her?"


    Gina frowned slightly. "What did Lizzie do now?"


    "She made a scene at Cindy''s workce, got her fired! I''ve told you, I''ve cut ties with that woman.


    Why do you have to keep antagonizing her?"


    "I believe Lizzie did nothing wrong," Gina said coolly.


    If it weren''t because of Malcolm, Gina would have taken action herself.


    Malcolm was livid. "Did you put Lizzie up to this? I knew it! A kid like her couldn''t be this cunning.


    Gina, you''ve disappointed me!"


    Gina just stared at him. "Are you telling me you haven''t thought about breaking it off with her?"


    "There''s nothing between us now! It''s you two who''ve let me down!"


    "Really? Then call her now. Let''s settle this, all three of us, face to face."


    "What are you nning to do?" Malcolm asked, wary.


    "Nothing," Gina went on. "I just want her to realize that being the ''other woman''es with a price."


    "No way!" Malcolm balked.


    Ginaughed lightly, "Malcolm, you don''t really want to break it off with her, do you?"


    "Gina, I''m sorry! I apologize! But please, don''t take it out on Cindy. I beg you!"


    "Do you want to break it off or not?"


    "Yes! Right away!" Malcolm was quick to agree.


    "So, why the hesitation? We''re going to sh sooner orter. If you don''t call her out today, this is


    far from over."


    "Gina, please! I realize my mistake, please don''t make this hard for Cindy!" Malcolm said, dropping


    to his knees and clutching at Gina''s legs.


    "For her, you kneel?" Gina''s tears began to flow. "Is she really worth all this?"


    Twenty years of marriage, and Malcolm had never so much as washed a dish for her. He imed a


    true man shouldn''t be seen doing women''s work. Gina had thought it was the mark of a real man, a


    man of principles. Now, she wondered if she had ever really known him at all.

 Chapter 283

    And there he was, kneeling for another woman!


    Oh, the irony! Such bitter irony!


    "Cindy is not some tramp! She''s the kindest, purest soul I''ve ever met!" Malcolm suddenly rose from


    the ground, his voice quivering with rage. "I''ve already knelt! What more do you want from me?"


    Malcolm once thought his wife was an understanding andpassionate woman.


    Now, he realized he had been blind all these years!


    Compared to the well-read Cindy, Gina was nothing but a shrew. A country bumpkin through and


    through! No matter how many years she lived in the city, she''d never be a city girl!


    If he could turn back time, he would never have married Gina, that shrew!


    "I want you to end it with that floozy! End it now!" Gina was on the edge of losing control.


    "I told you!" Malcolm''s eyes were bloodshot with fury. "Cindy is not a floozy! She''s not!"


    He couldn''t bear Gina calling Cindy a tramp.


    Cindy was the woman he loved deeply! He would not allow anyone to insult her.


    "She is! She is!" Gina roared. "She''s nothing but a homewrecker, a slut! She won''t end well! She''ll


    go straight to hell and be doomed to be a mistress forever! And her kids will turn out just like her,


    thieves and prostitutes!"


    "Shut your mouth, you wretch!" Malcolm, unable to hold back any longer, pped Gina across the


    face and kicked her to the ground.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Still not feeling vindicated, he grabbed her by the hair and mmed her head against the floor.


    Like a wild beast unleashed! In no time, Gina''s head was bloody and bruised.


    "Mom!" Lizzie, hearing themotion from her room, ran out and burst into tears at the sight. "Let


    go of my mom, you jerk!"


    "Lizzie, go back to your room!" Gina didn''t want her daughter to witness this scene, afraid it would


    scar her.


    "Let my mom go!" Lizzie pushed Malcolm with all her might. "Let her go!"


    "You''re no different! Both of you are bitches!" Malcolm flung Lizzie aside. "You''re not my daughter! I


    don¡¯t have a daughter like you!"


    If it hadn''t been for Lizzieing to Cindy''s today, causing trouble, things wouldn''t have escted


    to this point. Everything had been fine justst night!


    She was his own flesh and blood, yet Lizzie had turned her back on him!


    Lizzie was stunned, reeling from the pain of her head hitting the floor.


    "Lizzie!"


    Ignoring her own wounds, Gina scrambled up and hugged her daughter. "Malcolm, you''re inhuman!


    Lizzie is your flesh and blood!"


    Malcolm pointed at Gina and dered, "Gina! I''ve had it with your drama! If you want a divorce,


    then let''s do it!"


    His boldness was merely because he knew Gina loved him. He was aware that Gina would never


    dare to divorce him.


    Back in the day, to marry him, Gina hadn''t asked for a dime in dowry; in fact, she''d paid him.


    If Gina had the guts to divorce him, she wouldn''t be in this situation now!


    With that, Malcolm turned and stormed out.


    Cindy was still feeling wronged, waiting for hisfort.


    Now that the facade with Gina was shattered, there was no need to pretend anymore.


    Gina watched his heartless departure, her eyes filled with disappointment.


    Twenty years, all for nothing.


    "Mom, let¡¯s leave him," Lizzie said, looking at Gina.


    Gina nodded, "Alright."


    She had been prepared to forgive Malcolm for Lizzie''s sake. But now, it seemed pointless.


    A man who would beat his wife and child over a mistress ¨C what else was he capable of?


    This marriage had to end!


    "Thank goodness, you¡¯ve finally seen the light!" Lizzie embraced her mother tightly. "Mom, I believe


    we''ll have a better life ahead of us!"

 Chapter 284

    Lizzie''s words hung in the air before she continued with determination, "He''s got to leave with


    nothing to his name! Also, we can''t keep the grocery store running anymore. Let''s sell it off and


    liquidate the assets!"


    This was something Anthea had specifically advised Lizzie to do.


    As soon as Gina agreed to the divorce, it was imperative to sell off the family-owned grocery store.


    If the store remained, Malcolm would undoubtedly keep pestering Gina.


    In the business world, such entanglements were thest thing anyone needed.


    Gina blinked, not quite grasping Lizzie''s point.


    Lizzie took the time to rify, revealing the strategy behind the move, to which Gina nodded in


    agreement, "Lizzie, your friend is right!"


    Worried Gina might spiral into anxious thoughts, Lizzie reassured her, "Mom, don''t worry. Even if


    the divorce goes through, with your skills, we''ll live a great life! My friend, she doesn''t have a dad,


    and her mom looks so young and vibrant! So, Mom, no sad faces, no regrets. This is a good thing


    for us!"


    Seeing her daughter''s strength, Gina knew she had to be just as resilient.


    "Okay," Gina agreed with a nod.


    Lizzie then recalled Anthea''s advice, "Mom, to ensure he leaves with nothing, we''ll have to y it


    cool for a bit longer, at least until we''ve sessfully sold the store."


    ''The he'' in question was, of course, Malcolm.


    Gina understood the subtext of Lizzie''s words, "Don''t you worry, Lizzie. We don¡¯t need to endure


    anything. If I decide today, the store could be sold by tomorrow."


    Gina had been in business for years and knew plenty of entrepreneurs who would be interested in


    taking over the store.


    "Really?" Lizzie''s eyes sparkled with hope.


    Gina nodded again.


    "Mom, let''s head to the hospital now."


    With the security footage from their home, the medical report on her injuries, and evidence of


    Malcolm''s infidelity in hand, filing for divorce would be much smoother.


    They arrived at the hospital.


    Gina''s head wound seemed minor but required several stitches.


    Lizzie felt a surge of regret for not having used a beer bottle on Malcolm''s head in retaliation.


    Holding Lizzie''s hand, Ginaforted her, "Lizzie, Mom''s okay. Don''t worry."


    Despite the stitches in her head, Gina didn''t opt for a hospital stay. After getting her prescriptions


    and the medical report, she and Lizzie headed home.


    Gina was a woman of action. The very next day, she reached out to potential buyers for the store.


    One of them was Ricky, a robust 42-year-old man who had known Gina for years.


    "Gina, you''ve been running this grocery store for 12 years. Are you sure you want to hand it over to


    me?"


    Gina smiled, "Do you think I''m joking? It''s been 12 years. I''m exhausted. I want some rest."


    Ricky, aware of Gina''s shrewd business acumen, said admiringly, "Your husband is lucky to have


    married you!"


    Gina just smiled without responding.


    "By the way, is there no room to negotiate on the price?" Ricky inquired further.


    Gina replied, "I''ve got over two million in inventory here, plus this three-story building. 3.5 million


    and it''s yours. I wouldn''t part with it for that price if I wasn''t in a hurry."


    The property was Gina''s own purchase.


    Twelve years ago, before the real estate prices in Cloudcrest skyrocketed, she had bought the


    building for just $100,000.


    It had be more than just a ce of business to her over the years.


    If it weren''t for the recent turmoil, Gina would never have considered selling.


    "Deal!" Ricky thought it over and agreed, "3.5 million it is. When do we handle the transfer


    paperwork?"


    Ricky was no fool. He knew the grocery store was worth far more than 3.5 million!


    Just the building alone was now valued at 1.6 million, and with the store''s booming business, 3.5


    million was indeed a bargain for him.


    "Let''s do it now," said Gina.


    Ricky was surprised by Gina''s haste but didn''t question it, "Alright, let''s go."


    Once the transfer waspleted, Gina and Lizzie left their long-time home the following day and


    moved into a newly purchased quaint vi.


    The vi was serene, conveniently close to Northbridge High School.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Three days after settling in, Lizzie invited Anthea and Tanya over.


    As promised, Anthea and Tanya arrived.


    Lizzie introduced them to Gina, "Mom, this is Anthea, you can call her Annie, and this is Tanya."

 Chapter 285

    Gina greeted the girls with a warm smile, "Hey Annie, Tanya, I¡¯m Gina, Lizzie''s mom."


    "Hi, thanks for having us," both girls greeted back politely.


    Gina was aware that her family owed much to Anthea''s help, so she took a longer look at her, admiration shining in her eyes.


    The young girl wasn''t just pretty; she carried a poise that was rare among her peers, devoid of their usual restlessness.


    No wonder she handled things so smoothly.


    Standing before her, Gina, a grown woman, felt a tinge of embarrassment.


    "Annie, Tanya, make yourselves at home, okay? I''ve got to run some errands. Lizzie, make sure you take good care of Annie and Tanya for me," Gina


    instructed.


    She knew that the kids would feel more at ease without an adult hovering around


    Lizzie nodded, "Got it, Mom."


    Once Gina left, Tanya asked with curiosity, "Lizzie, have your parents finalized their divorce?"


    "Yeah, Mom''s meeting with thewyer today to settle it."


    "And your dad?"


    "He''s probably with his mistress, Cindy. He hasn''te back since the big blow-up with Mom. She''s nning to send the court summons directly to


    Cindy''s ce.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Tanya advised, "Don''t you go soft on him if hees back crying and begging for forgiveness."


    "Don''t worry, we won''t," Lizzie said with determination in her eyes.


    The second Malcolmid a hand on her and her mom, he stopped being a father in Lizzie''s life.


    Malcolm stayed away for days. trying to intimidate Gina, thinking she''de crawling back to him. But what he didn''t expect was a court summons


    instead of Gina.


    Reason for summons: Divorce dispute.


    Malcolm was in disbelief, clutching the paper. Gina loved him, why would she want a divorce?


    But the summons was real, and even worse, she was trying to leave him with nothing.


    The audacity!


    Everything in the West family belonged to him: if anyone should be left with nothing, it was Gina!


    He dialed Gina''s number, half-expecting her not to answer. To his surprise, she did, ¡°Hello?¡±


    "Gina, you''re divorcing me?" he barked.


    "Yes," Gina replied calmly.


    "Bitch! I disagree! I won''t even show up in court!"


    "That''s up to you. But if you persist, the court will dissolve our marriage by default."


    After saying this, Gina hung up.


    Cindy approached, "Malcolm, is your wife divorcing you?"


    He nodded, and a glint of opportunity sparkled in Cindy''s eyes.


    So, divorce her. You have no 5


    feelingsveft for her!" Cindy wrapped


    her arms around Malcolm. "From


    naw on, I''ll be by your side, always."


    Comforted by Cindy''s words, Malcolm felt better. "Stay here; I need to handle this."


    "Where are you going?"


    "To kick Gina out! The supermarket is mine, and she''s got no business being there anymore!¡±


    "I''lle with you!" Cindy suggested slyly.


    ¡®I''ll handle this alone. It''s not the


    right time''for you to step in. Onces


    I''m divorced, the supermarket is¡±


    yours," Malcolm said, grabbing his


    coat and heading out. Content


    ~~


    Arriving at West Family Market, he found a stranger in the living room.


    "Who are you? What are you doing in my house? Where''s Gina?¡±


    The stranger, Ricky, replied, "Gina has transferred the ownership of the market to me.¡±


    Transferred? Enraged, Malcolm


    began to Overturn furniture. "I built¡±


    this ce! No one transfers it C¡±


    without my say. I''m the true owner!


    Gef out! This is my house!¡±. ¡®Content


    ~


    Without getting physical, Ricky simply made a call, "Hello, 911? There''s an intruder in my store.¡±

 Chapter 286

    The cops arrived swiftly at the scene, and Malcolm was taken away in handcuffs.


    Ten dayster, Gina and Malcolm''s divorce trialmenced.


    Because of Malcolm''s domestic abuse and infidelity, the court ruled in Gina''s favor, leaving Malcolm with nothing but the shirt on his back.


    This sent Malcolm into a panic. He fell to his knees before Gina. tears streaming down his face. promising to cut ties with Cindy and to treat Gina and


    their daughter Lizzie with the respect they deserved from now on


    But Gina was no longer the woman she used to be. "Malcolm, there''s no going back for us. I wish you and Cindy the best," she said with a finality that


    chilled his bones.


    Misfortune had stripped him of everything. Could Malcolm truly have a future with Cindy?


    At that thought, a spark of hope ignited within him


    Yes, he still had Cindy! With Cindy by his side, he believed he could rise from the ashes, no matter what.


    Malcolm stood up, defiance in his eyes. "Gina, remember this moment. Don''te to regret it.¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    A wry smile crossed Gina''s face. "Don''t worry, I will never regret this," she said, and with that, she walked away from Malcolm


    Malcolm returned to Cindy''s ce, where she had prepared avish candlelight dinner to celebrate what she thought was his smooth divorce.


    Surveying the spread Cindy hadid out, Malcolm felt a surge of happiness. He was convinced that Cindy truly loved him, that she''d stick by him no


    matter what.


    However, the moment Cindy heard about Malcolm''s total loss in court, her affectionate facade dropped like a mask. "Wait, Malcolm, you must be


    joking!" she stammered. "Your family fortune is huge, and you were at the helm. How could you be left with nothing?"


    Malcolm sighed deeply. "It''s true. Gina fooled me. Now I don''t even have the chance to appeal. Cindy, I''ve got nothing left but you.¡±


    "Where''s the court order? Let me see it!¡± demanded Cindy.


    Malcolm handed her the document.


    Cindy had thought it was a test. but after reading the court''s verdict. her heart sank.


    Malcolm had indeed been left penniless.


    "So, you''re telling me you''re now a broke loser?" Cindy''s eyes bore into him.


    She had been attracted to Malcolm for his wealth, and now that he was destitute, she saw no reason to keep up the charade.


    "Cindy?" Malcolm looked at her in disbelief, thinking he was hallucinating. "Cindy, you''re joking. right?"


    Cindy was blunt. "I''m not joking. Do you really think you deserved me? If you had any self-respect, you''d pack your bags and leave.¡±


    Malcolm''s face turned red with rage,


    and he s tapped Cindy hard across*


    the face. "You deceitful womant)


    lost everything because of you, and


    you dare to deceive me!¡±   ~


    For years, Malcolm had never suspected that Cindy was with him just for the money.


    Cindy, stunned by the p, screamed, ¡°How dare you hit me! You''re nothing but a pauper now! You think you could have me? Shameless!"


    Malcolm, driven beyond the brink, ?


    pinned Cindy to the ground, hitting


    her with anything he could grabs,


    ¡°Youtconniving wretch, you ve ruined


    met Il kill you for this!"   ~~


    Cindy struggled and screamed for help, but Malcolm was relentless.


    Soon, Cindyy still


    Malcolm sat down, his expression


    numb with shock, before the reality


    of what he¡¯ d done set in. Looking at


    Cindy''s battered body, he muttered


    withva twisted smile, "You deServed


    this:"


    As Malcolm hastily gathered his things to flee into the night, the door was kicked open by the police.

 Chapter 287

    It turned out that the neighbor downstairs heard something amiss and called the cops.


    Malcolm''s suitcase hit the floor as a set of cold, metallic handcuffs snapped around his wrists.


    When Gina heard that Malcolm had been locked up for murder, she wasn''t exactly surprised.


    Deep down, she had always known that Malcolm''s path was leading nowhere good.


    Lizzie went to see Malcolm, just once. After all, he was her father, and his days were numbered.


    It was the right thing to do, to see him onest time.


    Separated by a pane of ss, Lizzie saw Malcolm, haggard and aged beyond his years. Just a few days had passed, yet he seemed a different man.


    "Dad."


    "Lizzie." Malcolm managed a feeble smile, ¡°Thanks foring to see your old man.¡±


    He''d thought there had been a mix-up when the guard said he had a visitor.


    But there she was, Lizzie, actually there.


    "How are you holding up in here?¡± Lizzie asked


    Malcolm was bunked with death row inmates, the kind of people capable of anything.


    The ordinary mind couldn''t fathom the kind of hell that was.


    If he could de it all over, Malcolm would never have betrayed Gina. He would''ve cherished his wife and daughter.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    But it was toote for regrets.


    He nodded, trying to sound upbeat, "I''m okay, pumpkin. You don''t worry. Just take care of your mom, focus on your studies, get into a good college.¡±


    ¡°Your mom''s a saint. I messed up, big time. I wasn''t a good husband, much less a good father.¡±


    "Lizzie, when it''s your time to settle down, keep those eyes wide open. Don''t end up with someone like me. Listen to your mom: she¡¯s got the years


    and the wisdom on you..."


    "Lizzie, take good care of her, will ya?¡±


    Unaware, Lizzie felt tears streaming down her face.


    Once upon a time, she too had a happy family, a father who loved her..


    The ten minutes of visitation flew by.


    Stepping out of the prison gates, Lizzie looked up at the sun and fought back the tears.


    The dark clouds had passed; now it was time to prep for the SATs, aiming to get into the same college as her best friend, Anthea.


    These days, Carole was buried in books, not even setting aside her dictionary during meals


    When Nanson returned from his business trip, he was bbergasted!


    Could this person, chatting away fluently in French with Anthea, really be Carole?


    Having dabbled in French himself, Nanson could tell¡ªCarole''s pronunciation was spot-on!


    "Sis, what''s your secret? How''d you get so good in just a few days?!"


    Carole looked up with a smile, "Who


    do you think you''re talking to? Nat¡±


    everyone¡¯ $ as hit-and-miss with: their


    efforts: ¡®as you are. How could you


    expect to improve with youro


    approach?"


    -


    At first, Nanson had been diligent, but that had quickly faded.


    He only had patience for things that piqued his interest, and French wasn''t one of them.


    Caught out by Carole''s remark, Nanson scratched his head sheepishly, "Hey, I''ve been trying too, alright?"


    Anthea chimed in tly, "Uncle, thes.


    teacher responsible for your lessons


    messaged me yesterday. You


    haven''t shown up to his onlive


    sses I in three days."   ~


    Nanson was awkward and speechless.


    Anthea continued, "You can''t go on like this, Uncle. Learning French won''t hurt you. Mom''s going to outpace you by miles if you keep this up.¡±


    Nanson nodded, his face a mask of resolve, "Starting today, I''ll buckle down on my French studies!"


    Anthea handed Nanson a notebook, "Here, take this."


    "What''s this?" Nanson looked puzzled


    ¡®It''s a collection of French learning


    strategies] vepiled. Better a


    poor h@fse than no horse at all.¡±


    Memorize these when you''ve got a


    mortent. Mom will be quizziag you


    in-a-week."


    -


    Carole nodded in agreement.


    Nanson sometimes needed supervision like a child. Otherwise, he''d never master French.


    And the person Nanson feared most was Carole.


    Grasping the notebook. Nanson grinned, "Just memorization? Piece of cake!"

 Chapter 288

    After lunch, Carole and Nanson both got swept up in their afternoon tasks, leaving Anthea alone in the quiet of the house.


    Anthea sat at her desk, head bowed over a drawing with a focused expression, the sunlight streaming in through the window and casting a soft glow


    on her features.


    Just then, the deorbell chimed, breaking the silence.


    She casually picked up a book to weigh down her sketches and made her way to the door.


    Swinging it open, she found no one there.


    A slight frown creased her forehead.


    Had she been so absorbed in her drawing that she''d imagined the sound?


    "Hello? Anyone there?¡± Anthea called out, but no response came


    As she was about to close the door, a figure popped out from around the corner, "Surprise!"


    Anthea''s eyes widened in astonishment, "Mrs. Christensen?"


    "Annie!" Karen dashed toward her, going in for a warm hug.


    But as she neared, Karen''s foot slipped, and she nearly tumbled to the ground. Anthea''s quick reflexes saved her, "Careful!"


    "Annie, you''re so agile!" Karen said, hugging Anthea as if nothing had happened.


    Clearly, she had chosen the perfect granddaughter-inw!


    Anthea, ever modest, touched her nose and quipped, "Oh, I''m just third best in the world.¡±


    "Third best? Nonsense!¡± Karen retorted seriously. "You''re clearly number one! NO.1!"


    Blushing at thepliment, Anthea ushered Karen into the living room.


    "Mrs. Christensen, are you cold? How about I make you some hot cocoa?" Even though early spring had arrived, a sudden chill had swept through


    recently.


    "Annie, you know how to make hot cocoa?" Karen eximed, surprisedThis content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Anthea nodded.


    "You''re amazing, Annie!¡±


    With a whip-smart girl like her, she and Sherman are gonna have a kid who''s not just good-looking but also a total brainiac!


    Their baby would be the talk of the town.


    The more Karen thought about it, the more delighted she became. her eyes twinkling as if she could already see her adorable great-grandchild.


    Anthea headed to the kitchen to whip up the cocoa as Karen followed.


    They chatted andughed together, the kitchen atmosphere cozy and warm despite their age difference.


    Soon, the rich aroma of chocte filled the room


    Handing over a mug of the freshly made drink, Anthea cautioned, "Careful, it''s hot."


    Karen bleyron it gently and took a ~~


    Xu


    careful Sip. The intense choct


    vor enveloped her taste buds, with


    hintsof milk and a touch of >


    sweetness to round it off. ¡°  ~~


    It was absolutely delicious!


    Being from an aristocratic background, Karen had tasted all sorts of beverages, but this was her first time savoring such a lovingly homemade cocoa.


    The taste didn''t really matter. It was the thought behind it that was important.


    Annie, so beautiful and talented. was quite a catch for her precious grandson!


    After finishing the cocoa, Karen got down to business, "Annie. are you free tomorrow?"


    With nothing pressing scheduled for Sunday, Anthea nodded, "I''m avable.¡±


    Grabbing Anthea s hand, Karen


    excitedly: said, "Thene over to


    my ce! You cured my migraine


    last time, and my daughter-inw


    and-grandson want to thankyou I in


    person!"  ta¡±


    -


    Karen had been wanting to invite Anthea over for a while, but their schedules never aligned.


    Anthea smiled, "Mrs. Christensen, you''ve thanked me plenty, andst time you brought so many gifts. There''s really no need for more."


    Karen frowned slightly, "Annie, are you trying to avoid me?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!"


    "So, you''lle over tomorrow for a


    visit, right? it''s not just about = =


    thanking you. I know your house like


    the baek of my hand, but you''ve


    never been to mine! We are friends,


    aren''t we?"


    -


    Karen had more in mind than just expressing gratitude


    She also wanted Sherman to meet Anthea.


    With Anthea''s beauty, Karen was certain he''d be smitten


    Given Karen''s persistence, Anthea didn''t have the heart to turn her down, "Okay then, I''lle. Where''s your ce? I''ll head over in the morning."


    Karen''s face lit up with excitement¡ªher n te bring her future granddaughter-inw home was moving forward atst.


    ¡°It''s a date then, Annie! And don''t you dare stand me up!"

 Chapter 289

    ¡°Don''t worry, I promise I''ll be there.¡±


    Karen shed a smile. "I''m over at 2 Sunnybrook Estate. Annie, don''t forget to swing by early tomorrow, okay? Give me a ring when you''re close!


    Never mind, I''ll just call you!¡±


    Annie was well-aware of Sunnybrook Estate, the ritzy neighborhood of Cloudcrest


    To say that the real estate there was worth its weight in gold would be an understatement.


    Karen must be rolling in dough to live in a ce like that!


    After spending an afternoon at the Yeagers'', and triple-checking that Annie would show up as promised, Karen reluctantly left their home


    Annie walked her to the entrance of theplex.


    The Christensen family¡¯s car was already parked curbside, with Baber, the driver, at the wheel.


    As Karen settled into the car, her grin didn''t fade. Leaning back, she asked, "Baber, you been working your tail off drivingtely?"


    Baber blinked, a strange sense of d¨¦ja vu washing over him.


    Karen had only struck up a conversation with him twice before.


    The first time was to boast about her beautiful granddaughter-inw.


    The second was to brag about being the coolest granny in Luxphinia.


    He wondered what she was going to show off about this time.


    Poor guy couldn''t catch a break!


    ¡°Thanks for asking, ma¡®am, but I''m managing just fine."


    Karen went on, "So... have you gotten yourself a girlfriend yet?"


    "Nope." Baber shook his head.


    Karen frowned. "Last year, you were flying solo, and here we are, another year gone and you''re still a lone wolf?"


    Baber was speechless. That stung! It took him a moment, but he finally mustered, "Ma''am, you sure are hip, knowing all about ¡®lone wolves¡¯ and all.¡±


    Karen was closing in on 90.


    For a nonagenarian to be slinging around inte ng like ¡®lone wolf was quite something.


    Karen said with a hint of smugness,


    "Of course, my grandson was like


    you, but thanks to me¡ªLuxphinia¡¯s?


    coolest g@ranny¡ªhe doesn''t need-t6


    anymet¨¦! What can I say, the kid''s


    luckyto have me! If not for my help,


    he''d probably be in the same boat as


    y¨¦u."  ta.


    Baber could only sigh in silence. Today was all about Karen flexing her granny muscles.


    She continued, "Baber, what do you think of my eye for people?"


    Finally, the conversation took a turn away from his bachelorhood.


    Baber exhaled in relief and nodded. "Pretty sharp." Despite her age, Karen''s sense of style was impable, even by Baber''s youthful standards


    Karen beamed, ¡°Exactly! If I didn''t have a keen eye, how could I have snagged such a beautiful bride for my grandson?"


    Baber internally groaned. Here shees, the granddaughter-in-low talk again.


    Meanwhile, at the Christensen Group headquarters...


    In the penthouse office, a man dressed in a simple. elegant suit held a pen in one hand and sifted through documents with the other.


    His movements were understated, yet they exuded an innate aura ofmand that was hard to ignore.


    Just then, the rhythm of a knock broke the silence.


    The man looked up, revealing deep, dark eyes. "Come in."


    It was none other than Daniel Robinson, holding a stack of documents.


    "Sherman, these all need your signature.¡±


    "Just put them here."


    Daniel added, "By the way, Sherman, have you heard of AY Tech Co., Ltd?"


    "Nope." Sherman twirled his pen, his expression indifferent


    Daniel''s face lit up with surprise. "No


    way! You dont now AY? Let me tell


    you, this cofspany is on fire! They''ve


    come out with climate-controlled <


    clothing! Tmagine that¡ªappare swith


    adjustable temperatures! AY Tech,This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    a


    just @ few months after theiMaunch,


    = - N .


    isalready gearing up to ge-public.


    Even the markets in Eurdpe and


    America are wary of them!"


    AY Tech, though a neer, had-.


    an unexpectedly fierce momenturh.


    Every time they dropped a new


    prodact, no matter the price,it sold


    outin an instant.


    -


    The waitlist for an appointment with their star designer was pushed back to the following year.


    Given the current trend, it wouldn''t be long before AY Tech rose ta be a titan in the business world.

 Chapter 290

    AY Tech''s meteoric rise had given Luxphinia Tech a run for its money in the international markets.


    After all, temperature-adjustable smart clothing was something even the tech powerhouse of Country Pellonia hadn''t managed to produce.


    "Who''s the founder of AY Tech?" With that mention, Sherman''s interest was piqued.


    Anyone who could invent a temperature-adjustable human microchip had to be a force to be reckoned with!


    Daniel continued, "The CEO of AY is Talbot, but the thing is, Talbot doesn''t own a single share. He''s just a hired gun, a professional CEO. To this day,


    the real founder of AY has never shown his face in public! No one knows who he is, or even his name!"


    Sherman squinted his eyes thoughtfully, then said, "Ourpany¡¯s focus next quarter is on eco-friendly products, right? How about we rece those


    disposable hand warmers with reusable heating chips?¡±


    Daniel''s eyes lit up. "You mean coborate with AY Tech Co., Ltd, Sherman?"


    Sherman nodded slightly.


    "Fantastic, Sherman! I''ll talk to the R&D department about it first thing tomorrow!¡± If they managed to partner with AY Tech, they might just get to meet


    the legendary founder!


    When that happened, he was determined to see just what this enigmatic founder looked like!


    Sherman''s expression remained unreadable, his thoughts a mystery.


    Meanwhile, Karen got home and immediately shared the news that Anthea would be visiting with Adah.


    "Adah, my granddaughter-inw ising over tomorrow, make sure you give her a warm wee!¡±


    Adah. bursting with excitement, eximed, ¡°Really? The legendary Ann is finallying?" She couldn''t wait to see what Ann looked like!


    Skilled in medicine and beauty to boot, Adah just couldn''t wrap her head around what such a perfect person would look like.


    "Legendary Ann, haha!" Karen smiled, "And you better not call her that when shees over tomorrow, or you''ll scare her away, and then you''ll have


    me to deal with!"Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "Don''t worry, Mom, I know how toe behave! She''s your lifesaver, after all. I''ll treat her right just for that. Plus, do I look like someone who''d be impolite?"


    Karen continued to instruct. "But don''t overdo the hospitality, either. We don''t want to scare off my dear daughter-inw."


    Adah quickly grabbed her phone to invite Annie over as well. She wanted to see who would be the prettiest, Annie or Ann.


    Could there actually be someone more stunning than Annie in this world? She pondered


    Anthea quickly replied. ¡°Sorry, Adah, I have ns tomorrow."


    Booked? Adah frowned in disappointment, "What? You have ns already?"


    Karen chuekled at Adah''s reaction. "I


    bet that Annie is just scared to =


    come. My granddaughter-inw''s


    beauty-must have intimidatedsher!


    It''s en y natural she''d be afraid to


    meet her." . to


    -


    "That''s not true! Annie is beautifull¡± Adah retorted. ¡°She genuinely has other ns!"


    "Who knows if that''s really true!" Karen scoffed, "Are you her mind reader or something?¡±


    Unable to out-argue Karen, Adah conceded, "Just wait until you meet her, then you''ll see how beautiful she is!"


    Karen snorted dismissively, then ~


    dered;¡°Just wait, tomorrow I''Ik-


    make. Sure Sherman falls headwover


    heels ¡°for Ann. The kind of love that


    leads straight to the altar!¡± Content


    ~


    Adahughed, ¡°Mom, it''s not just about falling in love. It''s a question of whether Sherman will even stay put at home tomorrow."


    Karen smiled knowingly, "Don''t worry, he won''t stray far tomorrow.¡±


    "You have a n?¡±


    Karen nodded.


    Adah''s curiosity was piqued, "Come on, give me a hint?"


    Karen''s mysterious smile deepened, "Be patient, and you''ll find out tomorrow morning.¡±


    The next morning, the family of three sat down for breakfast.


    As Karen watched Sherman pick at a te of sd greens and dry toast, she couldn''t help but tease. ¡°Sherman, you really nning to be a


    vegetarian forever?¡±


    He nodded affirmatively.


    ¡®Don''t you ¨¦ver crave meat?" Karen.


    teased, waving a sulent pieceof


    steak i in i front of him. "It''s delicious,


    yout know! Want a bite? If youwant


    it att give it to you!¡± Content-belongs


    t6  7


    Sherman remained stoic, barely suppressing a chuckle, "You''re being childish.¡±

 Chapter 291

    Karen set her fork down and continued, "The miracle doc who cured Granny ising to our ce today."


    Karen knew how to handle her grandson, Sherman. If she outright said, "Your future bride ising over," he''d balk, no question about it. But a little


    twist of words could work wonders.


    And she wasn''t fibbing¡ªAnthea truly was a miracle worker!


    ¡°Coming over today?" Sherman nced up, a flicker of interest in his eyes.


    He''d always been grateful to the healer he''d never met. Were it not for her, Karen''s chronic headaches would still be tormenting her. It was only


    during these past months that Karen''sughter had truly returned


    Beyond gratitude, Sherman was genuinely curious about the person who had cured Karen. After all, her condition had stumped doctors for years, yet


    with one prescription from this miracle doc, she was a new person.


    Karen nodded. "Maybe you should stick around the house today, wee our guest. After all, she did save my life.¡±


    "Of course,¡± Sherman agreed with a nod, the dutiful grandson shining through. ¡°Anyone who can ease your suffering deserves my personal thanks."


    Satisfied, Karen watched as Sherman made his way upstairs. Adah gave her a thumbs-up. "Mom, you''re a genius!"


    Karen couldn''t help but preen a little. "Well, you know the saying¡ªthere''s no substitute for experience!"N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Meanwhile, at the Yeager household...


    Anthea returned from her morning jog and headed straight for the shower.


    Ten minutester, wrapped in a


    towel, she stood before her


    wardrobe, undecided. Like every


    woman, her-closet was perpetually ?


    lacking tt that one perfect outfit. After


    some deliberation, she settled on a


    simple white dress that cincted at


    the-waist, topped with a stylish


    trench coat, and paired withbat


    boots. The whole ensemble


    screamed effortlessly cool.


    Dressed and ready, she whistled at her reflection. "How can someone be this gorgeous?"


    Leaving the Yeager residence just


    after nin¨¦-she got on the Uber. The


    driver couldn''t help but sneak peeks


    at herthrough the rear-view mirror.


    In alshis time driving, he''d never had


    a fare to Sunnybrook Estate:


    Who didn''t know about Sunnybrook Estate in Cloudcrest? This girl had to be loaded!


    Half an hourter, the car pulled up to the estate''s grand entrance.


    Anthea stepped out confidently and strode toward the interior.


    Sunnybrook was exclusive, its gate.


    usually.cl¨¦sed to the public. But =


    Anthea, in her maroon coat, exuded


    an aura that said she was anything


    but¡¯ ¡®ordinary. No one dared to stop


    Her.


    Sunnybrook Estate was home to the elite. A misstep with someone of their stature could spell disaster for the security staff. They knew better than to


    interfere.


    The estate was as upscale as theye, with its picturesque bridges, rare animals¡ªck swans, alpacas, peacocks¡ªand a parade of luxury cars


    parked along the road.


    Anthea made her way to the Christensen family''s manor and rang the bell.


    A servant promptly opened the door. "Good day, may I ask who is it?"


    "I''m Anthea Yeager,¡± she replied, her tone indifferent.


    The servant hurriedly swung the gates wide open, bowing slightly. ¡°Pleasee in! And, you there.¡± he called to someone nearby, ¡°inform thedy


    that Miss. Yeager has arrived!"

 Chapter 292

    The maid hurried inside to notify Karen and Adah that Anthea had arrived.


    As the door swung open, the maid apanied Anthea into the grand foyer of the estate. With an air of formality, she announced, ¡°Good day, Dr.


    Yeager. l''m the Christensen family''s butler. Please, call me Pearl. The madam has been up since dawn eagerly awaiting your visit. She''ll be over the


    moon to see you!


    Pearl had followed the family from the bustling metropolis of Capital City.


    Her own husband served as the butler in the Christensen''s city residence.


    Karen, who considered Pearl family, confided in her freely, sharing all sorts of news and secrets.


    Pearl was well aware that Karen had her heart set on Anthea bing part of the family as her future granddaughter-inw.


    Thus, Pearl treated Anthea with utmost respect, not out of obligation, but genuine reverence.


    Before meeting Anthea, Pearl had harbored doubts, wondering if Karen had been fooled


    But all skepticism vanished upon seeing Anthea, reced with sheer wonder.


    She was a rarity, a beauty with such grace that even the sophisticateddies of Capital City paled inparison.


    Pearl had once puzzled over Karen''s fondness for Anthea, but now that she met her, she too was smitten.


    In the living room, Karen sprang from her sofa in surprise upon hearing that Dr. Yeager had arrived. "Where is she? Where is she?" she eximed.


    Startled by Karen¡¯s abrupt movement, the cat in herp leapt to the floor, meowing pitifully.


    Ignoring Adah''s beloved pet, Karen bustled toward the entrance


    Adah descended from upstairs to find her cherished cat in distress and scooped it up, cooing, "What''s wrong. sweetheart? Who upset you?"


    Hearing the maid''s report that Dr. Yeager had arrived and Karen had gone out to greet her, Adah was taken aback.


    She carelessly set the cat aside and hurried outside herself. leaving the cat toment its lot.


    Along the estate''s cherry blossom-lined path, trees bloomed in vibrant shades of pink.


    A gentle spring breeze sent petals dancing through the air, a scene so enchanting it could be mistaken for paradise.


    Karen had barely stepped into the garden when she spotted Anthea approaching


    Her figure was lithe, adorned in a wine-colored overcoat that caught the eye with every graceful step.


    Ordinary folk would be


    overshadowed by the cherry


    blossoms. splendor, but not Anthea;


    Her porcin features seemed tor


    draw the very brilliance from the


    flowers, a living testament tosthe


    saying that true beauty eclipses


    even nature''s finest.


    Through the veil of blossoms, Karen blinked in awe before rushing toward Anthea.


    "Ann!"


    "Mrs. Christensen.¡±


    "Ann!" Karen reached for Anthea''s hand, slightly out of breath. "Why didn''t you call ahead? I would havee to wait for you at the gate!¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Anthea offered a slight smile. "Don¡¯t worry, I''m capable of finding the way myself, Karen."


    Karen, puzzled, asked, "But how did.


    you getin? Sunnybrook Estate has


    strict ¡®security, Normally, visitors¡±


    can ¡®Cust walk in without =o"


    verification.¡±


    -


    Not only was Karen curious, but Pearl, following behind, also wondered


    Anthea seemed surprised herself, "Is it usually difficult to enter?"


    Pearl chuckled and said, "Madam,


    reckon the guards saw Ms. Yeager''s


    extraordinary aura and knew right


    away she was no ordinary visitor, so


    they let her in.¡±


    K


    P''s


    "That''s exactly it! You''re spot on, Pearl!" Karen beamed with pride.


    Her granddaughter-inw-to-be was exceptional ¡ª admitted with just a nce!


    As they exited the cherry blossom path, Adah approached rapidly.


    Upon seeing Anthea beside Karen, Adah was bbergasted.


    Is this Anthea? Am I hallucinating?


    Anthea, equally surprised, greeted, "Adah? Is that you?¡±


    It was only when Anthea spoke that Adah realized it was no illusion. Anthea had truly arrived

 Chapter 293

    She really was Annie.


    ¡°Annie!¡± Karen looked utterly confused as she gazed at the two of them, ¡°Adah. you know Ann?"


    ¡°Mom, who did you say she is?


    Ann? Could it be that Anthea is the Ann Karen has been talking about?


    Dr. Yeager? Holy smokes! No way, right? Is the world really this small?


    Now it was Adah¡¯s turn to be dumbfounded.


    Karen continued, ¡°Let me introduce you to Ann, she''s the Dr. Yeager who cured my migraines. Ann, this is my daughter-inw.¡±


    So, it was true!


    ¡°This world is way too small!¡± Adah eximed, ¡°Mam, Ann is the Annie I''ve told you about!¡±


    Karen''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    This is so meant to be! Anthea was destined to be her granddaughter-inw.


    Anthea also felt the world was pretty small


    Beforeing over, she had no idea Adah and Karen were rted.


    As they talked, they made their way to the living room


    Karen instructed the maid to brew some tea, then said to Anthea, ¡°Ann, take a seat. Grandma''s got a treat for you, I''ll fetch it right now.¡±


    The treat was something Karen had saved especially for Anthea, and it seemed more heartfelt to get it herself!


    Anthea stood up, ¡°Mrs. Christensen, you don¡¯t need to go to any trouble for me.


    ¡°What trouble? There¡¯s no need for such formalities between us! Sit down, I''ll be right back.¡± With that. she instructed Adah, ¡°Adah, stay here and


    keep Annpany!¡±


    Adah nodded, ¡°I will.


    Karen turned and walked towards the backyard, telling the maid on the way to call Sherman down


    ¡°Meow.¡± At that moment, a chubby cat jumped onto Anthea''sp, rubbing its round head against her, meowing incessantly.


    Anthea immediately cradled the cat in her arms and took a deep breath, ¡°He¡¯s so adorable!


    Adah. surprised, said, ¡°Annie, you like cats too?¡±


    Anthea nodded, ¡°I do.¡± A lot, actually!


    It was a shame she didn''t have time to keep a cat. Otherwise, she would have loved to adopt one.


    Upstairs in the study, Sherman was busy with paperwork.


    Just then, a knock came from the door, ¡°Mr. Christensen, Dr. Yeager is here. Madam asked me toe and get you.


    ¡°On my way.¡±


    Sherman replied, finished thest document, capped his pen, and headed downstairs.


    He hadn''t reached the ground floor when he heard Adah''sughter, followed by a gentle voice.


    ¡°Adah, does the cat have a name?¡±


    ¡°His name is Chubby.¡±


    Sherman twisted the pen, wondering how someone got close with his mother so soon.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Besides. Why did that voice sound so familiar? Could he be mistaken?


    Sherman raised an eyebrow slightly and quickened his pace, reaching the ground floor.


    He saw the figure seated on the couch, cuddling a fat cat, and Sherman was taken aback.


    Anthea was sitting there, chatting


    andughing with Adah. From.¡°


    Sherman¡¯ s angle, he could seeher


    beautifully contoured profile.


    Her burgundy coat made her already fair skin look even more translucent.


    This was... Anthea?


    Wasn''t it supposed to be the miracle healer who came? Why was it Anthea?


    Could it be...


    Sherman''s fingers paused as he twirled the pen.


    He must be hallucinating.


    Not only had he dreamt of Anthea at night..


    But now he was seeing things.


    He thought he might need to see that miracle healer to get his pulse checked.


    Maybe take some herbal medicine to get himself back in bnce


    Adah turned around and saw Sherman standing there, ¡°Sherman!


    Sherman''s expression unchanging,


    his fingertips spinning the pen, he


    strode over withposure, ¡°Mom.¡±


    Gontent belongs to swnevel


    Only when he stood before Anthea did Sherman realize he was not hallucinating.


    Sherman yed with cross while walking to them..


    Adah followed up, ¡°Sherman, let me,


    introduce you, this is Dr. Yeager, the


    one whio cured your grandma¡¯ s


    illness!"  tae


    Swnovel o


    Dr. Yeager? A clear surprise flickered briefly in Sherman''s usually impassive eyes.


    He had assumed that the healer who cured Karen would be some elderly man past his prime.


    After all, the ancient healing arts were profound and required decades of study.


    Moreover, since time immemorial, the practitioners of ancient healing arts were men.


    So, before this, Sherman had always imagined the fabled healer to be an old man with a white beard.

 Chapter 294

    Sherman never imagined that the healer turned out to be nothing more than a teenage girl.


    And to his utter astonishment, that girl was none other than Anthea.


    At just neen, Anthea was more than just a tech mogul and a chess prodigy with a massive streaming following..


    She had now added ¡®miracle healer¡¯ to her list of des.


    Just how many hidden talents did she possess?


    To say Sherman was stunned would be an understatement!


    Who would have thought that a once down-and-out heiress, cast away like yesterday¡¯s trash, could be so formidable?


    If the Morris n knew they''d mistaken a diamond for a mere bauble, they''d be kicking themselves!


    Adah chimed in. ¡°Annie, I want you to meet my son Sherman. You should call him...


    Adah paused, realizing the conundrum. Anthea considered her a sister, and she had always thought of Anthea like a younger sister.


    What then should Anthea call Sherman?


    The family hierarchy seemed all tangled up


    Adah was momentarily at a loss.


    Anthea offered a slight smile and said to Sherman, ¡°Hello there, my dear nephew.¡±


    Sherman was speechless. What was she thinking calling him that?


    After a brief silence, Anthea added, ¡°Just kidding, don¡¯t mind me!¡±


    ¡°Don''t mind at all,¡± Sherman replied warmly.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Adah''s face was a picture of surprise.


    Had she really heard that right? Sherman, not minding?


    Being Sherman''s mom, no one knew him better than Adah did. Sherman had always been a bit of an odd duck. Cool on the outside, even colder


    inside.


    Never one for getting cozy with girls.


    He''d always worn a poker face around them, even scaring one to tears in the past.


    As he grew older, he took to vegetarianism and dabbled in Buddhism.


    Despite his youthful age, he carried himself with the solemnity of a seasoned man


    But now, Sherman had actually been amiable.


    Anthea had cheekily imed a kinship, and he didn''t seem to mind at all!


    This was promising! Very promising! Adah''s gaze danced between the two before she said, ¡°Annie, have you and Sherman known each other for a


    while?¡±


    Anthea nodded, ¡°Yes, we met a couple of months ago.¡±


    Not only was Sherman surprised to learn Anthea was the miracle healer who cured Karen, but Anthea was equally taken aback to find out Sherman


    was the grandson Karen often spoke of!


    Fate really was a curious thing.


    Excitement sparkled in Adah¡¯s eyes. There was definitely potential here!


    If there was patential, then they had


    to get their titles straight. Adah took


    Anthea¡¯s hand, ¡°Annie, you should


    just call fe ¡®auntie¡¯. I''m getting oan


    years, nd it wouldn''t be right tortake


    advaniage of your youth. Besides, it


    wauid be aughing mattecto


    offers.¡±


    Anthea nodded in agreement, ¡°Alright.


    Calling Adah ''sister'' would indeed put Sherman in an awkward position.


    Just then, Karen approached with a box in her arms.


    ¡°Ann!¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Christensen.¡±


    Karen, box in tow, bypassed


    Sherman ang-sat down beside


    Anthea a, ¡°Ann, guess what delicious.


    treat is jfthis box?¡± Without waiting


    fora reply and worried Anthea


    wouldn''t guess, she added, ¡®ts a


    fruit; round and with white flesh


    iMSide! It¡¯s juicy and sweet!¡±


    Sherman looked at his grandma, didn¡¯t know what to say. If Anthea couldn''t guess, she must be living under a rock.


    ¡°Lychee?¡± Anthea blurted out.


    ¡°Exactly! You''re so sharp, Ann! You got it in one!¡± Karen beamed with pride. She was the perfect match for her grandson ¡ª so bright, so impressive!


    Adah echoed her enthusiasm, ¡°That¡¯s right! Who else but Annie could be so bright? Not only is she smart, but she¡¯s also a beauty. ¡®Brilliance and


    grace¡¯ personified, just look at Annie and you''ll understand!


    Even Anthea, who wasn''t shy about self-praise, blushed a little at thevishpliments from the mother-daughter duo.


    Sherman was at a loss for words, a little embarrassed.


    Karen openeckthe box to reveal


    lychees, theigred and green hues


    intermingling, ¡°Annie, these were ~


    speciallysaved for you, using =


    state- ¡®oFrthe- art preservation <>


    methods. Don''t let the winterfool


    you: they''re incredibly fresh Try one


    afd see!¡±


    Sherman''s fingers, which had been ying with the cross, paused.


    If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, these were the same lychees that the family matriarch had specially ordered from afar duringst year¡¯s Christmas trip to the


    Capital City.


    Lychees weremon enough, but this particr breed ¡ª the ¡®Evergreen¡¯ ¡ª was a rare delicacy!

 Chapter 295

    In the quaint little town of Springville, there was nothing quite as coveted as the rare emerald grapes. Unlike themon grapes sold by the pound at


    the local market, these green-gemmed delights were auctioned off individually. At thest auction, a single emerald cherry fetched an astonishing


    $55,000, prompting some to joke that one wasn''t simply indulging in fruit but acquiring a small mansion instead.


    Given the off-season rarity, Karen clutched her box of emerald grapes like a treasure. Typically, she wouldn''t even let her husband so much as nce


    at them, but today she was uncharacteristically generous.


    "Do you realize what you have here?¡± Anthea eximed, marveling at the full box of grapes . She delicately scored the thin skin of one with her pinkie


    nail. and with a satisfying ¡°zip,¡± the creamy flesh peeked out from its blushing green shell, releasing a sweet fragrance into the air.


    Taking a small bite, she reveled in the burst of juice and the exceptional vor¡ªa refined sweetness far surpassing that of ordinary grapes


    "These are divine, Mrs. Christensen! Are these the famous emerald grapes?" Anthea asked, turning to Karen with delight.


    Karen nodded eagerly, "Yeah, Annie! How do they taste?"


    "Absolutely delicious!" Anthea smiled.


    "Then help yourself to more, darling! But peeling grapes can be such a tedious task, and our hands must be pampered¡ªthey¡¯re our second face,


    after all! Let the young man do the peeling.¡± Karen pushed the box towards Sherman and signaled a maid to fetch a fresh te.


    Anthea, however, wouldn''t hear of it. "Oh no, Mrs. Christensen, I can manage.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Karen insisted, pressing Anthea''s hand down. ¡°Let him do it. What''s a little cherry peeling to someone with hands as rough as his?¡±


    Sherman, the target of their teasing, could only raise an eyebrow.


    The maid promptly arrived with a clean te, and Sherman. setting aside his reluctance, took up the task of peeling the grapes with the focus of a


    well-trained soldier.


    Thanks to Anthea, Adah had the rare pleasure of tasting grapes peeled by Sherman''s own hands, an experience neither she nor even Karen had


    enjoyed before


    Karen watcheckwith a sly glint in her


    eye. She hagtsuspected that Anthea


    would charm Sherman, and sure =>


    enough, I there he was, diligently >


    peelinggrapes. If Sherman wasn''t


    takedwith Anthea, he wouldve


    exdused himself long ago. t


    belongs to  ?


    After finishing the task, Sherman excused himself to wash his hands. Karen followed him out of the room, cornering him as he emerged from the


    washroom.


    "Grandma, did you need something?" Sherman asked, drying his hands with a towel


    Karen nodded, eager to get to the point. "What do you think of Annie?"


    "She''s nice,¡± Sherman replied, giving a nomittal nodBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Karen''s face lit up. "So you admit you like her!"


    "I just said she''s nice, that''s all. To be


    honest, I''ve known her for a while,


    but I didn''t realize she was the one


    who cured your ailment," Sherman


    exined, trying to divert th?


    coaversation.


    ¡°


    Karen''s eyes twinkled with gossip. "So you two have known each other for some time! How intriguing!"


    "We''re just friends," Sherman said tly.


    Karen sighed, "Annie''s outstanding


    and beautiful, with a voice like a 2


    song. Liking her is nothing to be>


    ashamed of! Why not pursue her?


    Andsf you need help, you''ve got


    me=-what are you afraid of?"


    "I admire her, but there¡¯s no romantic interest," Sherman said, pulling a cross from his pocket. "Grandma, please stop ying matchmaker."

 Chapter 296

    "Admit it, you were ogling! And yet you stubbornly say you don''t like her?" Karen fumed, ¡°You''re such a bonehead! You''re not fit to be my grandson!


    You''re nothing!"


    ¡°Grandma, you''ve really got the wrong idea.¡±


    Appreciation is appreciation


    Liking is liking.


    They seem simr, yet they''re vastly different.


    Sherman, who was always a model of restraint, had to admit to himself that he never harbored any other thoughts towards Anthea.


    Except for those few indescribable dreams.


    But dreams are just dreams, subconscious and beyond control.


    Karen dragged Sherman te the living room doorway, pointing at the plump cat nestled in Anthea''s arms, "Look at you, you''re not even as good as


    Chubby!"


    Sherman: ¡°...¡±


    Cats are family.


    Anthea''s family.


    But he''s not.


    Karen continued, "Are you upset about that?¡±


    "Nope."


    Karen rolled her eyes at him, "Well, being upset won''t change a thing. If you were really something special, you''d be the one in Ann''s arms, not


    Chubby! Even a cat knows how to sweet-talk the one it likes! I''m out of adjectives to describe you! You''re nothing!"


    After her lecture to Sherman, Karen returned to the parlor to continue chatting with Anthea.


    Her granddaughter-inw was golden!


    Not like that wretched boy!


    Reeking of irritation from head to toe.


    Just then, footsteps approached from outside.


    "Madam, Mrs. Bowman, young Master Riley has arrived."


    As the words faded, a young man in a grey hoodie entered.


    Adah immediately stood up, "Riley''s here.¡±


    The visitor was none other than Adah''s nephew from her side of the family, Riley Bowman


    ¡°Auntie.¡±


    Then Riley greeted Karen, "How do you do, ma''am?"


    "Fine! All fine!" Karen beamed, "Have a seat.¡±


    With that, she took Anthea¡¯s hand and introduced her to Riley, "Riley, this is Ann. Don''t be fooled by her youth; she''s got skills. She¡¯s the one who.


    cured my migraines!¡±


    Riley Bowman was taken aback.


    He hadn''t expected the legendary healer to be such a youngdy.


    And such a pretty one at that.


    Riley, who had a soft spot for beauty, quickly stood up and extended his hand to Anthea, "Dr. Yeager, it''s a pleasure. I''m Riley."


    Anthea offered a faint smile, her ~~


    fingertips-briefly touching Riley''s


    hand, Mr. Bowman, you''re tooc


    formal. Just call me by my first


    natne.¡±  te.>


    -


    Riley chuckled, "Then you don''t be so formal either, just call me Riley."


    Befriending someone as charming as Anthea was certainly a delight!


    Sherman sat to the side.


    Watching their hands lightly sped


    togetherhis brows involuntarily <>


    furrowed, a surge of irritation at the


    thought of stomping on Riley''s


    presumptuous paw. Conterit


    belongs to  ~


    Men and women shouldn''t touch so freely!


    It was downright scandalous.


    "Riley, have an apple," Sherman offered, picking up an apple and handing it to Riley.


    Riley let go of Anthea''s hand and, locking somewhat ttered, epted the apple.


    His older cousin was a decade his senior, usually so grim and serious.


    And with Sherman''s lofty demeanor and imposing aura, Riley couldn''t help but feel intimidated whenever he was around.


    He never imagined his cousin would be offering him an apple today.


    It was quite the surprise.


    Riley bit into the apple with a crunch.


    Delicious!


    "This apple''s great! Want one, Ann?¡± Riley, ever so familiar, picked up another apple and offered it to Anthea.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Anthea said, epting the fruit.


    Sherman pursed his lips, the atmosphere around him turning frosty.


    "Achoo!¡± Riley suddenly sneezed, rubbing his nose, "Who''s talking about me?¡±


    Karen''s eyes danced between the two, a mischievous smile forming at the corners of her mouth.


    At lunchtime, Karen pulled Sherman aside, ¡°Listen, kid, I''m asking you one more time, do you really not like Ann?"


    Sherman nodded slightly, ¡°Yes, no matter how many times you ask, my answer is the same.¡±


    He was a confirmed bachelor.


    His feelings for Anthea were nothing more than admiration.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Karensaid, "then I''ll stop


    trying to setyou up with Ann! You


    don''t like-Re? anyway!" With a twistin


    her tonesshe probed, "What do you


    think of F Riley? He seems quitew


    compatible with Ann, don''t you


    think?" s


    4


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

 Chapter 297

    Karen''s eyes sparkled with cunning calction


    Sherman thought he was tough, huh? Well, she''d serve him a slice of humble pie! It was high time he got a taste of his own medicine, experiencing


    the cold shoulder only to end up in a desperate chase. Otherwise, he¡¯d never see what was truly in his heart. And you had to hand it to Riley; the


    timing of his appearance couldn''t have been more perfect. Not only was he the world¡¯s best grandson, but he was also the smartest!


    Sherman frowned slightly, his fingers tracing the edge of his rosary. "Grandma, you''re matchmaking again!"


    "Who says I''m matchmaking? What if Ann falls for Riley, huh? It''s not like Riley''s any less of a catch. Not to mention, he''s at least ten years younger


    than you! You''re old enough to be Ann''s father, which is probably why you can''t win her over!"


    Karen grew more animated as she spoke. Sherman felt a knot of irritation in his chest that he couldn''t shake off. He didn''t even know why he was


    angry. He just was. And he felt like hitting something!


    "Whatever you say," he muttered, turning on his heel and walking away.


    Karen hummed softly to herself as she watched his retreating figure. Just you wait, kiddo! Your downfall is nigh!


    Sherman had barely returned to the foyer when he spotted Anthea and Riley chatting andughing together. To be precise, there was also Adah


    standing between them, but Sherman conveniently ignored her presence. Clutching his rosary, Sherman approached Riley with a casual air, ¡°Riley.


    Riley straightened up. "Yeah, what''s up?"


    "I heard from Auntie that you''ve been learning to box. I dabbled in it myself back in the day. How about we go upstairs and spar a bit?¡±


    Adah gave Sherman a puzzled look. What''s gotten into him today? Why this sudden warmth towards Riley?


    Riley almost stammered, "I, um, I think I''ll pass..."


    Spar with Sherman? He wasn''t looking to meet his maker just yet. What was up with his big cousin today? Riley took a moment to seriously reflect on


    his own actions.


    Sherman patted him on the shoulder, ¡°Don''t be nervous. I''m an amateur, I hardly trained. You might just wipe the floor with me.¡±


    With a bit of encouragement, Riley loosened up. After all, he had been training for three years! Even if he couldn''t beat Sherman, he wouldn''t go


    down without a fight. He might even turn the tables on Sherman. So he followed Sherman''s lead.


    Adah watched their backs with a little confusion, "What''s with Sherman teday?"


    Karen replied seriously, "Maybe it''s just deep cousinly love!" What else could it be? Just jealousy spilling over!


    Karen chuckled behind her hand. Adah was even more puzzled, "Mom, what''s so funny?¡±


    aren immediately dropped her


    facade of Seriousness, "Vm not


    aughing!¡± As she spoke, she picked


    upa cherry with her fork and offered


    it toxanthea, ¡°Ann, have some


    cherri es. They''re sweet!" Content


    b¨¦longs to  ~


    Adah¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. She


    couldn''t quite figure out what Karen


    was scheming. Sherman was o


    usually att about wellness, from his


    herbaftea to his spacious home


    gymon the second floor of the


    annex. _ S


    6


    The two cousins entered the gym. Riley surveyed the environment, impressed by his cousin''s self-discipline.


    "Here," Sherman tossed him a pair of boxing gloves. Riley caught them and put them on. They stood in the center of the room, exchanged a warrior''s


    salute, and began to spar.


    And then, Ritey regretted his


    decision-He should have never o


    agreedto spar with Sherman. He


    shoule- have never secretly thought


    he gould take Sherman down Now,


    Ritey had only one sensation. Pain!


    Every bone in his body ached. He was falling apart!


    "I can''t do this anymore! I surrender!" Riley plopped down on the mat, raising his hands, ¡°I give up! I surrender!"N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "The world¡¯s not over yet, don¡¯t surrender! Man up, will you? Get up!¡± Sherman loomed over him.


    "Cuz, I really can''t handle it anymore!¡± Riley was close to tears. If this went on, he wouldn''t be able to stand, "Please, have mercy!"


    "That''s all the fight you have in you?" Sherman arched an eyebrow.


    Riley pulled off his gloves, ¡°Cuz, dinner''s probably ready by now. Let''s head downstairs.¡±


    Sherman nced at the clock on the wall and parted his lips slightly, "Let''s go.¡±

 Chapter 298

    As Riley scrambled to his feet, dusting off the dirt from his jeans, he quickly caught up with Sherman''s stride. The two were greeted by a warm smile


    from Adah as they approached the dining area.


    "Finished your littlepetition, have you?¡± Adah chuckled. "Dinner''s about ready. I was about to send someone to fetch you boys. Who won, by the


    way?"


    "Sherman''s too good!" Riley eximed, brushing a hand through his hair. "I mean, with these skinny arms and legs of mine, how could I ever match


    up to him?"


    Sherman pped Riley on the back with a heartyugh. "Riley''s just a greenhom! Give him a few decades to practice, and maybe, just maybe, he''ll


    have a shot at beating me."


    Riley''s mouth twitched into a grimace. "Decades?"


    The dinner table was a lively scene, with Karen strategically seating Riley next to Anthea. Five people gathered around the table, with Sherman sitting


    directly across from Riley.


    "So, Riley," Karen began with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "you''re what. 21 this year?¡±


    "Yeah, that''s right,¡± Riley replied with a nod.


    "Got yourself a girlfriend back at college?" Karen prodded.


    Riley shook his head. "Haven''t found the right one yet."


    "Well, I might just know a lovely youngdy for you..." Karen''s matchmaking was cut off as Sherman stood up and served her a piece of fish with the


    serving fork. ¡°Grandma, this is your favorite, isn''t it? Please, have a taste.¡±


    Karen nced at Sherman with a knowing look.


    Cheeky boy!


    They were having a silent battle of wits.


    The fish was met with Karen''s approval. "Not bad at all."


    Then, turning her attention to Anthea, Karen served her some chicken feet. "Annie, these are spiced to perfection. You''ve got to try them. And wait till


    you see the crawfishing up¡ªthey''re your favorite."


    Riley joined in the conversation with an eager smile. "You like crawfish too, Ann? I''m a huge fan!"


    Anthea nodded. "I''m all about the


    meats. If it''s got meat, I''m usually a


    fan.¡± In her past life, Anthea hadn''t .


    been one-for indulgences. Often ac


    nu rient sha e was enough, and.


    she¡¯ digo days without a propermeal.


    Butt AM this life, she was emb¨¦Acing


    every culinary delight. After all, life


    was too short not to savor the


    vors.


    Karen, seizing the opportunity, asked Riley, "Can you handle spicy foods?"


    ¡°Absolutely!¡± Riley''s eyes lit up. "The spicier the better when ites to crawfish!¡±


    Karen threw Sherman a nce, hermentced with double meaning. Sherman, however, kept his eyes on his te, his handsome brows knitting


    together slightly.


    Before long, adish of coconut crab


    was brought the table. Karen


    started tosay something to Riley, - ¡°


    but Shertaan was already on his < >


    feet, deftly cracking the crab for>


    everyone. "Grandma,dies should


    take care of their delicate hands. Let


    r¨¦ handle this.¡± Content.belongs to


    Karen nodded in approval. "Absolutely! Men are better suited for this sort of thing!¡±


    Sherman skillfully prepared the crab, and Karen ced some onto Anthea''s te. "Annie, the crab is infused with a hint of coconut. It''s divine with the


    rich roe. You must try it.¡±


    Anthea didn''t hesitate, savoring thebination of vors. True to form, no sooner had she finished the crab than Adah offered her some spicy


    chicken. ¡°Annie, you''ll love these¡ªthey''re just the right amount of spicy."


    "And it''s not just spicy food Ann loves. She¡¯s got a sweet tooth too. Here, try the sweet lotus root,¡± Karen chimed in.


    Karen and Adah piled Anthea¡¯s te high with a variety of dishes, as if they werepeting to spoil her with choices. Luckily, Anthea was up for the


    challenge, her appetite more than amodating


    Karen reveled in watching Anthea


    eat. There wassomething refreshing


    about herck of pretense, so .


    different, drsm the high society girls


    who caunted calories and avoided


    anything that might threaten their


    figure. Sure, they might be shim, but


    toKaren, they looked like they were


    missing out on one of lif¨¦''s greatest


    pleasures: good food. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

 Chapter 299

    So, every time Karen saw Anthea eating, it sparked her own appetite like nothing else. Her granddaughter-inw was simply the best. So easygoing


    with food! A breeze to please.


    At three in the afternoon, Anthea stood up to say her goodbyes.


    "What? You''re leaving already?" Adah clutched Anthea''s hand, her face a picture of dismay. Even Chubby, the plump little furball in Anthea''s arms, let


    out a disgruntled meow.


    Anthea chuckled, "Remember, Adah, next time you and Mrs. Christensen shoulde over to my ce for a visit. It''s gettingte, and I really should


    head back.¡±


    As she spoke, Anthea added, "Oh, and Adah, don''t forget to bring Chubby along."


    "Meow," Chubby seemed to affirm, responding to Anthea¡¯s words


    Anthea gave Chubby a big, affectionate squeeze, "You''re the cutest.¡±


    Ah, the satisfaction!


    Sherman''s gaze briefly swept over Chubby, cool and detached. Caught off guard, Chubby quickly burrowed deeper into Anthea''s embrace!


    Holy smokes! Was that a death re aimed at a cat?


    Just then, Riley also announced his departure.


    Karen smiled, "Why don''t you take Ann with you, Riley?"


    Riley nodded, ¡°It would be my pleasure to take Ann home." He had been worrying about how to get some alone time with Anthea!


    Sherman fished car keys out of his pocket, "Riley''s going out of his way. I''ve got to swing by the office anyway. Anthea can ride with me."


    "If Riley''s out of the way, then Ann can go with you,¡± Karen added. "Ann, if this grumpy guy gives you the silent treatment, don''t hold it against him."


    ¡°Not at all!" Anthea shed a small smile. "Then I''m in your hands, Mr. Christensen.¡±


    "It''s on my way," Sherman replied, his tone neutral.


    Riley stood there, thinking: I can take a detour! He was more than willing to! Really!


    The olddy watched Anthea and Sherman''s retreating figures, a gleam of amusement in her eyes. That cheeky boy! Trying to outy her! He''s got


    another thinking!


    This wasn''t Anthea''s first ride in Sherman''s car. Different from thest couple times in Capital City, this time, Sherman was behind the wheel himself.


    And she was sitting shotgun.


    Sherman gripped the steering wheel with one hand, the crucifix pendant with the other, "If you get bored, feel free to connect to the car''s Bluetooth


    and put on some music.¡±


    "Alright," Anthea replied, buckling her


    seatbelt. Shehadn''t nned on


    ying music. But with just her anck


    Shermarvin the car, and the ¡ª


    atmosphere a tad awkward, she>


    decided to distract herself bys


    cannecting to Bluetooth and firing


    uf the music yer.


    Soon, the car was filled with the soft strains of music.


    Meanwhile, at the Peterson residence.


    A man in a-tailored suit stood before


    a floor-toxceiling window, tall and: ~


    imposing. A shadow seemed to


    cross his face. Unpredictable as the


    weather, nobody could guess his


    next mood swing. Content. belongs


    to¡° -


    "Knock, knock, knock."


    At that moment, a knock at the door.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    His assistant, also d in a suit, came in and stood behind Alex, respectfully reporting. "Boss, we''ve got a lead on that case."


    "Speak," Alex''s finger idly yed with the ring on his hand.


    "The kidnapping twelve years ago involved three families.¡±


    "Which three?"


    "The Zack family from the east side


    of town; theMay family to the west;


    and then there¡¯ s the Morris family"


    The assistant paused, "I''ve had. >


    peoplecheck; both Miss Zack au


    Miss May have no scars on 1 their


    amis. ¡® ta


    Alex was not surprised by this, "And the Morris family?"


    The assistant hesitated before continuing, "Ms. Yeager of the Morris family is a special case, we haven''t been able to get a clear check yet..."


    The man, who had seemed as gentle as jade, suddenly turned into a raging beast. "Useless!"

 Chapter 300

    The room''s air pressure plummeted to freezing levels. The assistant broke out in a cald sweat, feeling a chill run down his spine. Having been by


    Alex''s side for over three years, he knew exactly what his boss was capable of and quickly added, "But I can assure you, the real heiress of the


    Morris family doesn''t have a scar on her arm."


    Alex narrowed his eyes. This meant the little girl from back then couldn''t possibly be Miss Zack, nor Miss May, and certainly not Reba Morris. The


    only remaining possibility was Anthea


    Reflecting on his previous encounters with Anthea, Alex''s gaze darkened. She was indeed different from the other socialites of Cloudcrest. Her file


    was encrypted. And she was nothing like the waste everyone rumored her to be. Mysterious andplex.


    "Alright, you can go," Alex said with a dismissive wave of his hand. The assistant. feeling like he''d just been pardoned, bowed his head and scurried


    out of the room.


    After the assistant''s departure, the roam was left in a silence so deep it was almost terrifying. The Peterson mansion was perched halfway up the


    hillside. Coupled with Alex''s preference for solitude, the twilight made the atmosphere even more deste.


    Alex stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his face betraying no emotion, and for a moment, he was transported back to that cold basement


    twelve years ago. Hunger, cold, fear¡ªthey had surrounded him. A little girl came and sat beside him.


    "Brother, are you hungry? I have candy here. A piece of candy will make the hunger go away."


    With that memory in mind, Alex reached into his pocket and took out a piece of candy, unwrapping it until its sugary taste slowly spread on his tongue,


    dissipating some of the fierceness in him. He then turned and walked toward the backyard.


    Grandma Audrey lived there. The olddy was not in good health, and even before nightfall, she was already lying in bed.


    "Grandma," he greeted


    "Ah, Alex is here,¡± Audrey''s face lit up with a smile. Alex propped up a pillow behind the elderly woman. "Are you feeling any better, Grandma?"


    She nodded.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Doctor Yeager is quite skilled. I''ll ask her toe take a look at you.¡± Alex suggested


    "That would be nice, I do like her," Audrey said, and then as if remembering something, she added, "But tomorrow is Monday, and Annie has school.


    You could wait for her at the school in the afternoon."


    "Alright," Alex nodded slightly.


    After some more conversation, Alex took his leave. Watching his retreating figure. Audrey sighed. She worried that once she was gone, Alex would


    end up alone.


    Monday arrived. Anthea finished her breakfast and headed to school. Just as she was about to reach the school, a surprised voice called out from


    behind, "Anthea?"


    She nced back and saw Baldie.


    "Need something?" she asked casually.


    Baldie, whenadn''t seen Anthea ina


    few dayschad aplex expression


    on his face. But what really caught


    him off guard was the jacket Anthea


    was-wearing. Was that..a ?


    Nosthbridge High School uni iform?


    C¨¦ntent belongs to


    The Northbridge High uniform was a


    clunky mix ot blue and white that


    many students disliked wearing, but


    on her, ittseemed to take on an S


    effortt less purity. It confirmed that


    old saying: a beautiful persomcan


    rake even a bup sack look good.


    There she stood, doing nothing at


    all, yet fulfilling every teenage boy¡¯s


    fantasy of a first love. Baldie was


    momentaritydazzled. Could it be .


    that An hea was actually a student


    at Northbridge High? But hadn'' =


    HarrieDsaid that Anthea was a¡®¡¯


    dropout, barely making it through


    rolddle school? Or was the-uniform


    she wore just a cheap buy meant to


    mimic a student''s look? These days,


    many who wanted to pass as


    students wore such uniforms for the


    thrill of it.


    With that thought, Baldie rxed. No matter how pretty Anthea was, she couldn''t possibly be attending Northbridge High. It was just her vanity


    speaking.


    ¡°Anthea, you turned down such a well-paying job at my cest time. Did you find something better?" Even if she had, what of it? Without an


    education, she was still uneducated


    Anthea, carrying her backpack with one hand, replied indifferently, "I have school, no time for part-time jobs.¡±


    Baldie didn''t call out her bluff and continued, "You''re at Northbridge High?"


    She nedded.


    At that moment, Baldie had to admire Anthea''s audacity. Her inner world must be enormous to lie so tantly without even batting an eysh

 Chapter 301

    Maybe that''s just the difference between those who''ve cracked open a book and those whe haven''t. Guys like him, the straight-A students, they just


    don''t lie.


    Baldie continued, "The SATs are right around the corner. Which college are you aiming for?¡±


    He was curious to see how long Anthea Yeager could keep up her act


    "Harvard," said Anthea.


    "Harvard?" Baldie''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    He thought to himself, Anthea''s really shooting for the stars here! Harvard, even more prestigious than Princeton, is recognized worldwide! Even he


    wouldn''t dare to dream of getting into Harvard.


    Anthea had merely donned a Northbridge High varsity jacket and was already spouting big dreams. It''s like the more lies you tell, the more you start


    to believe them yourself.


    "I''m setting my sights on Yale.¡± Baldie added.


    "May your dreamse true," Anthea said, pulling out her phone from her pocket. "I¡¯m going to bete. Can''t chat anymore.¡±


    Anthea hurried off to school. To Baldie, it looked like she was fleeing the scene. Tell one lie, and you need a hundred more to back it up. Anthea must


    be feeling guilty, right?


    Although Anthea lied and seemed quite vain, Baldie couldn''t help but feel his heart race every time he saw her. He couldn''t control it. He knew it was


    the sign of having a crush. Anthea was so beautiful, it was only natural for him to fall for her. Even though Harriet had said Anthea wasn''t in his


    league.


    But a little romance couldn''t hurt. right? Who doesn''t have a few girlfriends in college? Sure, Anthea might not be the most educated, but she''s


    gorgeous. It''s just dating, not marriage. He wasn''t losing out!Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Once the SAT results were out, and he was holding his Princeton eptance letter, Anthea would surely say yes to him! After all, Anthea had only


    graduated middle school, and he would be a college guy from a prestigious institution. In any case, it would be Anthea reaching for the stars. Only a


    fool would say no!


    Baldie was getting more excited by the minute. He had to study hard for the uing exams. To get into Princeton!


    ¡°Annie!¡± As soon as she reached the school gates, she saw Lizzie West and Tanya waiting for her.


    "Lizzie, Tanya!"


    Anthea jogged over to them


    "Annie, my mom made these burritos for you," Lizzie handed Anthea a wax paper bag.


    Anthea took it, "Please thank your mom for me."


    Tanya, munching on a burrito, said indistinctly, "Annie, you gotta try this. my mom''s cooking is unbeatable!"


    Anthea opened the bag and took a bite. It was indeed delicious. Despite Lizzie''s family going through a rough patch, her spirits seemed unshaken.


    The trio made their way along the campus''s shaded path, creating a beautiful scene.


    "Holy smokes! Isn''t that the pet of ss 7?"


    "Watch yournguage, she''s also the new school beauty!"


    Yes. Anthea had only been at the school for a semester, and she was already voted the school beauty!


    Hearing this, a girl nearby said enviously, "She''s so pretty, and what a figure...¡±


    "Well, how else would she be the school beauty!"


    "What school beauty? I see a cheater, that''s what!" a mocking voice rang out


    They turned to see Mae and Alicia from ss 3, with the former school beauty, Reba Morris, standing between them.


    Reba looked upset. She was the school beauty! She was the chess master! She was the popr streamer! But now, all the glory that was hers


    had been snatched away by Anthea


    What Rebacouldn''t ept was


    how easily Asthea dealt with the


    Yeager family''s troublesome ~


    rtivesCShe had hoped to use =


    those #6 atives to trip Anthea up>


    Instead, Anthea not only thrived, but


    thase rtives also ran intetrouble


    offe by one. Content bgigs to


    ine Yeager¡¯ s family fell into ruin,


    one daughter jailed, another forced


    to drop-out. Saul Yeager was jailed


    for fraud... Gemma suffered asstroke


    frthe shock, bing paralyzed


    and I bedridden!


    If Reba were to say these


    incidents hag-nothing to do with


    Anthea, shewouldn''t believe it =


    herself. After all, these troubles <


    sta ted happening to them after they


    messed with Anthea. But the-Anthea


    sheknew was nothing special What


    was going on? Content bafongs to


    From the moment Anthea started her live streams, Reba felt things slowly slipping out of her control.

 Chapter 302

    She was a phoenix reborn!


    The pride of the heavens!


    Soaring across the vastnds of the elite high schools!


    She wouldn''t let anyone defeat her.


    Especially not Anthea, who had fallen by her hand in a past life.


    What right did Anthea have?


    Reba''s expression grew colder by the second


    Mae chimed in, ¡°The real queen bee of our school should be Reba! Not only is she drop-dead gorgeous, but her grades are top-notch! She''s the


    undisputed number one among us girls! What does Anthea have besides her looks? Do you guys really believe a nobody could be the top of the


    ss?¡±


    This semester, Reba had ranked in the top five of her grade


    Apart from Anthea, she was the cream of the crop among the girls!


    "Who says Yeager stole her essay? Our Boss Yeager is beauty and brainsbined! She doesn¡¯t need to stoop to cheating!¡± Just then, a group of


    students from ss 7 passed by, overhearing Mae slinging mud at Anthea and immediately stepped in to defend her.


    The students from ss 7 had immense faith in Anthea!


    With teachers often inviting Anthea to exinplex problems on the board, how could she be a fraud?


    Anthea was not only knowledgeable but had her unique techniques.


    Many students in their ss were hardcore fans of Anthea.


    Mae''s face twisted in scorn, "Not cheating? Just because you say so doesn''t make it true. Only you losers in the regr sses would idolize a


    cheater like some treasure!¡±


    ¡®Talk is cheap! Just wait for the SATs! Our Boss Yeager will surely top the scores and prove her brilliance!¡± The SATs were like a mirror, revealing


    everyone''s true capabilities.


    On the SATs, everyone was equal, and there was no chance for foul y!


    With that, the students from ss 7 walked away, leaving the truth to speak for itself.


    Mae spat in disdain, ¡°Whatever!


    Then, turning to Reba, ¡°Don''t sweat it, Reba! In our hearts, you''re the one and only queen bee! Anthea couldn''t evenpare to a single hair


    on your head! Just wait till the SAT scores are out. We''ll see who has thestugh!¡±


    Alicia added, ¡°Anthea? She''s just a grasshopper after autumn, barely hanging on!¡±


    Reba''s face brightened a bit.


    Having lived once before, she had already experienced the SATs, and with the system at her disposal, bing the valedictorian was a piece of


    cake.


    Though the system hadn''t upgraded yet.


    But basic SAT questions were no match for the system.


    After the SATs. she would dazzle everyone!


    Meanwhile, the rest of the school watched with the curiosity of bystanders


    Free drama was too good to pass up.


    Whether or not there was cheating, time would tell.


    To draw more eyes, Reba had the system set up a poll on the school¡¯s forum.


    The poll was catchy: [Former queen bee VS Current queen bee, who is the true beauty with brains?]


    Reba: 1826 votes.


    Anthea: 789 votes.


    TopSchoolHunk: [The OP is stirring up drama!]


    DyeDyeOh: [What?! My Boss Yeager has less than 800 votes?]


    LoveAtFirstSight: [Backing my Boss Yeager without question.]


    RandomJoe665: [Reba''s been in the top five for two years, she gets my vote.]


    LovesYY: [I''m team Reba tool]


    Below, some tried to sway the conversation.


    LoilLmaa: [Anthea as queen bee? Do you guys not remember what she used to look like?]


    SaltySodaSpray23333: [Did Anthea get stic surgery or what?]


    DadHereSen: [Now that you mention


    it, it does''seem fishy. She wasn''tthis


    pretty before, then suddenly I lobked


    totally different after one semester]


    The stic surgery rumor quickly sidetracked the discussion.


    Under Reba''s maniption, it


    wasnt long before the entire


    RealTimeElow was buzzing with ?


    spection about Anthea¡¯s <


    supposed cosmetic procedures?


    dominating the trending topi ICS... For


    a time, exaggerated photos-of


    Afithea¡¯s makeup filled th¨¦ feeds.


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    ¡°C


    stic surgery was a stain that couldn¡¯t be washed away.


    Especially since all of Anthea¡¯s childhood photos had been systematically destroyed.


    Anthea''s ount was instantly assaulted by an army of trolls.


    The uninformed masses were N


    swayed by the troll army, but. <


    Anthea¡¯ s fans never wavered in their


    support. : to¡±


    Swnovel o


    Then, Reba began to hype up her schrly persona.


    The news was everywhere.


    LoveBa20000: [Turns out not only is my Ba a chess master, she¡¯s also a super schr!)

 Chapter 303

    "Are you out of your mind?" eximed a post that quickly went viral in the Northbridge High School online forum


    In no time, the forum was swarming with spectators.


    Anthea found herself under fire. used of stic surgery and giarism by trolls, enduring a rough patch. Meanwhile, Reba seemed to thrive


    amidst the chaos, subtly leveraging the situation to her advantage. Her follower count, which had plummeted to just under five million, miraculously


    bounced back to six million in a matter of hours


    ThorHammerStriker chimed in: "Team Griffin, let''s stand by Anthea! We''ve got to have faith in Ann! She''ll prove herself with her talents!"


    Pupper added: "Exactly, believe in Ann!"


    Caught up in her schoolwork, Anthea was oblivious to the online storm.


    Ding!


    She had justpleted a task when a friend request popped up.


    ID: Varn.


    Her friend list wasn''t full, so Anthea epted.


    Elsewhere, in ab.


    "Yes! Phoenix actually epted!" A middle-aged man in a radiation suit nearly jumped for joy.


    Just then, someone entered the room.


    ¡°Doctor, what''s got you so excited?¡±


    Dr. Varn couldn''t contain his exhration. "Phoenix epted my friend request!"


    "Really?"


    Dr. Varn nodded. "Andrea, should I drop him a message now? Maybe chat about artificial intelligence?"


    Dr. Varn was a tech fanatic, having made significant contributions to human research. He had long awaited a discussion with Phoenix YC, who


    seemed even more adept than many abroad, on professional topics. Phoenix¡¯s enigmatic nature had kept him at bay, until today.


    When titans meet, excitement is inevitable.


    Andrea suggested, "Perhaps start with a task for him, then ease into other topics.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    "Good thinking, Andrea," said Dr. Varn.


    Anthea found Varn intriguing. After


    completing atask worth $700,000


    for him, he-Qembarded her with


    questions ¡®about future tech like


    light- speed spacecraft, =


    miniaturization, and aerial


    architecture, showcasing deep


    ay


    professional insight. He even


    suggested adding each other on


    Whatsapp.


    Anthea hesitated and ultimately


    declined, unwilling to expose hers


    persanal life to a stranger from the


    digital realm.


    Swnovel -


    Back at theb, Dr. Varn frowned. "Andrea, he didn''t ept."


    Andrea consoled him, "Patience is key, Doctor. These things take time."


    Dr. Varn had to agree. Just having Phoenix on his friends list was satisfaction enough


    Meanwhile, Anthea tackled missions online, her forum ount bing increasingly popr.


    Phoenix-JustYourAverageJoe: "Dad''s so cool!¡±


    Phoenix: PowerMax & YoungAce: "Dad. save some of those good genes for us!"


    Phoenix:-InfinityAeon00: "Holy cow! Dad just epted my friend request! You guys should try tool¡±


    Phoenix: IGotADog: ¡°It actually worked! Thanks, bro!¡±


    Suddenly, Anthea found herself bombarded with friend requests, all iming to be her long-lost sons.


    Seeing thousands of requests, she raised an eyebrow. When did she acquire such a vast progeny?


    Nheless... free sons are not to be declined.


    But addressing them one by one was too cumbersome. With a stroke of genius, Anthea scripted a batch approval


    Just as she finished, the school bell rang. and she put away her phone.


    "Holy moly! Can you believe these people?" Lizzie eximed, clutching her phone.


    "What''s up?¡± Anthea turned slightly.


    Lizzie passed her the phone. "Annie, see for yourself!"


    Skimming through thements about her alleged stic surgery, Anthea remained calm


    Lizzie was fuming. "They''re the ones


    with the stic surgery! Their whole


    farnily! A bunch of jealousmions!"

 Chapter 304

    Anthea pulled out her smartphone once again, diving into the depths of the inte to trace the origin of a certain post. The IP address she found was


    peculiar, reminiscent of something out of a sci-fi movie¡ªa kind of high-tech, Al-driven system known moremonly in her circle as a ¡°cheat code."


    Anthea herself was one of the masterminds behind its creation. But with this cheat code in y, people stopped striving for excellence. They leaned


    heavily an the system, allowing their intellects to dwindle, turning them into mere puppets. Realizing the dire consequences, the creators, including


    Anthea, decided to dismantle the system to save humanity from bing ves to technology.


    But now, how could this system possibly resurface in her world?


    Anthea''s brows knitted together as she traced the breadcrumbs back to Reba. Considering the post targeted her, and Reba stood to gain the


    most, could it be that Reba was now a host for the cheat code system?


    Shutting down her browser, Anthea bypassed the firewall to ess a secure database effortlessly. pulling up everything there was to know about


    Reba. Until she turned 16, Reba was just your average Jane, but something changed dramatically at 17. She went from being a struggling


    student to topping her ss and even became a grandmaster at chess¡ªa game she previously knew nothing about, without any formal training.


    The evidence was stacking up; Reba definitely had the cheat code system


    "If Reba wants to y games, I''ll make sure it''s a game she won''t forget," Anthea thought to herself, knowing all too well the dangers of


    mishandling such power.


    It suddenly clicked for Anthea¡ªthe reason Reba lost her shine at RealTimeFlow''s anniversary g was because Anthea had outsmarted her,


    forcing the system to downgrade and retract its benefits, including Reba''s artificially enhanced beauty.


    Narrowing her eyes, Anthea deleted Reba''s information, deciding to address the rumors circting on RealTimeFlow about her supposed


    cosmetic surgery. The best rebuttal was proof from the past. Anthea dug up her old social media ounts, only to find the photos had been wiped


    clean¡ªa preemptive strike by Reba, no doubt


    But Anthea wasn''t deterred. "A tech guru worried about a delete button? Please.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Soon enough, she restored the deleted photos from the digital recycle bin and uploaded them to her RealTimeFlow ount.


    "Introducing my younger self to all


    my lovely follewe s! Who else went


    through an-¨¦mo phase? Let''s agree


    to forgetany ¡®unique teenage =<


    fashion.s¨¦nse, shall we? And as for


    the cheating usations, just wait


    for any SAT results! Spoiler: kfn only


    applying to Capital University


    because, yes, I''m that corifident


    [/smirk]!"


    ThorHammerStriker: "Ann, you''ve always been a knockout! Lol, I had my emo phase too!¡±


    Pupper: "A true angel from the start! Emo was quite the trend back then."


    LoveAnnie1: "Checking in for Ann!"


    LoveAnn77: "Capital University would be lucky to have you!¡±


    WhoAreYou: "Capital University? Isn''t that a bit too ambitious? Afraid of a reality check?"


    AyyAyy1063: "Only applying to one university? That''s not confidence; that''s arrogance! You''re flying too high!"


    WindSweeper999: "FYI, the eptance score for Cloudcrest at Capital University is 690. Can''t wait to see a crashnding!¡±


    After pasting her statement, Anthea logged off, leaving a digital bombshell in her wake.


    Reba, who had been closely


    monitoriagy Anthea''s moves, frowned


    upon se@ing the photos. "How did


    she manage to retrieve those


    thought the system had destroyed


    them all..."


    ¡°


    Even the system panicked, N


    encountering a formidable human:


    for thedirst time in three years


    capable of recovering what ithad


    eradicated.


    swnovel.


    "Host, now¡¯s not the time to worry. We need to upgrade first. Only then can I ess more information and tackle this problem."

 Chapter 305

    Here is the revised English trantion of the text:


    ¡°How do I level up?¡±


    The system sent a link and said, ¡°This is GlobalGigaNet, a ce where tech enthusiasts gather. Follow my instructions toplete a challenge! Use


    your skills to grab the attention of the big shots on the site. You have two targets this time: the first is Dr. Varn; the second is Phoenix: YC."


    Phoenix: YC?


    Hearing that name, Reba frowned slightly, her mind racing to Griffin- YC.


    Could Phoenix: YC also be rted to Anthea?


    This thought made Reba pause. Then she chuckled, sarcasm twinkling in her eyes.


    A girl reborn with no tech skills to speak of. What chance did Anthea have?


    Tech isn''t like chess, where dedication might suffice. It demands not just study, but also innate talent! If Anthea had such a gift, she probably wouldn''t


    be called Anthea. She''d be Dr. Anthea, much like Dr. Varn.


    With that thought, Reba rxed and started to sign up following the system''s instructions.


    Noticing many users on the forum had Phoenix as a prefix, Reba did the same. Phoenix:YR. This way, she could earn the favor of the elite and


    stand out among the many Phoenix IDs. A win-win!


    Reba set her profile picture to a filtered and beautified close-up of a gentle hand, making one automatically imagine an unparalleled beauty. Her


    background info stated: Female, 19, Single. Men generally have a weakness for beauty.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Though the system couldn''t confirm Phoenix: YC''s gender, the forum''s members affectionately called them ¡®dad¡¯, suggesting Phoenix: YC must be a


    seasoned tech geek, likely in his forties. Men of any age admire beauty, especially on this tech-centric site with a scarce female presence.


    Reba had the system check; women made up only a tenth of the site¡¯s poption, with none particrly outstanding. A rare gem indeed


    Reba smiled, anticipating the day Dr. Varn and Phoenix: YC would seek her out.


    After school.


    Anthea walkechout with Lizzie and


    Tanya. No sdoner had they stepped


    outside than aman ina ck suit ->


    approached them, the golden su neet


    casting.a mysterious veil over his


    features. His distinguished aura


    mate it impossible to ignore an


    Content be ongs to swnevel


    ¡°Ms. Yeager.¡± He walked straight up to Anthea and stopped.


    Anthea looked up to see a somewhat aloof face, his eyes holding a hint of fierceness. It was none other than Alex Peterson.


    Anthea greeted him with a slight smile, ¡°Mr. Peterson.


    Lizzie and Tanya stood frozen in ~~


    ce. This man was clearly not to


    be trifled with, and they instinctively


    stepped behind Anthea for 3¡±


    protection.


    -


    Alex nced at Lizzie and Tanya before turning his attention back to Anthea, "May I have a word, Ms. Yeager?¡±


    After a brief nce at her friends, Anthea nodded. They moved to a quieter area, where Alex exined his request.


    Hearing him out, Anthea nodded slightly, ¡°I''ll go with you, Mr. Peterson, but let me say this in advance.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Anthea continued, ¡°Audrey is of advanced age. I can only do my best; the rest is in fate''s hands.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Alex nodded slightly, ¡°Given grandmother''s age, any relief from her suffering would be greatly appreciated.¡±


    After agreeing with Alex, Anthea turned to Lizzie and Tanya to say goodbye, then got into Alex''s car.


    Reba watched everything from a distance. She knew Anthea would catch Alex''s eye!


    And there #was, Alex making his ~


    move. Anthea must be falling head


    over heels for Alex, just like she had,


    dreaming of marrying into the¡±


    Peterson family. Content ¡®belongs to


    Soon enough, Anthea would realize she had stepped into hell. Once Alex sets his sights on someone, there''s no escape!

 Chapter 306

    "She''s going to have it rough!"


    The image of Anthea''s grim fate shed before Reba''s eyes, filling her heart with a twisted sense of satisfaction


    Just then, Alex suddenly turned his head. His eyes, sharp as a hawk¡¯s, fixed on her with a chilling intensity. A cold shiver ran down Reba''s spine


    as the fear from her past life engulfed her, breaking out in a cold sweat.


    For a moment, Reba felt as though she was back in that blood-soaked cell. Terrifying! Absolutely terrifying! Her entire body trembled


    Fortunately, Alex soon turned away and climbed into his sleek ck sedan. As the car disappeared down the highway, the color slowly returned to.


    Reba''s face, and she hurried away as if fleeing for her life.


    The car sped along the highway, quickly arriving at the Peterson family mansion.


    Audreyy in bed. Though the weather was beginning to warm, Audrey was still buried under a thick nket, with the heater running full st in the


    room


    ¡°Annie''s here."


    "Audrey," Anthea approached with a smile.


    "Annie. I''m sorry to trouble you with this," Audrey grasped Anthea''s hand


    "It''s no trouble at all. Let me take your pulse."


    "Alright." Audrey nodded, observing Anthea carefully. Still in her school uniform, Anthea''s slender frame seemed even more delicate, her hands soft


    and smooth like polished marble. She was simply endearing. The only question was whether she was destined to be with Alex.


    After a moment, Anthea released Audrey''s wrist. her expression unchanged.


    Audrey, with a smile, asked, "Annie, do I not have much time left?"


    Anthea tucked Audrey''s hand back under the nket, "Your illness isn''t as serious as you think. Just take care of yourself, and by the time spring is in


    full bloom, you''ll be just fine."


    "Annie, I know my own body,¡± Audrey sighed, "It''s natural to pass on at my age. My only regret is not seeing Alex settle down.¡±


    Alex had always been Audrey''s biggest concern. His tough childhood had made him withdrawn and somewhat vtile...


    Anthea patted Audrey''s hand, ¡°You''ll definitely see Mr. Peterson marry and have children.¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    ¡°Then I''ll take your word for it.¡±


    At that moment, a servant came to deliver some medicine to Audrey. Anthea stood up, "May I see the medicine?"


    The servanttooked to Alex for


    approval<with a="" nod="" from="" alex,="" th¨¦="" servant="" cautiously="" handed="" the="" ~="" medicine="" to="" anthea.="" howeversin="" process,="" stumbled,="" spilling="" on="" c¨¦ntent="" belongs="" noveldrama.org<="" p=""></with>


    Managing to catch the bowl but not its contents, Anthea reassured the panicked servant, "It''s okay, it''s okay. It''ll dry in a bit."


    ¡°Wet clothes are ufortable. You should change.¡± Audrey suggested. "Hazel, take Annie to the restroom.¡±


    ¡®Ms. Yeager, please follow me,"


    Hazel, the assistant standing by < >


    Audrey''s bed, gestured. Feeling¡±


    sticky and ufortable, Anthea


    agreed without objection. Content


    ~


    Following Hazel to the restroom in the foyer, Hazel said, "Ms. Yeager, please go ahead. I''ll wait outside for your clothes to arrive.¡±


    "Thank you,¡± Anthea nodded


    Soon after, a servant rushed over with a fresh set of clothes. Knocking on the door, Hazel called, "Ms. Yeager, your clothes are here.¡±


    Anthea cracked the door open slightly, extending a pale arm, "Thanks, Hazel."


    A faint bite mark on her arm was


    conspicuously visible. Hazel 2


    narrowed her eyes slightly before


    handing the clothes to Anthea: With


    a werd of thanks, Anthea took the


    clothes.  ta¡±


    ¡°


    "You''re too polite, Ms. Yeager," Hazel said, exchanging a knowing look with a nearby servant who quickly darted away.


    Alex was waiting outside.

 Chapter 307

    The night enveloped him entirely, shrouding his expressions in darkness. His voice was cold, "Well?"


    "Ms. Yeager does have a scar on her arm.¡±


    "From a burn?¡± Alex inquired


    The maid shook her head, straining to recall the shape of the scar, "Doesn''t look like a burn. More like a bite of some sort.¡±


    ¡°Recent?¡±


    Again, the maid shook her head, "No, it''s not recent. Looks like it''s been there for a while, but Ms. Yeager''s fair skin makes the scar stand out.¡±


    ¡°Alright, off you go,¡± he dismissed her, then added, "I''ll have the butler increase your sry."


    "Thank you, sir!" The maid was overjoyed.


    Having been with the Peterson family for so long, this was the first time she''d seen Alex offer a raise! If the others found out, they''d be green with


    envy.


    Alex returned to Audrey''s room. His expression remained unchanged.


    Audrey looked back at Alex, "Alex, just spill it. What are you up to?"


    Alex was taken aback, "I''m not sure what you mean, Grandma."


    "All of a sudden, why did you have Lacy spill that potion on Annie?¡± Audrey continued, "Your real intention was to get Annie to change her clothes,


    wasn''t it?"


    "Grandma, you''re overthinking it."


    "Whether I am or not, you know very well," Audrey''s gaze drifted to the door, "Alex, after all these years, can''t you have a heart-to-heart with your


    grandmother?"


    Though Alex was Audrey''s grandson, Audrey never felt she truly understood him.


    "Grandma, just focus on getting better, don¡¯t worry so much.¡± Alex approached, tucking her in.


    Soon after, Anthea walked in, having changed her clothes. Her pale green dressplemented her skin beautifully.


    "Annie, you look lovely in that dress!" Audreyplimented genuinely.


    Anthea quirked an eyebrow, "Maybe it''s just because I''m naturally good-looking?¡±


    Audrey chuckled at her jest.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Anthea snpited, "That''s more like it,


    Audrey You should smile more. it¡¯s


    good for your lungs and expresses


    healthy emotions, beneficial I for your


    body.¡±  t0..


    Audrey''s smile deepened, "Alright, alright, I''ll take Ann''s advice and smile more.¡±


    After chatting with Audrey for a while and prescribing some medicine, Anthea said her goodbyes.


    Alex walked Anthea out.


    Stepping out of Audrey''s courtyard, Anthea broached the subject, ¡°Audrey has, at most. six months left. Mr. Peterson should be prepared.¡±


    Hearing this, Alex''s face betrayed no particr emotion, ¡°Is there really no other way?¡±


    Anthea shook her head, ¡°Audrey''s N


    reached I Her age. Her organs are < aS


    gradually failing. However, the c>


    meditvine I prescribed should


    alleviate some of her pain. "Content


    ~


    Doctors can only do so much. Even if Anthea were a miracle worker, she couldn''t stop the natural process of aging and death.


    Alex didn''t Say much more. Over the


    years, he''d grown ustomed to


    the cycle of life and death. Even if


    Audrey were to pass away now, he


    dauibted he could muster atear.


    Alex drove Anthea to the entrance of the Yeager family¡¯s apartmentplex.


    "Thanks for the ride, Mr. Peterson. Drive safe," Anthea thanked him as she got out of the car.


    "It''s I who should be thanking you,¡± Alex slowly said, "Ms. Yeager, no need to be so formal, just call me by my first name.¡±


    Anthea nodded slightly, "Then you shouldn''t be formal with me either. It''ste: I won''t invite you in for tea now. I should head back."


    ¡°Alright, I should get going too," Alex said, settling back into his car and closing the door.


    The car that should have been speeding down the highway instead came to a stop at a fork in the road not far from the Yeager family''splex.


    Alex pulled off the red string around his neck, the fierceness in his eyes gradually fading, "I''ve finally found you.¡±

 Chapter 308

    Found it atst.


    Alex couldn''t recall how long he had been waiting for this moment. Throughout countless pitch-ck nights. it was only a faint glimmer of hope that


    kept him going. Without that light, he would have been long gone.


    The car was eerily silent. After a moment, Alex pulled a piece of candy from his pocket. The familiar taste spread through his mouth. A slight smile


    appeared on Alex''s lips, feeling for the first time that being alive wasn''t too bad after all. At least, it reminded him that candy was sweet.


    He looked up at the apartment building where Anthea lived. She had protected him when they were kids. Now, it was his turn to protect her.


    It took a while before the dark car vanished into the night. Alex drove to the Peterson family''s sanatorium, located in a quiet suburb. The area was.


    deserted, surrounded by a vast forest, and it was deep into the night. Only a lonely streetlight shone outside the sanatorium, and the only sound was


    the eerie hooting of an owl, giving the ce a chilling atmosphere.


    The sound of the car attracted an olddy, hunched over, from inside, "Boss."


    Her voice was hoarse and unpleasant, as if scraped by a de.


    Alex nodded, "Olivia."


    Olivia handed Alex a pair of white gloves. He calmly put them on. In the light from inside, Olivia''s face, with a ghastly scar, was clearly visible, adding


    to her intimidating appearance. Her hands were also scarred, with parts of her thumbs missing.


    They proceeded to a brightly lit room on the second floor. The room was sparsely furnished, with just a bed and a chair, and a strong smell of


    antiseptic filled the air. A disheveled middle-aged woman on the bed looked around warily. Seeing Alex, she screamed, covering her head with the


    nket, shaking uncontrobly.


    "Don''t worry, you''ll feel better after this shot." Alex said, picking up a syringe, pushing out the excess air with a calm expression


    "No, please no..."


    This scene ovepped with a memory from Alex''s mind. In a dark room, a beautiful young woman with a syringe stood in front of a frail boy, ¡°You


    have to treat your illness, sweetheart. This shot will make you better."


    The next moment, the needle pierced his flesh.


    "Why don''t you just die!"


    "If you die, my son will be the sole heir to the Peterson fortune!¡±


    "Die! Die!"


    The woman lost all control, like a madwoman. But the boy in the corner remained silent, his eyes filled with endurance.


    When you''re not strong enough, all you can do is endure. Time will make you stronger!


    Thinking Qfthis, the repressed anger


    in Alex''s eyes red up again as he


    injected the middle-aged woman


    withthe syringe. The medication


    slowly entered her bloodstream.


    Soon after, Alex tossed the empty syringe into the trash, "Has she been taking her medication on time?"


    "I made sure of it.¡±


    Alex nodded slightly, "Good."N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Then, turning to the middle-aged woman, he added, "By the way, there''s something you might not know. Naylor Peterson is dead.¡±


    The woman sat on the bed, her expression nk, as if she couldn¡¯tprehend his words.


    "Do you know how he died?¡±


    Alex answered his own question,


    "Just likemny mother, burned alivesin


    a fire. When the firefighters arrived,


    theycfound the door covered. his


    bloody handprints...¡±   ~~


    Hearing this, the woman finally broke dewn, crying out loud, ¡°Naylor! Naylor!"


    "What''s the matter? My dear stepmother, are you done pretending to be insane?"


    Yes.


    This middle-aged woman was Alex''s


    stepmother, t Kily. In her youth, Lily


    was one of Bioudcrest''s most os


    admiredttalents and was also. =


    incredibly beautiful. Nobody knew


    that.b¨¦neath her seemingly perfect


    exterior, she harbored a dark, rotten


    H@art. .~


    She had a peculiar habit: she enjoyed inflicting pain. In public, she was a good wife, a loving stepmother.


    But when night fell..

 Chapter 309

    Her true colors would show, and they were anything but pretty.


    During that time, Alex was petrified of the approaching night. The darkness hid all the unsavory scenes. Olivia was among the victims. Olivia''s


    severed fingers, her damaged voice¡ªall were gifts from her.


    ¡°Alex! You''ll get what''sing to you!¡± Lily roared with fury.


    ¡°You won''t be around to see myeuppance! But yours has already arrived." Alex''s lips curved into a faint smile. "Even though Naylor is gone, rest


    assured, as long as I''m here, I''ll make sure you spend your twilight years infort. You won''t suffer!¡±


    With that, Alex turned to Olivia, speaking softly, "I''ll head back first, remember to take good care of her."


    Olivia nodded, "Don''t worry, I will."


    The pain she had endured, she would return it a hundredfold, a thousandfold to this wretch!


    As Alex walked away, he slipped off his gloves. Behind him. Lily''s cries of agony filled the air.


    The next morning.


    Anthea was up early. After her jog, Carole Yeager had breakfast ready. "Annie, I didn''t make porridge today. How about milk with catmeal instead?"


    ¡°That''s fine." Anthea nodded


    Carole served up some freshly fried dough sticks, calling out, "Nanson Yeager! Breakfast is ready!"


    Anthea prepared the oatmeal. As mother and daughter sat down to eat, Nanson, yawning, emerged from the bathroom.


    "I only got three hours of sleepst night. I''m dead tired! And I have to travel to City C the day after tomorrow!¡± Nanson''s eyes were puffy, as he


    daydreamed, "Wouldn''t it be nice if money just fell from the sky andnded on me!"


    Anthea took a sip of her oatmeal, the crunchy oats blending perfectly with the creamy milk, delicious. Eating something so tasty in the morning lifted


    her spirits. She chimed in


    "Uncle, I might have a way to make your dream of money falling from the skye true.¡±


    "Really?" Nanson''s eyes sparkled with hope.


    Anthea nodded, "You know I never lie.¡±


    Nanson skipped breakfast in his excitement, looking eagerly at Anthea, ¡°What''s the method?"


    His niece was quite capable. Maybe she really had a way!


    Anthea bit into a dough stick, speaking casually, ¡°It''s quite simple..."


    "Spit it out!" Nanson couldn''t wait.


    "Be a turtle in a wishing well.¡±


    Anthea''s tone was nonchnt. SS


    "Dont: tourists often throw money at


    turtles in wishing wells?"


    -


    Nanson: ".....


    How could he have forgotten? His niece was also a master ofebacks!


    Carole couldn''t help butugh, "That''s why we need to keep our feet on the ground and not get lost in fanciful thoughts!¡±


    With that, Carole added, "By the way,


    Annie, I¡¯ inegoing to be a bit busy 2¡± <


    these next few days. I need to travel


    to Cups next week. I''ll probably be


    ther¨¦tor about half a month-Can


    yotr manage on your own bere?¡±


    Business at the restaurant was booming, so Carole nned to expand to City A. She estimated staying there for about half a month.


    "No problem,¡± Anthea replied.


    Nanson said, "Sis, you go ahead to City A without worries. I''ll be here at home.¡±


    Carole nodded


    Time flew by quickly. Soon it was the day for Carole to leave for City A. Nanson and Anthea took her to the airport.


    This was Carle''s first long trip


    away, she meticulously went over


    everythingwith them, "The C


    housents need watering every>


    three days, and the turtle''s water


    needs to be changed daily, and then


    there¡¯ s..." -t i


    swnovel. 4


    NN?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Nanson interrupted, "I know, sis. You''ve said it at least thirty times!"


    Carole had been repeating these instructions since morning, and Nanson felt like his ears were about to develop calluses.


    Carole shot him a look, "I just don''t want you to forget, okay?¡±


    With time running out, Carole finally made her way to the departure gate.


    Seeing Carole¡¯s figure disappearing into the crowd, Nanson breathed a sigh of relief, "Your mom finally managed to leave."


    "Uncle, what are we having for lunch?" Anthea turned to Nanson.

 Chapter 310

    "Let''s grab some spicy hotpot!" Nanson rubbed his hands together, excitement sparkling in his eyes.


    He seemed to havepletely forgotten that Carole had just told him not to let Anthea eat junk food.


    "Sure," Anthea nodded. Spicy hotpot might not be the healthiest option, but the taste was absolutely unbeatable.


    After their meal, they returned home. Anthea decided to tidy up her room a bit. Everywhere she looked, there were electronic gadgets: dismantled


    computer towers, green circuit boards, PCBAs, diodes...


    But the most shocking part was the soldering equipment. Had it not been seen with one''s own eyes, it would be hard to believe this was a girl''s room.


    Once she finished tidying up her room, Anthea took a watering can to sprinkle some water on the nts in Carole''s room. Carole was a stickler for


    cleanliness. Her room was always neat and tidy. with not a single wrinkle on the bedspread


    Anthea methodically watered the nts.


    ¡°Oops¡ª"


    She identally knocked a book off the table. Picking it up, it was a copy of "Jane Eyre.¡± The book¡¯s edges were worn white, indicating it had been


    well-loved for many years.


    Flipping through the pages, a photo suddenly fell out. It was a vintage-looking picture. Aman and a woman were in it. Anthea didn''t recognize the


    man. But the woman was unmistakably a younger Carole.


    Indeed, Carole hadn''t changed much from the photo to the present. Except back then, she looked much more naive, her eyes bright with love, clearly


    smitten with the man standing beside her.


    The man was tall and handsome, with thick eyebrows and striking features. Together, they were the picture of a perfect couple!


    Anthea squinted slightly. If she wasn''t mistaken, this man must be her biological father? Well, he did have a certain charm. No wonder he managed to


    sweep a neen-year-old Carole off her feet.


    Anthea raised an eyebrow and ced the photo back where she found it.


    Elsewhere, at the Morris household.


    Under the system''s guidance, Reba hadpleted three tasks. Though three tasks weren''t many, they had caused quite a stir on GlobalGigaNet.


    After all, Reba''s ount was new, and moreover, she was a woman. On this site, women were a rare species.


    Lately, she had been receiving


    constant frie@d requests. Sitting in


    front of herstreen, Reba''s lips .


    curled into a smirk. She knew shes


    was bound to be the center cof


    attention, By now, Phoenix-YG. and


    Varn must have taken notice Sof her.


    Seon, the tech world''s tw¨¦cgiants


    would be at her feet!


    Sess for a woman wasn''t just about career achievements. It alsoy in personal charisma.


    Just then, the system''s warning tone


    rang in her mind: [Warning! Daniel¡±


    Robinson¡¯ s affection for the hast


    has dropped from eighty percent to


    twenty percent. Please find away to


    inerease his affection immediately!]


    Hearing this, Reba frowned, ¡°What''s going on?"N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    The system continued, [Host, you haven''t been making your presence felt around Daniel for quite some time!]


    "Can you track Daniel''s whereabouts now?"


    [Let me try.]


    Thanks to her performance on GlobalGigaNet, the system had leveled up twice. Soon, it found Daniel''s schedule. Seeing Daniel''s agenda, Reba


    had a n in mind.


    Before long~ she was dressed and


    stepping-out of the Morris residence.


    On the busy road with carsing


    and geing, the traffic lights blinked


    froragreen to yellow. Suddedly, a


    litte boy darted out. Content


    b¨¦longs  ~


    "Beep!"


    A harsh horn red from behind. At that moment, a figure rushed out. shielding the boy. The moment Reba protected the boy in her arms, a


    calcting light shed in her eyes.


    "Bang!"


    They were knocked to the ground. The car door opened, and a man in a suit stepped out.


    "Are you guys okay?"


    This man was none other than Daniel


    I''m fine," Reba said softly. lifting her head


    "Ms. Morris!" Daniel eximed in surprise.


    "Mr. Robinson,¡± Reba greeted him, then pulled the boy to his feet, "Are you okay, kiddo?"

 Chapter 311

    The children were so scared, their faces turned as white as a sheet. Just then, a middle-aged woman burst through the crowd, clutching her child


    tightly. ¡°Oh, sweetie, are you alright? You scared the living daylights out of me!¡± she eximed. Turning to Reba, she added, ¡°Miss, I can''t thank


    you enough! If it wasn¡¯t for you, my boy might not be here today!¡±


    ¡°Thank you so much!¡± she repeated.


    Reba smiled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. but you really need to keep an eye on your children, especially when crossing the street!


    ¡°Absolutely, we will!¡± the woman said, profusely thanking her again before leaving with her child.


    Daniel watched the scene in amazement. ¡°You... you don¡¯t know them?¡± he asked, bewildered


    Reba shook her head slightly.


    Daniel was even more astonished. He had thought the boy was one of Reba''s rtives. To think that Reba didn¡¯t even know him! For


    someone to do such a thing for a stranger showed just how kind-hearted Reba truly was. He hadn''t misjudged her!


    A look of admiration shed in Daniel''s eyes. ¡°Ms. Morris, are you okay? Let me take you to the hospital to get checked out.¡±


    Reba shook her head, ¡°Oh,e on, I''m not that fragile. Mr. Robinson, don''t worry about me, I''m perfectly fine.¡±


    Daniel persisted, ¡°Still, you had quite a scare today. Let me take Ms. Morris out for a meal; I''d feel terrible otherwise.


    Faced with Daniel''s invitation, Reba couldn''t refuse and reluctantly agreed. At that moment, a voice echoed in Reba''s mind


    [Host, congrattions! Daniel''s favorability towards you has increased to 85%!)


    Reba smirked. Nothing she set her sights on could ever escape her grasp. Daniel was just a stepping stone for her.


    Meanwhile, in Capital City, at the Fletcher household.


    In the kitchen, Edna Fletcher was


    brewing a wellness soup for J


    Lindsay. Suddenly, a snide voice cut


    through the ¡¯air, ¡°Edna, youre really.


    going abOve and beyond for J!


    TOO ball, J is J, and Jonah


    Lindsay j s Jonah Lindsay. Why keep


    up.thi s charade for some hing that¡¯s


    never going to happen? [fi the end,


    it¡¯s all for nothing.¡±


    to


    Edna turned around to see Patsy. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to worry about my affairs.¡±


    Patsy smirked, ¡°Il wouldn''t bother, but when someone has been living off our family for years, it¡¯s hard not to notice.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    In thisrge family, the real power


    lay with the matriarch, Mrs. Fletcher.


    She doled out allowances tothe  .


    younger generation every month.~ .


    Each daughter: inw was supposed


    to receive two million in spending


    man¨¦y. But because of Edn rand her


    daughter, they could only-manage


    1.2 million!


    ~


    For 19ng years, living off the family without a word of thanks. When would they finally leave the Lindsay household?


    Edna swallowed her anger, saying nothing. Just wait! One day, she''d make every member of the Fletcher familye begging to her!


    Patsy huffed and left the kitchen. Just then, Darleen came into the kitchen to grab some dessert.


    ¡°Darleen, keep.an eye on the stove


    for me. I need-to use the restroom


    and will be fight back. Make sure ~


    you wat¨¦b it closely, okay?¡± Edna''s


    tone was extremely serious by,t the


    end twas as if the soup wasn ¡®tjust


    a weliness brew, but a treasure


    b¨¦yond measure.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Darleen nodded


    Still worried, Edna gave onest look before heading out. ¡°Darleen, don''t leave the kitchen until I''m back, not even for a second.¡±


    Darleen nodded impatiently.


    Once outside, Edna took a deep breath, feeling a bit more rxed. She couldn¡¯t wait any longer. This year, she had to marry into the Lindsay family.


    Any more dys and she¡¯d lose her chance forever.


    After making a quick call, Edna returned to the kitchen. But Darleen was gone. reced by a household maid


    Edna''s face fell. ¡°Where''s Darleen?"

 Chapter 312

    The maid spoke up, "Miss Ellie said she went back to her roam to read.¡±


    Edna frowned, ¡°I''m here, that''s enough. You can leave now! Oh, and call Darleen for me, will you?"


    The maid nodded and then left the kitchen


    Soon, Darleen arrived, clearly annoyed, "Mom, what do you want? The SATs areing up, and I need to study...¡±


    "Smack!"N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Before Darleen could finish her sentence, Edna had pped her hard across the face.


    It all happened so fast.


    Darleen was stunned


    Her cheek stung fiercely as she looked at Edna in disbelief, "Mom! Why did you hit me? What did I do wrong?¡±


    Edna''s expression was stormy, "Who gave you permission to leave? Didn''t I tell you to keep an eye on the stew?"


    "I only stepped away for a moment!¡± Darleen felt wronged, ¡°Is that really necessary? I''m your own daughter! You hit me over some stew? What''s the


    use of being so good to that olddy? She still hasn''t epted you into the family!"


    Darleen was gearing up for her SATs.


    Determined to make Edna proud, Darleen was aiming for a spot at Harvard University.


    Even if she couldn''t be the national topper, she had to be among the top three in the city!


    With the SATs not far off, she couldn''t afford to ck.


    Edna could disappear to the bathroom for what seemed like ages, and Darleen, anxious not to waste precious study time, had asked one of the


    servants to watch the stove instead. She hadn''t expected Edna to react so violently.


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    Edna raised her hand again. delivering another p!


    "Mom!" Darleen cried, looking up at Edna, her voice loud with indignation, ¡°Just because you couldn''t marry into the Lindsay family, you''re taking it


    out on me? I''m your daughter! I''m not your punching bag!"


    Edna, trembling with anger, pointed to the door, "Go to your room and think about what you''ve done!¡±


    Darleen covered her face with her hands. crying as she left the kitchen


    Edna watched Darleen''s retreating figure.


    She sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness.


    Darleen was a good kid, really.


    Just too naive and impulsive sometimes.


    After a moment, Edna poured the


    health stewitrto a thermos, nning


    to bring into. J. Justas she =>


    stepped but, she turned back and


    headed to the third floor, to CG .


    Dartgen''s room, and knockegon the


    door.  _ ~


    swnovel. 4


    Through the door, she could hear Darleen''s sobs.


    She was clearly inside, but wouldn''t open the door.


    Edna frowned, ¡°There¡¯s a limit to patience! I''m counting to three, and if you don''t open this door, I''ll have someone break it down!¡±


    "3,2..."


    Just as she was about to say ''1'', the door opened


    Darleen looked miserable.


    Her eyes were swollen.


    So was her face.


    Edna stepped in, ced the thermos on the desk, and locked the door behind her.


    ¡°Darleen, are you still mad at Mom?"


    Darleen remained silent.


    How could she not be?


    Though Edna was usually strict, pping her across the face was a first.


    She was a girl, after all


    Edna''s actions hadpletely disregarded her dignity.


    Edna sighed, "Darleen, in this family, it''s just us. We''re the only true family we have. So. besides you, there''s no one else I can truly rely on.¡±


    She paused, "Do you understand what I''m saying?¡±


    "


    ''s just some stew. Was it worth


    pping me twice? Am I less


    important toyou than that olddy


    of the Lindsay family?¡¯ Darleen _<


    continued, "I could charm that old¡±


    lady w with a ten-dor pair of socks,


    making her smile from ear te ear.


    Ra¨¦s it really matter if the-stew was


    personally watched by you ora


    maid?"


    Darleen couldn''t understand Edna''s logic.


    She thought Edna was making a mountain out of a molehill.


    There was absolutely no need for it!


    Darleen also couldn''tprehend why Edna insisted on personally preparing J''s stew for ten years.


    Edna simply looked at Darleen, "Darleen, there¡¯s a reason for everything I do. One day, you''ll understand my intentions.¡±


    "I don¡¯t understand!"


    ¡°You may notwnderstand now,"


    Edna sighed¡°but one day you will.


    For now, just know that everything


    do is forYour sake, for your futures


    Only if {manage to marry into the


    Lindsay family, as their a


    granddaughter, will you stand a


    Cfance to marry Mr. Christensen!"

 Chapter 313

    The mention of Mr. Christensen seemed to wash away some of Darleen''s fury.


    ¡°Darleen, you''re too impulsive,¡± Edna continued. "Can''t you stop and think why I had to discipline you? Do you really think there was no reason


    behind it?"


    Darleen was still too young. There were so many things she couldn''t possibly understandN?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Mom, are you keeping something from me?" Darleen wasn''t naive; she instantly picked up on the hidden message in Edna''s words.


    "Figure it out yourself," Edna stood up, "I need to deliver some homemade chicken soup to your Aunt J.¡±


    "I''ming too!"


    Darleen rose to follow but, remembering the bruise on her face, sat back down. Her face was nearly a mess! How could she face anyone now? All


    because of that wretched old hag. If it weren''t for brewing that medicine for her, Edna would''ve never hit her. Biting her lip, Darleen simmered in


    silence.


    ¡°Better stay home," Edna added. "I''ll have someone bring the medicine over."


    With that, Edna turned and left. Soon, she arrived at the Lindsay residence.


    Delia greeted her at the door, "Isn''t Darleen skipping school today? Why didn''t shee with you?¡±


    Remembering the day''s events, Edna sighed, "That child is just too reckless."


    "What happened?" Delia frowned.


    Edna shook her head, "It''s pointless to talk about it.¡±


    As they walked, Gerard Lindsay appeared from inside the house. He passed Edna without a greeting, a slight of disrespect that didn''t go unnoticed.


    Edna was to marry into the Fletcher family, bing Gerard''s stepmother. Gerard was getting out of line! He used to at least pretend to respect her,


    but now, not even that!


    Once Gerard was out of earshot, Edna whispered, "Did you keep an eye on that matter I mentionedst time?"


    Delia checked their surroundings for eavesdroppers, then tiptoed to whisper a few words in Edna''s ear. Hearing this, a sly smile curved Edna''s lips.


    Perfect! Just perfect! Gerard thought


    he could outsmart herst time?


    Well, she was-eager to see how he''d


    wriggle out of this one! She was >


    determined to make J give up


    on Gerard as her grandson. Onlythe


    C ild-she bore deserved to bathe


    Lindsay family''s rightful heitf What


    was Gerard? Nothing butithe


    ffspring of a shameless woman!


    He should be thrown out of the


    Lindsay family!


    a>


    1e)


    Little did they know, Gerard, who


    should have been far from the


    Lindsay residence by now, suddenly


    reappeared behind them. Narrowing


    is eyes, ¡°he had always suspected


    that hist trip to Cloudcrest was


    sabetaged by Edna, with Delia as her


    inside woman. Whether his*>


    suspicions were correctshe''d soon


    find out. He needed to prepare the


    bait and wait for the fish to bite.


    =a


    In the Lindsay Group''s office, Jonah stood before the panoramic window, overlooking the bustling streets below. Suddenly, his expression changed.


    He swiftly walked to his desk, picked up the phone, and dialed quickly. Soon, his secretary arrived.


    "Alva."


    "Mr. Lindsay, did you need me?"


    Jonah massaged his temples, ¡°Alva, I can''t remember again. I''ve forgotten Gerry''s mother. Who is Gerry''s mother? What''s her name?¡±


    The car ident neen years ago took not only Jonah¡¯s leg but half of his life. He spent ten years on a hospital bed before truly waking up. Though


    he woke up, he suffered severe aftereffects due to damage to his cerebellum, leading to partial memory loss. Additionally, he endured phantom limb


    pain, a torment beyond the ordinary man''s endurance.


    Before Jonah regained his memory,


    J had always told him Gerry''s


    mother was dead and had been


    setting himeap with Edna. Until :


    Februarytast year. Jonah suddenly


    regained his memory. He ~¡ª


    remena robered the woman he deeply


    ove¡± Defying J''s objections, he


    warit to Cloudcrest to ind-Carole,


    taking a sample of the child''s hair


    for DNA testing. He hoped for a


    amily reunion once the results


    came back. But fate yed a cruel


    joke on Jonah.


    ¡ê.

 Chapter 314

    The child wasn''t his.


    This was something Jonah never expected.


    Just as Jonah was beginning to recover, this revtion caused a rpse, leading to another round of hospital stays and medication.


    His memory became erratic.


    Sometimes he could remember things clearly.


    Other times, everything was a blur.


    Alva handed Jonah a ss of water. "Mr. Baxter, take your time, don''t rush.¡±


    "I can''t believe I forgot Gerry''s mom! How could I forget her?¡± Jonah massaged his temples. "I''ve let Gerry''s mom down, I''ve let her down..."


    He hadn''t forgotten anything.


    Except for Gerard''s mother.


    Why was that?


    "Mr. Baxter, there''s also the diary," Alva suddenly recalled. "The one in your safe. You asked me to remind you about it. If you ever forgot your wife


    reading the diary would help you remember."


    Jonah hurriedly opened the safe, his hands trembling as he took out the diary.


    A thick notebook filled with memories of the past.


    Jonah flipped through it, page by page.


    Seeing this, Alva quietly left the office, leaving Jonah alone in the spacious room.


    Carole was his first love.


    That year.


    Carole was eighteen.


    He was neen.


    Jonah had never imagined that while Carole was with him, she was also seeing another man.


    Why?


    Why would she do that to him?


    No.


    It couldn''t be.


    Carole was kind-hearted. She couldn''t have done such a thing.


    It must be a misunderstanding.


    It had to be!


    Carole was a good girl.


    She couldn''t have done this.


    Even facing phantom limb pain. Jonah had never shed a tear, but now, he couldn''t hold back, and the tears started to flow.


    He wanted to confront Carole for rity.


    But he feared facing the reality.


    Now. with his broken body, hecked the courage to face it all.


    The atmosphere was suffocating.


    At the Christensen household.


    Sherman Christensen was home today as well.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    At the dinner table, Karen Christensen suddenly spoke up, "Adah."


    "What''s up, Mom?" Adah Bowman looked up at Karen.


    Karen continued, "Aren''t we going hiking with Ann tomorrow? Make sure to call Riley to join us. Riley is such a wonderful kid.¡±


    "Why invite Riley if it¡¯s just the three of us going hiking?" Adah was puzzled


    Karen smiled, ¡°Don''t you think Ann and Riley make a cute couple?¡±


    Adah was even more baffled and turned to Sherman, "Weren''t you always trying to set Annie up with Sherman?¡±


    Karen was always full of surprises.


    "That boy doesn¡¯t have eyes for Ann, so I guess I have to y matchmaker with Ann and Riley now," Karen sighed, feigning regret.


    Adah nodded and picked up her phone to call Riley Bowman.


    Sherman frowned slightly, and after.


    Adah finished the call, he put dow


    his fork, speaking softly, "Grandma,


    Mom, I''ll join you tomorrow"


    Adah looked at Sherman, surprised.


    Was the sun rising from the west today?


    Sherman actually wanted to go hiking with them!


    Usually, Sherman would rather stay at home and read than go out with them.


    What a surprise!


    Karen looked irritated, "We''re going,


    hiking. Why would you tag along?


    Riley''spany is enough. Ate you


    ning to be a third wheel?"


    Then, Karerradded, "But if you really.


    want te, then fine! Just =<


    remember not to interfere withAnn


    and 1 Riley getting to know each other


    better!¡¯  ta


    Sherman''s expression didn¡¯t change as he wiped his face with a napkin, ¡°I''m full. I''ll head back to my room."


    Watching Sherman''s back disappear, Karen burst intoughter.


    She was too clever!


    She had managed to handle the situation with just one move.


    Adah frowned, ¡°Mom, what exactly are you nning?¡±


    Karen beckoned Adah closer, "Come here, and I''ll tell you.¡±


    Curious, Adah leaned in.


    Karenid out her n in detail.


    Hearing it, Adah couldn''t stopughing, ¡°Mom, you''re brilliant! Howe I never thought of your strategy?"


    She wondered what had gotten into Sherman

 Chapter 315

    Karen rolled her eyes in mock jealousy. "Well, of course, how else am I going to be your mom? Remember to stick to the n tomorrow!"


    Adah nodded in agreement, ying along.


    The next day came quickly.


    They had agreed to meet at the base of the hill.


    Anthea arrived on time.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Karen, Adah, and Sherman were already there.


    Among them, Sherman, dressed in a simple robe, stood out, holding a rosary in his hand, almost as if he could ascend to heaven at any moment.


    "Mrs. Christensen, Adah," Anthea jogged over, "And Mr. Christensen.¡±


    Karenughed, "Drop the formalities, we''re all friends here! Sherman''s twelve years older than you, just call him ¡®big bro''."


    You know, like in those drama shows where everyone''s calling each other ¡®brother¡¯ and ¡®sister.¡¯ Can''t go wrong with that.


    ¡°I''m the fifth child at home,¡± Sherman said lightly.


    Anthea caught the implied meaning, "Sherman."


    Karen nced down the path leading down the hill, frowning, "Where''s Riley? Adah. give him a call, will you?"


    As if on cue, just as Adah took out her phone, it rang. It was Riley.


    On the phone, Riley exined he couldn''t make it. After getting Adah''s call the night before, he was so excited he couldn''t sleep, even sprayed on


    cologne in the morning. ready to impress.


    But then, his advisor called him out of the blue, needing him at school for something urgent.


    Reluctantly, Riley had to head back, feeling utterly down.


    After hanging up, Adah said, "Riley can''t make it, let''s head out without him."


    Karen''s gaze flickered towards Sherman, "What a shame! Just like that, he can''te. Well, since Riley''s caught up, let''s go ahead without him.¡±


    Implying Riley''s absence had nothing to do with Sherman was something she wouldn''t believe.


    Clever boy, keeping his cards close to his chest.


    The group started their walk up the hill.


    It was April, and the scenery was stunning.


    The verdant greenery lifted everyone''s spirits


    Halfway up, Karen couldn''t go any further and looked back at Anthea, "Ann, let''s take a break. I''m beat."


    "Sure, I could use a break too," Anthea agreed, sitting down by a pine tree.


    That''s when Karen shot Adah a look.


    Adah got the hint and stood up,


    stretching her arms, "The air is Sov


    fresh: up here, surrounded by.t birds


    and flowers."


    Swnovel -


    Karen stood as well, ¡°Right! We should do this more often.¡±


    Suddenly, Adah''s face turned to one of terror, "A snake! There''s a snake!¡±


    "Sherman, kill it!" Karen was scared stiff.


    Sherman looked up to see a snake coiling near Anthea, hissing


    But before-Sherman could react,


    Anthea: was quicker. She grabbed


    the snake firmly, showing no ) sign of


    fear, ner face calm. Content¡¯belongs


    t6  a


    She turned.to Karen and Adah, "Mrs:


    Christensen, Adah, don''t worry,: It¡¯s


    juste garter snake, nonvenemous."


    Karen and Adah were speechless.


    The snake was part of their n, knowing that most girls are afraid of them.


    They thought Anthea would be no different. hoping to set Sherman up for a heroic moment.


    But it turned out, Anthea was the hero instead.


    The plot had definitely taken an unexpected turn.

 Chapter 316

    Anthea stood there with a snake in her grasp, its tail wrapped tightly around her arm, its ck and white patterns starkly visible. It was a sight that


    could send shivers down one''s spine. Yet. there wasn''t a hint of fear on her face. She was as calm as if she were holding a piece of rope instead of a


    live snake


    "Ann, you''re amazing!" Karen gave Anthea a thumbs-up, proud of her choice in a granddaughter-inw. "With that courage and skill, who could match


    up? Forget Reba! Not even a hundred Rebas could measure up to a single finger of her granddaughter-inw." Thinking of Reba''s future


    regret made Karen''s heart swell with joy. She couldn''t wait to announce to the world that Anthea was her chosen one. But s, it wasn''t time yet. She


    had to wait a little longer.


    Adah was in awe, looking at Anthea with pure admiration. She had never imagined Anthea wouldn''t be scared of a snake! Karen had nned other


    heroic rescues, but they seemed unnecessary now. Anthea didn''t need protecting at all!


    "Actually, snakes aren''t that scary," Anthea said with a smile. "As the saying goes. ¡®strike the snake at its vital point, and it can¡¯t bite.¡¯ I''ve got it right


    where it can''t hurt anyone.¡±


    "Where''s that vital point?" Adah asked, her curiosity piquedPublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Anthea walked over, showing her, "See, this is the spot. Give it a try?"


    "I-I can''t..." Adah retreated behind Mrs. Christensen, terrified. Snakes were terrifying. Cold and scaly, they sent shivers down her spine.


    "Don''t be afraid! It''s just a snake," Karen said, trying to keep herposure, though her legs were shaking.


    Anthea reassured them, "Mrs. Christensen is right. There''s nothing to fear. Why don''t you try, Adah?"


    "I''d rather not..." Adah was covered in goosebumps.


    Sherman stood aside, a faint smile


    ying on his lips as he watched the


    scene unfoltk He''d met many people


    in his life-but Anthea was truly one


    of a kind¡¯ Fearless. A fighter. A >


    snakedatcher, A healer. A chess


    yer, A tech genius. She was like a


    treasure chest of surp ises, and he


    wondered what else she fright


    reveal.


    The snake, harmless and a natural


    predator to pests, was let go by


    Anthea. ¡®Qffyou go. Don''t scare


    people far no reason. You''re lucky¡®it


    was m€ today, or you could''ve ? oa


    ended up ina soup." Once freed, the


    snake slithered away quickly. Anthea


    d@sted off her hands and:Stood up.


    Adah handed her a bottle of water, "Here, Annie, have some water."


    ¡°Thanks, Adah.¡±


    After a short break, the group continued their hike. To give Anthea and Sherman some alone time, Karen said as they prepared to descend,


    "Sherman, there''s a chapel further down. Your mom and I will go make a wish. You two head down ahead of us."


    Adah nodded in agreement. Sherman simply nodded. Karen turned to Anthea, "Ann, with your skills, I''m entrusting Sherman''s safety to you on the


    way down.¡±


    Anthea replied confidently, "Sure, no problem!" Sherman raised an eyebrow. Did he look like someone who needed looking after? So, the group of


    four became a pair.


    Sherman and Anthea, one dressed in


    simple modern attire and the other


    ina ssic stWe, didn''t sh but


    complemented each other


    beautifully, Their route down wasnt


    the sameas the way up, offering


    them new vistas. Amidst a thicket,


    Anthea stumbled upon wild o>


    raspberries, known ocally.as


    brambleberries, tart andsweet to


    taste. In Anthea''s time, rapid


    technological advancement had led


    to severe environmental pollution,


    putting many species on the brink of


    extinction.

 Chapter 317

    Anthea had only ever seen a raspberry once when she was a child. After that, they seemed to have vanished off the face of the Earth. Forget wild


    raspberries; even getting your hands on a strawberry was considered a luxury. People''s daily meals were reced by tasteless nutrient solutions.


    So, when Anthea spotted a bush of wild raspberries, her eyes lit up like fireworks on the Fourth of July. ¡°Sherman, hold up here for a sec,¡± she called


    out. Sherman, puzzled butpliant. nodded slightly and waited as Anthea instructedContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Quickly, Anthea fashioned a makeshift pouch out ofrge leaves and began filling it with raspberries until it was brimming with juicy red fruit. Holding


    the pouch, Anthea felt a wave of aplishment wash over her. She popped a raspberry into her mouth and was pleasantly surprised. It was


    sweeter and more tangy than she remembered¡ªlike a burst of nostalgia.


    "Sherman, wanna give it a try?" she offered, extending the pouch towards him. Sherman hesitated. His penchant for cleanliness made him wary of


    the unwashed, oddly shaped fruit. What if a snake had slithered over them? But he couldn''t resist Anthea¡¯s offer. With a graceful motion, he picked a


    raspberry, momentarily setting aside his concerns about cleanliness, and tasted it. It was swiftly swallowed after a few chews.


    "If you like them, you can have them all," Anthea said, noticing how quickly Sherman ate. She handed over the leaf pouch filled with raspberries to


    him. Sherman was taken aback, "Aren''t you having any?"


    "I saw what looks like a wild tea bush ahead. I''ll go check it out; maybe there are tea berries," Anthea replied, as her adventurous spirit took over


    once again. Holding the heavy pouch of wild raspberries, Sherman asked, "What are tea berries?"


    ¡°You don''t know about tea berries?" Anthea was genuinely surprised. Sherman shook his head. This was all new to him. In the wild tea bush, tea


    berries were abundant. "Sherman,e check this out. This is a tea berry," Anthea called out, pointing to a peculiar-looking fruit.


    Tea berries looked strange, like


    oversized, rosy-hued almonds.


    herman frawned subtly, x


    S .


    questioning their edibility and SS


    Cc eanliness. "They''re edible,¡± Anthea


    assured, plucking one and takirig a


    bi te. They were crunchy, sweet, with


    ahint of tea vor. "Try it2she


    uggested, handing one to Sherman.


    n


    Despite his reluctance, Sherman''s


    hand automatically reached out, and


    he tasted hederry. "Not bad," he


    admitted, agpreciating the subtle tea


    vor thatnatched his taste. After >


    their foraging, they continued their


    descent down the mountain. _<''


    She?man followed behind Anthea,


    wAd danced through the forest,


    gathering wildflowers and looking


    every bit the woond fairy. The


    gentle breeze carried the scent of


    flowers, enveloping Sherman in its


    fragrant embrace.

 Chapter 318

    "Here, try this." After Sherman had just finished a handful of raspberries, Anthea handed him some small fruits.


    "What''s this?" Sherman asked, his curiosity piqued.


    "¡°Gooseberries," Anthea replied, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Don''t tell me you''ve never had gooseberries before?"


    Sherman shook his head slightly and took a cautious bite of one.


    Sour.


    Painfully sour.


    Yet, Sherman managed to keep his expression neutral.


    "How do you like them?" Anthea inquired further.


    "Pretty good," he lied.


    Anthea dumped the rest of the gooseberries into Sherman''s hands. "These are all yours. I can¡¯t handle too much sour.¡±


    Sherman thought to himself, Anthea is really sweet to me.


    "Watch out!" Suddenly, Anthea grabbed Sherman''s wrist.


    Even through his sleeve, he could feel the warmth of her hand. It was electrifying.


    Sherman paused mid-step, puzzled.


    Their height difference was noticeable.


    He was nearly six feet three, and she was around five feet seven


    From Sherman''s angle, he had a perfect view of her delicate facial features and gracefully curved corbones. Today, she wore a white blouse,


    slightly bent over, which allowed him a glimpse of something soft and hidden beneath the fabric...


    Realizing what he was seeing, Sherman''s face flushed with heat, and he quickly averted his gaze.


    Bless me


    Look away!


    Just then, Anthea¡¯s voice brought him back to reality, "There''s a puddle ahead. Don''t you watch where you''re going?¡±


    Sherman then noticed his foot was almost in the water.


    Thank goodness Anthea stopped him


    "I wasn''t paying attention, thank you for the heads-up." In a moment, Sherman''s demeanor returned to normal as he twirled the key fob in his hand


    and continued walking.


    Outwardly calm.


    But his heart was anything but steady.


    Soon, they reached the base of the hill.


    "I drove here. I''ll take you home," Sherman offered.


    "Aren''t we waiting for Mrs. Christensen and Adah?" Anthea asked


    "No need,¡± Sherman replied as he opened the car door for her. "A driver wille for them."


    ¡°Alright then." Anthea nodded and got into the car.


    About an hourter, the car stopped in front of the Yeager family apartmentplex.


    "Thank you for the ride," Anthea said as she got out.


    "My pleasure," Sherman replied, following suit.


    Anthea then suggested, "It''s still early. Would you like toe in for a cup of tea?¡±


    "Sure."


    Anthea was taken aback. She had only been polite, not expecting him to agree.


    "Follow me."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Sherman followed her lead


    Anthea half-expected Sherman to


    feel ufartab e in her modest


    living spase> given that the


    Christensen family''s living room


    alone was arger than her entire:


    apartment. Yet, his express ign


    revealed nothing out of thedrdinary.


    Content be ongs to swnevel


    Anthea brought over some tea, "Careful, it''s hot."


    "Thank you." Sherman stood up to take the cup, tasting the tea with a look of surprise.


    Authentic Earl Grey.


    The temperature was just right.


    The initial sip was slightly bitter, followed by a smooth, sweet aftertaste.


    Clearly, Anthea knew her tea


    After finishing the tea, Sherman made his move to leave.


    Anthea walked him out


    Just as they stepped outside, they ran into Nanson returning from work.


    ¡°Annie!¡±


    ¡°Uncle.¡± Anthea greeted, then introduced Sherman. "Sherman, this is my uncle. Uncle, this is my friend Sherman."


    "Nice to meet you.¡± Sherman nodded politely.


    Nanson sized Sherman up - tall,


    handsame, with an undeniable air-of


    distinction. Yet, to Nanson, a mah as


    outwardly perfect as Sherman ¡®often


    sp¨¦lied trouble for women. Content


    ~~


    Especially for someone like Anthea


    He couldn''t let her be deceived by a wolf in sheep''s clothing, following in poor Carole''s footsteps


    With this thought, Nanson''s gaze at,


    Sherman was akin to seeing a bigy


    fat pig eyeing his niece''s pristine


    garden.  tae


    Swnovel o


    After a brief and indifferent interaction with Sherman, Nanson grabbed Anthea''s hand. "Annie, let''s go inside.¡±


    Anthea barely had the chance to say goodbye to Sherman before being whisked away by Nanson

 Chapter 319

    Sherman stood there, a slight frown creasing his brow.


    He couldn''t shake the feeling that Nanson didn''t particrly like him.


    Was it just his imagination?


    Inside the house.


    "Uncle, what''s up? You seemed in a hurry to pull me back here. Anything urgent?"


    "No worries, just didn¡¯t want you getting duped. Your mom, back in the day... never mind, better left unsaid! Just remember, some guys might look all


    shiny on the outside but are nothing but wolves in sheep''s clothing, preying on naive girls like you."


    Anthea chuckled, "A girl, yes, but naive? Hardly! Rx, Uncle. Sherman''s not the type you''re warning me about. Besides, we''re just friends. I''ve got


    this under control."


    Thinking about Anthea''s savvy, Nanson breathed easier but still cautioned, "Just be careful, alright? Don''t fall for those smooth talkers in fancy suits."


    Anthea nodded, "Got it.¡±


    Nanson continued, "I''ve got a meeting tomorrow to discuss a partnership, might be backte.¡±


    "Okay."


    The next day.


    Nanson headed to the office first to clear some work before driving to the caf¨¦ where the meeting was scheduled


    In a gesture of formality, he took thepany''s car, a sleek ck Mercedes.


    Soon, he arrived at the caf¨¦, stepped out of the car, and walked in.


    Wanting to show his punctuality and sincerity, Nanson arrived 30 minutes early. The person he was supposed to meet hadn''t arrived yet.


    He ordered a coffee and enjoyed the view outside the window while waiting.


    Unbeknownst to Nansen, not far from his table sat his ex-girlfriend and her current boyfriend, Lance. Although Nanson hadn''t noticed them, Ileana


    spotted him right away.


    "Why is he here?¡± lleana frowned in distaste.


    It was clear to her that Nanson was there because of her.


    Suchck of ss. They had broken up ages ago, and yet, he seemed unable to let go.


    How pathetic!


    "Babe, who are you talking about?¡± Lance turned to look where Ileana was pointing.


    Seeing Nanson, Lance''s brows furrowed, "Why can''t this loser just disappear? Doesn''t he know you''re with me now?"


    lleana pouted, "Lance, don''t get mad! I''ll go talk to him and set things straight.¡±


    Lance looked visibly upset, "Fine, but this is really ruining the mood!"


    lleana approached Nanson.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Hearing footsteps, Nansen thought his business contact had arrived but looked up to see a woman caked in makeup.


    It took him a moment, but he recognized her as his ex, Ileana!


    "What do you want?" Nanson asked


    With a sneer, lleana said, "Stop pretending. Nanson. I know what you''re up to. There''s no chance between us! Can you please stop this pathetic


    act?¡±


    Nanson''s expression darkened, "You''re mistaken.¡±


    ¡®Mistaken??leana scoffed. "Do you.


    think I'' mbiind? Aman of your a


    stature, following me here? You¡±


    haveno dignity! No wonder you! re


    nathing but a loser!" Conterit


    belongs to  ~~


    Nanson, though angered, was in a caf¨¦ and wanted to maintain his dignity. refusing to stoop to arguing with a harpy.


    "Listen, Ileana! I''m not here for you! And you''re hardly the goddess you think you are, worth my undying attention!"


    "Psh!" lleana¡¯s face twisted with disdain, "Who are you trying to fool? I know you''re still hung up on me!"


    Despite their past, Ileana felta =~


    perverse-sense of superiority, This


    is my Ist warning. Stop following


    me, or my boyfriend won''t letyou off


    easy!" ..>


    ¡±


    Just then, Nanson spotted the


    businesscontact he was waiting-for


    entering the caf¨¦. He no longer. ~


    cared:to engage with lleana and


    stood! up to greet the man, ¡®Mr.


    Cash. "


    ¡°

 Chapter 320

    "Mr. Yeager, what a pleasure to meet you."


    Nanson continued, "Discussing business in the lobby isn''t ideal. How about we move to a private room? Excuse me, do you have any avable?"


    "Of course, gentlemen, please follow me this way,¡± the server replied, leading the way.


    lleana stood frozen in shock.


    What was going on?


    Had she heard right? Did that man just call Nanson, Mr. Yeager?


    Had Nanson hit the big time?


    Swallowing hard, lleana recalled the designer suit Nanson was wearing, something not even ten grand could buy.


    Lance owned a simr suit, treating it like a treasure, hardly ever wearing it.


    She couldn''t remember how she made it back to her seat


    "Hey, babe, you''re here," Lance said, wrapping his arm around Illeana, oblivious to what had just happened


    Locking at Lance''s pudgy hand and then thinking back to Nanson in his sharp suit made lleana''s stomach turn.


    She had left Nanson because he was broke, but now that he seemed to be Mr. Yeager, she had to get back with him!


    But she wasn''t entirely sure yet if Nanson was just putting on a show, so she couldn''t break things off with Lance just yet.


    With that thought, Ileana turned to Lance with a smile, "Lance, I''ve got ns with my bestie to go shopping. Why don''t you head back? I''lle over


    to your ce tonight!"


    "Why go back? I cane with you two," Lance offered.


    "No way!" lleana cooed,ying it on thick. "Lance, it''s a girl thing. Imagine we''re shopping for lingerie or something. I might be fine, but my friend


    would be so embarrassed with you there.¡±


    No man can resist a woman''s charm.


    Lance, thoroughly charmed, stood up, "Alright, I''l wait for you at home then."


    "Sounds good,¡± lleana pecked Lance on the cheek.


    Cnce Lance was gone, lleana sat in the caf¨¦ until she saw Nanson and a man named Mr. Cash leave the private room, all smiles.


    Nanson even got into a brand-new Mercedes on his way out!


    Thetest model, worth no less than three hundred grand


    lleana managed to contain her excitement and didn''t approach Nanson right away. Instead, she hailed a cab to discreetly follow Nanson''s car.


    After all, luxury cars could be rented.


    Who knew if Nanson was just putting on a show!


    Soon, Nanson''s car stopped in front of the QuickSend Parcels headquarters.


    lleana frowned


    So, after all that, Nanson was just a courier!


    And here she thought he had made it big!


    Just then, lleana saw two people,


    looking very much like assistants,¡±


    approach Nanson with respect, even


    taking his briefcase. Content


    Belongs  =


    What was going on?


    As she watched them disappear into the office, lleana''s confusion deepened.


    Determined to get to the bottom of *


    this, lleana got out of the cab and


    followed them inside. Content


    ~


    The lobby wasvishly decorated


    As soon as she entered, a receptionist approached, "Ma''am, how may I assist you?"


    lleana scanned the interior before asking, "ls Nanson one of your employees?¡±


    "Do you mean Mr. Yeager?" the receptionist replied with a smile. "Mr. Yeager is our CEO."


    What?


    Nanson was the CEQ of this courierpany?


    lleana was dumbstruck.


    "You''re not joking, are you?" she pressed.


    "Ma''am, I would¡¯ t joke about


    something like this. Are you hereto


    see MF. Yeager?" the receptionist


    inquired. . to


    Swnovel =


    lleana nodded eagerly.


    She needed to see Nanson right away!


    If Nanson was the CEO, then she could be the CEO''s wife.


    The thought filled her with tion.


    She was about to join the ranks of the elite!


    "Fantastic!" lleana thoughtN?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    "Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked


    An appointment?


    Indeed, bing a CEO really did change things. Even a meeting required scheduling now.

 Chapter 321

    lleana furrowed her brows, incredulity in her voice, "Seriously? Outsiders need appointments, but do I need one too? Hurry up and take me to


    Nanson, or I''ll make sure he fires you!¡±


    The receptionist frowned slightly. ¡°I''m sorry, may I ask who you are?


    lleana lifted her chin proudly. "I''m Nanson¡¯s girlfriend! The future Mrs. Yeager!¡±


    Nanson¡¯s girlfriend?


    The receptionist eyed Ileana from head to toe. She thought that lleana¡¯s appearance, demeancr, and the way she spoke did not match Nanson at all.


    Toomon! Moreover, they had been working in thepany for quite some time and had never heard about Nanson having a girlfriend. Could she


    be someone just throwing herself at him? There were too many shameless people these days.


    The receptionist''s face wore an apologetic smile: ¡°I''m sorry, ma''am, but without an appointment, I cannot take you to see President Yeager.¡±


    lleana couldn''t believe the receptionistcked such discernment. ¡°Just you wait! I''ll have you packing your bags in no time!¡±


    "Ma''am, would you please leave?¡± the receptionist gestured towards the exit.


    Of course, lleana refused to leave. She was Nanson''s beloved! Nanson would definitely take her side!


    Left with no choice, the receptionist had to call security. lleana was eventually dragged out, yelling, ¡°How dare you! You have no idea who [ am! I am


    the love of your boss Nanson''s life! Let me tell you, you''re all finished! I''ll have Nanson fire each and every one of you!


    Guard dogs, that''s what they were! Completelycking in perception! Even daring to offend her, the boss''sdy! They were done for!


    eana hurriedly fished out Nanson''s


    umber, intending to have hime


    down persogally to fetch her and to


    stand up forher. But she had already


    deleted anson''s number. And his¡±


    contaston social media as well,¡±


    Unable to reach Nanson, lleana had


    ne-choice but to wait at the


    eftrance. Wanting to give:Nanson a


    surprise, she pulled out a mirror and


    lipstick from her bag and started


    touching up her makeup.


    belongs to swnovel.ne


    -


    Nanson would be so happy to see her waiting when he finished work. After all, Nansen loved her so much. Perhaps Nansen had intentionally visited


    that diner today, just so she could see him. Men had their pride, and he couldn''t lower his ego to plead with her, so he arranged a "chance" encounter.


    She had been with Nanson for so many years. You don''t just end things like that.


    The more lleana thought about it, the happier she became, so thrilled that she added several designer bags she had been eyeing to her shopping


    cart. Nanson loved her so much, he would definitely clear her cart for her. Right. And she''d get Nanson to buy her a new car too


    It wasn''t until noon that lleana saw Nanson, briefcase in hand, walking out of thepany. lleana¡¯s eyes lit up, and she dashed towards him,


    ¡°Nanson!


    That''s how she used to call him during their passionate love days. Nanson slightly frowned, neatly sidestepping Illeana.


    lleana missed her mark, tumbling to


    the ground, Igoking up at Nanson


    with a mix of indignation and plea, ._


    ¡®Nanson it''s me, lleana! I was wrong


    befo esyou love me so much! I~


    should have treated you like that!


    It was a Lance''s fault, if notfo his


    threats, I would never have-been


    with that slob!¡±


    Nanson pulled out his phone. ¡°What did you say Lance was?N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Hearing this, a spark of hope litin


    lleana¡¯s eyes, and she quickly said:


    "A slob! Lange is a slob! He doesn''t.


    deserve mel Nanson, let''s make up!


    love yotts and I will always love you!


    Even. en I was forced to be with


    that Slob, my heart was always with


    yeu Nanson, you still loveame,


    right?¡±


    Nanson felt like he was going to be sick. He had never realized, until now, that the woman he had loved for three years was actually like this.


    Absolutely disgusting! How could his taste have been so poor before?


    Nanson put his phone back into his pocket, his expression cold.


    lleana got up from the ground, clinging to Nanson''s arm, cooing, "Nanson, I knew you still loved me! I''ve been so humiliated just now, yourpany¡¯s


    people, blind as bats, actually threw me out! They even said I was shameless! Nanson, you have to stand up for me!¡±

 Chapter 322

    "They weren''t lying when they said you have no shame!" Nanson snarled as he yanked his hand away from lleana. "lleana, you''re nothing but a gold-


    digger! You think I''d still be with you? Dream on!"


    lleana was left sprawled on the ground, her face a mask of disbelief.


    What had she just heard?


    The Nanson she knew would never speak to her like this.


    What in the world was going on?


    "No! Nanson! You still love me! You must still love me!¡± lleana clung to Nanson''s legs in desperation.


    Nanson kicked her away, just looking down at her, "lleana, you weren''t there for the tough times, and now you''re back when the sun''s shining? Get


    lost! Don''t embarrass yourself further!"


    With that, Nanson mmed the car door shut, revved the engine, and drove away.


    lleana couldn''t believe this was happening.


    Nanson had loved her so much.


    He had said she was the one.


    How could he treat her like this now?


    It was lunchtime.


    Many employees hade out to witness the spectacle.


    "Some women, man! Total gold diggers! President Yeager said it himself, and she still has the nerve to show her face! Embarrassing herself!"


    "Tell me about it!"


    "Back when President Yeager was a delivery guy, she dumped him. Now that he''s made it big, she''s all over him! If I were her, I''d just disappear into a


    hole!"


    "She must be feeling bitter, I guess. She could''ve been the boss''sdy! And now? All gone up in smoke!"


    "Gold digger! Serves her right!"


    The mocking and scornfulments cut inte Ileana like knives.


    She was full of regret, wishing she hadn''t broken up with Nanson.


    She should have stuck by him.


    If she had, she''d be the boss''sdy now, not the subject of ridicule.


    But regret was useless now.


    Meanwhile


    In Capital City.


    Gerard''s bedroom.


    The door was ajar, giving a peek into the room.


    Inside.


    Gerard sat-at his desk, holdinga


    strip of something that looked like-


    gum, sniffing it with an air of


    enjoyment, a bag of white powder


    resting beside him.


    to  ig


    Delia stood at the door, a smirk of triumph ying on her lips


    Gerard was done for this time!


    Cnce J lost hope in Gerard, she''d surely try to get Edna pregnant with Jonah''s child.


    J''s hesitance was only because of Gerard.


    If they resorted to underhanded methods, Gerard would never forgive her, his grandmother.


    But if Gerard was out of the picture, J wouldn''t need to worry about him anymore.


    Delia quietly turned to leave, careful not to alert anyone inside.


    Edna arrived on time to delivera  -.


    nourishing soup to J, walking


    into the Lindsay family''s gates with


    Darleen, just as Delia descended


    from upstairs.


    ig


    "Delia."


    "Miss Edna, Darleen, you''re here."


    Edna nodded, "Delia." Then, turning to Darleen, "Darleen, say hello.¡±


    Darleen looked displeased.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Why should she greet a servant? Why should she care?


    "Darleen!" Edna frowned


    Delia chuckled, "Why bother with a child''s manners? Oh, the grandmother is enjoying the flowers in the backyard. I''ll go call her."


    "We''lle with you," Edna said, leading Darleen to follow Delia.


    As they walked towards the backyard, not a single servant was in sight.


    Passing a rockery, Delia turned to Edna, "It''s not private enough here. Shall we talk over there?"


    Edna nodded, "Darleen. wait here for us."


    Darleen nodded.


    Edna followed Delia to the rockery.


    Delia whispered something into Edna''s ear.


    Hearing it, Edna''s face was a picture of shock, "Are you sure you''re not mistaken?"


    "I saw it with my own eyes!" Delia


    continued¡± "I''ve been watching him


    for days s He does it every day, o


    around the same time, for about an


    hours Bring the grandmother and


    yout] catch him red-handed!¡±

 Chapter 323

    Edna nodded in agreement.


    As they emerged from the rock garden, Edna had already devised a n, whispering a few words to Darleen.


    Upon hearing this, Darleen went pale, "Mom, are you serious?"


    "Absolutely," Edna replied. "Darleen, you know what to do when we see J, right?"


    Darleen nodded.


    "That''s my girl.¡± Edna''s lips curled into a satisfied smile.


    Edna was locking for J, and as it happened, J was looking for Edna too.


    The reason was simple.


    Edna had made it a daily ritual to bring her a nutritious broth, something J had be dependent on. Skipping it for even a day left J


    lethargic and coughing up blood.


    And with Edna being so devoted and caring, J always enjoyed their little chats.


    "Edna!" J rounded the corner and spotted Edna and Darleen walking towards her.


    "J!" Darleen rushed over, pretending to be fond of J and hugged her, even though she was internally repulsed by the act


    If it wasn''t for her ambition to be the granddaughter of the prestigious Lindsay family, she wouldn''t demean herself like this.


    J was overjoyed, "Darleen, you''re here toc! My dear granddaughter, I''ve missed you so much!"


    "Grandma, I''ve missed you too! But with my SATsing up. I''ve been holed up at home studying!" Darleen clung to J''s arm.


    Jughed, "Right, right, the SATs are important. With your smarts, I''m sure you''ll get into a great university!"


    "J," Edna approached with a smile, "Darleen, let''s not bother J now, go on.¡±


    "It''s fine, it''s fine, I treat Darleen as my own granddaughter,¡± J waved it off.


    Then, Jangt-continued, "Edna, it''s sa


    kind of you to remember this old-.~


    lady and bring me broth every day!


    Without you, I''d probably be Six feet


    under by now!"


    i


    Edna quickly hushed her, "J, don''t talk like that! You''re going to live to be a hundred!"


    Darleen chimed in, "My mom''s right, J, you''re definitely going to live a long and healthy life."


    J was utterly charmed by the mother and daughter.


    They moved to the living roomPublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Edna served the nutritious broth from a thermos, then casually mentioned, "J, isn''t today Sunday? I haven''t seen Gerry around.¡±


    J replied, "That boy''s been acting all mysterioustely! Barely see him around.¡±


    Hearing this, Darleen joined in, "J, one of my ssmates is good friends with Gerry, and I heard... I heard..."


    "Heard what?" J looked up at Darleen, visibly anxious.


    "I, I, I''m scared to say..." Darleen bit her lip.


    "Did something happen to Gerry?" J pressed.


    "I''m scared to say..." Darleen was on the verge of tears.


    Edna frowned, "What can''t you tell J? Out with it! Do you want to worry her to death?¡±


    J took Darleen''s hand kindly, "Dear, don''t be afraid. Tell grandma what''s really going on.¡±


    Darleen hesitantly said, "My


    ssmate told me, Gerry''s been ~


    acting really weirdtely, his 5


    backpack''s always got bags of white


    powder and some long paper


    strips..."


    -


    J''s face fell.


    Delia contjfued, "Hearing that BN


    reminds I me, I passed by the young


    master''s room earlier and saw.


    several bags of that powder 0 on his


    desk too!" . 10


    ig


    "That scoundrel! His days of ying the fool are over!" J mmed the table, her face contorted in anger.

 Chapter 324

    J had a sister once. She was over a decade younger and had a happy family of her own, once upen a time. Sadly, twenty years ago, her sister


    tragically fell into the grip of drug addiction. Her descent dragged her husband down with her, and in a haze of overdose-induced hallucinations, she


    ended up setting their house aze. Just like that, a once happy home was shattered. Destroyed by addiction. And so, J grew to despise anyone


    who dabbled in drugs with a burning passion. Even if that person was her beloved grandson.


    Gerard was on a path to ruin everything! Ruining her, his grandmother. J trembled with anger, her vision blurring as she nearly passed out from


    the fury. Seeing this, Edna hurried over to support J, her voice soft as she tried to cover for Gerard, "J, please, let''s not jump to conclusions.


    Gerry''s a good kid, always so obedient. I can¡¯t imagine him doing anything so disgraceful!¡±


    At this point, Edna''s attempt to defend Gerard only seemed to confirm J''s fears. It was like pouring gasoline on the fire, stoking J''s rage even


    further. "Edna, stop making excuses for him! He''s betrayed everything we stand for! And I''ve been wondering why he''s been acting so secretive


    lately! Turns out he''s been up to ne good behind closed doors!¡± J clutched her chest, coughing violently.


    ¡°J, please, calm down. It''s my fault for speaking up...¡± Darleen soothed J''s back, guilt written all over her face. Edna nced at Darleen, a


    sh of pride in her eyes. Brief but telling. Her daughter was growing more like her every day, bound to do great things in the future.


    J turned to Darleen, ¡°You''re not to me, dear. It''s that no-good scoundrel who''s lost his way!¡± Like mother, like daughter. Darleen, being Edna''s


    child, had always been wise beyond her years. Gerard, on the other hand, was born of Carole, that woman of ill repute. Even carrying the Lindsay


    blood, he couldn''t shake off his inherent ws! Jmented that Darleen wasn''t Jonah''s biological daughter.


    Edna continued, "J, let''s just


    calm down afd get to the bottom of


    this. None ofus have actually seen.


    Gerry doing anything. It wouldn''t be


    right to-use him without proof¡±


    Delia thimed in, ¡°Ms. Edna is right


    But, Mrs. Lindsay, I thought saw


    Mim. in his room. Let''s just go up


    and see for ourselves.¡±


    ¡° ; IG


    Let''s go!¡± J stood up, fueled by


    anger. They made their way to


    Gerard''s rool! on the third floor. The


    door wasrajar. From the hallway,


    they could see Gerard''s silhouette:


    His back was to them, making it


    harddo see exactly what he was


    dof, but on the table, there was a


    suspicious bag of white powder and


    some papers. If that wasn''t drug


    use, what was it?


    Seeing this, J''s eyes zed with


    fury. A disgrace to the family! An


    absolute disgrace! Edna and Darleen


    exchanged fc looks, a glint of triumph


    in thei eyes¡¯ 0 matter what a


    excuses Berard mighte up, with,


    it seemed unlikely J wouldever


    forgive him now. From this point on,


    Gerard would be cut off from the


    Lindsay fortune. Eventuatly, Darleen


    would rightfully be the sole


    heiress of the Lindsay family, and


    any child born to Edna would directly


    rece Gerard as the primary


    beneficiary.


    ¡°You disgrace!¡± J couldn''t hold back anymore, kicking the door wide open. Gerard, startled by the sudden intrusion, quickly hid whatever he was


    holding in a drawer, turning around with a panicked lock, ¡°Gran... Grandma, what are you doing here?¡±N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "What are you doing?¡± J red at Gerard with a look that could curdle milk. Gerard couldn''t meet J''s gaze, his voice shaky, "Nothing... I


    wasn''t doing anything.


    Edna stepped forward, her voice gentle, "Gerry, admitting your mistakes is the first step to making things right. We all saw what you were doing. Just


    own up to it and apologize to your grandmother. You''re your father''s only child. If you show true remorse, I''m sure your grandmother will forgive you.¡±

 Chapter 325

    Edna put a special emphasis on the phrase, "You''re your father''s only child.¡±


    She made sure J heard it loud and clear.


    Because Gerard was Jonah''s only offspring, the sole heir to the Lindsay legacy, he couldn''t afford to slip up, not even in the slightest.


    And when it came to drugs, well, that was a one-way ticket to ruin. Once you''re hooked, there''s noing back. It''s like signing your own death


    warrant.


    And a junkie? They had no ce carrying on the Lindsay name!


    Her words weren''t meant to help Gerard; they were a direct hit, designed to take him down.


    Gerard looked up at Edna, confusion and anger swirling in his gaze. "Edna, what are you talking about? I''ve done nothing wrong. Why should I


    apologize to Grandma? What exactly are you up to?"


    His words were sharp, cutting to the heart of Edna''s vile scheming, exposing her in front of J.


    But Edna didn''t miss a beat, her lips curling into a smug smile.


    Even now, Gerard was fighting a losing battle. His defiance only served to make J despise him more.


    Tears welled up in Edna''s eyes as she yed the victim. "Gerry, you''ve got it all wrong! I admit, I fell for your dad because we were once engaged.


    But I''ve had no illusions of marrying him all these years. I just wanted to be by his side...¡±


    Gerard''s face remained stoic, unswayed by her act. "Save it. Do you think I don''t know what you''re really after?¡±


    Edna''s face went pale as she tried to defend herself, "I swear, Gerry, you''re misunderstanding me..."


    "Gerry! You''re being too much! My mom was just trying to help, and you dare use her?" Darleen stepped in, her voice loud with indignation. "It


    locks like those drugs have really messed up your brain, making you unable to tell right from wrong!"


    "You think you can be my sister? Maybe in another life!"


    Darleen, fighting back tears, pretended to be strong in front of J.


    Seeing Edna and her daughter


    looking so pitiful, J''s heart


    ched, and<her response="" was="" swift="" nd="" severe:="" ¡®she="" pped="" gerard="" ??="" acrosse="" face,="" her="" voice="" cold="" with="" isappd="" intment.="" "you="" worthless="" boy!="" it''s="" your="" own="" failures,="" and="" yet''you="" me="" others!="" get="" out,="" angi="" om="" this="" moment="" on,="" you="" are="" no="" ishger="" my="" grandson!"="" content="" belongs="" to="" noveldrama.org<="" p=""></her>Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    oo ?


    Qa


    Gerard stood there, a red mark zing on his cheek, the physical pain no match for the ache in his heart.


    Seeing their ne to fruition, Edna and Darleen could hardly contain their glee


    Finally, J was casting Gerard out.


    As Gerard looked at J, he said quietly, "Grandma, I''ve never touched drugs.¡±


    "The evidence is right before us. How dare you deny it?" J was livid.


    "Don¡¯t you believe me?" Disappointment filled Gerard''s eyes, a look J had never seen before. It made her pause.


    All these years, Gerard had been her


    favorite. He was always so kind, 80


    loving. Remembering how he used


    to calther before anyone else even


    before saying ¡®mom¡¯ or ''dad, ¡°made


    herheart heavy.


    -


    But drugs?


    That was a line she couldn''t forgive being crossed


    "Get out!" she pointed towards the door.


    Just then, the butler walked in, ~~


    carrying & ¡®pizza oven¡ªa gift Gerard


    had asked him to pick up forac¡±


    family gathering. The scene before


    him left him speechless.


    Gerard gave J onest look, grabbed his backpack, and walked out without another word.


    "Master Gerard!" the butler called out, panicked.


    "Don¡¯t call him back. Let him go!" J was firm. "That boy has be too bold, daring to mess with drugs. He''s no longer worthy of the Lindsay


    name."


    The butler set the pizza oven down, turning to J with urgency. "Ma''am, you''ve got it all wrong! Master Gerard isn''t like that at all!¡±

 Chapter 326

    Darleen hurried over to the drawer, eximing, "Grandpa Butler, this isn''t J''s fault, it''s Gerry! The ¡®poison¡¯ is right here in the drawer, but it''s not


    what you think!"


    Inside the drawery several packets of white powder:


    Two small ones.


    And threerger bags.


    Edna''s face was a picture of shock as she stared at the contents. She couldn''t believe Gerard had bought so much!


    He must have been out of his mind!


    J was trembling with anger.


    So much ''poison''¡ªhow long had he been into this?


    Such a disgrace!


    An absolute disgrace!


    But seeing these items, any sliver of guilt J harbored vanished.


    Kicking Gerard out now seemed better than letting him bring disaster upon the Lindsay familyter.


    Not on her watch!


    No ane would bring harm to the Lindsay family as long as she was there!


    The butler, in a frenzy, tried to exin, "Madam, you''ve got it all wrong! These aren''t drugs at all! This small packet contains powdered sugar, and


    these are just bags of flour! And this, this is energizing chewing gum! You know your 80th birthday ising up, right? So, young master has been


    experimenting with baking a birthday cake. He said you''ve raised him with such dedication, he wanted to honor you properly! He''s nning to present


    a cake he made himself at your birthday party. In fact, he even had me secretly buy an oven and bring it here!"


    "To surprise you, he''s been secretly working on the cake in his room! To make the cake, he''s been so busy he hasn''t even had time to finish his


    homework, staying upte into the night, relying on chewing gum to stay awake!"


    "He''s doing all this for you! How could you think he''s involved in drugs!"


    "Madam, you''ve misunderstood!"


    Hearing this, J froze, her face ashen


    How could this be?


    Had she misunderstood Gerard?


    "Madam, if you don''t believe me, taste it for yourself. See if it''s really ''poison'',¡± the butler suggested, offering her a bag


    J, hands trembling, tock the bag and tasted a pinch.


    Sweet.


    It was sweet


    Powdered sugar.


    It truly was powdered sugar.


    This child had been nning her birthday all along.


    What now?


    What should she do?


    J was in a panic, filled with regret.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    It was all her fault!


    She had wronged a good child!


    What now?


    J was close to tears, wishing she could p her earlier self.


    How could she have been so quick to judge and hurt the child?


    Gerard, being so devoted, must have been deeply hurt by her usations.


    J felt as angry with herself as she had been with Gerard.


    She shouldn''t have been so rash!


    "Butler!" J grabbed the butler''s-.


    hand, hervoice trembling, "Go after


    Gerry! Aurry! Gerry''s temperament is


    just like Jonah''s; impulsive! Ve can''t


    let. t anything happen to him!" ¡°  ~~


    If something happened to Gerard...


    She would never forgive herself, even in death!


    "Of course, Madam, right away!"


    Watching the butler hurry off, J wiped away her tears.


    Edna and Darleen were dumbstruck by the turn of events.


    They had thought this was their chance to finally rid the Lindsay family of Gerard.


    Instead, they ended up being outwitted by him!


    Well yed!


    Very well yed!


    Edna was seething, but she had to hold it in


    Gerard was indeed Carole¡¯s son!


    Edna nudged Barleen, who got the


    hint and, with teary eyes,


    proached¡± J, "I''m so sorry, oo


    J. tall my fault. I didn''t know


    Gerry was baking you a birthday


    cake. I''m so sorry... Please, scold


    mes =." __ N


    =


    Q


    J sighed, tears in her eyes, "This


    is mainly my fault! I didn''t get the full


    stor vs } ¡°wronged Gerry! I owe Jonah


    an apology...¡±


    =


    Though J didn''t explicitly me Darleen, it was clear today''s incident stemmed from her actions.


    If it weren''t for Darleen, J would never have unjustly used Gerard.


    Recalling Gerard''s words only added to J''s turmoil

 Chapter 327

    Delia quickly stepped forward, her voice filled with urgency, "Grandma, this mess is actually my fault! I was passing by young master Gerry''s room


    and saw these items. I didn''t realize they were baking flour! I''m so sorry!"


    But honestly, who could really be med here?


    If not for J''s own skepticism!


    After all, if she couldn''t trust her own grandson, how could she expect others to?


    Delia''s words,yered with meaning, suggested that J needed to reflect on herself. This incident wasn''t anyone else''s fault.


    Edna, seeing the hesitation in J''s eyes, took Darleen''s hand and said, "J, I know you have a soft spot for Darleen, but she was out of line


    today, stirring up trouble and leading you to misunderstand Gerry. I''ll take Darleen, and we''ll find Gerry. You can count on us!¡±


    With that, Edna and Darleen turned to leave.


    Edna half-expected J to call them back.


    But she didn¡¯t.


    From start to finish, J didn¡¯t utter a word of protest.


    It was clear now.


    In this olddy''s heart, they mattered less than Gerard.


    A cold smirk yed on Edna''s lips.


    So, her years of dedication meant less to J than a teenage boy.


    How ludicrous!


    Laughable, even!


    Cutside, Darleen frowned, "Mom, do we really have to go looking for him?"


    "What else can we do?"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "But Capital City is so vast, where do we even start?"


    Edna opened the car door, "Let''s get in the car first.¡±


    As they drove, Edna exined, "Darleen, we''ve got to clear the air with the olddy. We have to make an effort to find Gerard, even if it seems


    impossible."


    She had waited years for a foothold in the Lindsay family and wouldn''t let Gerard ruin it.


    She was determined to im her ce as the matriarch of the Lindsay family.


    Darleen nodded in agreement.


    After they left, J hurried downstairs, calling the butler to ask about Gerard.


    "Ma''am, we haven''t found the young master yet, but there''s no need to worry. We''ll find him," the butler reassured.


    Worry? How could she not?


    Gerard was Jonah''s only child, and such a dutiful one at that


    The thought of having misunderstood such a good child made J''s heart ache so much she could barely breathe.


    "Gerry! Pleasee back! It''s Grandma''s fault! I''m so sorry," J cried out in desperation.


    Meanwhile, Gerard wandered the bustling streets alone, backpack slung over one shoulder, unsure of where to go.


    At that moment, he felt utterly alone, like an orphan with nowhere to turn.


    "Meow."


    Cut of nowhere, a scruffy-looking cat appeared by his side.


    Gerard looked down at the cat, a self-mocking smile on his face, "Got no one to take care of you either, huh?"


    "Meow."


    "Same here."


    "Meow."


    "What''s your name?"


    "Meow."


    Gerard bent down, lifting the cat into his arms, "How about I call you Simba?"


    "Meow."


    "Do you have a mom?"


    This time Simba didn¡¯t respond, just nuzzled closer into Gerard''s embrace.


    Gerard''s smile tinged with N


    bitterness, "You didn''t just spring out


    of a rock, you''ve gota mom ~


    somewhere, right?"


    =


    "Meow."


    "I have a mom too," he continued, his


    voice low, holding Simba close as"


    they walked aimlessly, "But she''s


    gone. I miss her so much.¡± "Content


    Selongs  =~


    If only his mom was here today.


    Would Grandma still have been so quick to judge?


    Gerard had hoped for the best but hadn''t anticipated this oue.


    When J''s pnded, he was


    stunned, Unable to believe she would


    react.so harshly, simply basedon


    Edna and Darleen''s words. Content


    Selongs  =


    Passing a small shop, Gerard bought a bag of cat food for Simba, who seemed famished and quickly gobbled it up.

 Chapter 328

    "Gerard."


    Just then, Healy''s voice pierced the air.


    "Mosquito bite?"


    Healy locked at Gerard, surprised. "Gerard, what happened to your face?"


    There was a noticeable swelling on the right side of Gerard''s face.


    Gerard licked his back mr, his tone casual. "My grandma smacked me."


    "What?" Healy thought he was hallucinating.


    "Yes, you heard me right."


    It wasn''t until Gerard spoke again that Healy was sure he wasn''t imagining things.


    "Seriously, your grandma did that?"Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    In Healy''s mind, J doted on Gerard. She wouldn''t even raise her voice at him, let alone harm him.


    But then...


    Gerard continued, "She even kicked me out of the house.¡±


    "No way," Healy was utterly shocked.


    Gerard nodded, "It''s true."


    Knowing this wasn''t the ce for such conversations, Healy then said, "Gerard, you shoulde to my ce! George and Kearney are there!¡±


    "Alright." Gerard turned to follow Healy.


    "Meow." Simba sat on the ground, looking pitifully at them.


    Healy turned around, "Gerard, is this your cat?"


    Gerard shook his head, "Why would I own such an ugly cat?¡±


    "If it''s not yours, then let''s head out!" They continued on their path.


    "Meow!" Simba immediately followed Gerard.


    "Gerard, are you sure that''s not your cat?" Healy asked, puzzled.


    "It''s not.¡±


    Scratching his head, Healy said, "But it keeps following us.¡±


    Gerard looked back at Simba, "Stop following me! Even if you do, I''m not going to keep you!"


    "Meow meow!"


    Simba, undeterred, kept up with them until they got into the car.


    Gerard, with a heavy heart, shut the car door with Simba outside.


    The engine roared to life


    Gerard leaned back in his seat.


    "Holy cow! That cat is almost flying!" Healy eximed.


    Locking back, Gerard saw Simba sprinting at top speed.


    "Stop the car!" Gerard suddenly said.


    The driver promptly stopped, and Gerard stepped out.


    When Gerard got back into the car, he had the dirty cat in his arms.


    "Gerard, you''re going to keep it?" Healy asked curiously.


    Gerard''s expression remained


    unchanged, "I''m not keeping this.


    ugly. cat. I just want to find a ce to


    ditch it so it stops following¡¯ me!¡±


    "Oh." Healy nodded


    Soan, the car stopped in front of Healy''s house, a familiar vi.


    Gerard, a frequent visitor, carried Simba inside alongside Healy.


    Seeing them, George and Kearney asked, "Gerard, Healy, you guys got here fast! What''s up?"


    Healy replied, "Ran into Gerard on the way."


    Kearney noticed the cat in Gerard''s arms and asked, "Since when do you have a cat, Gerard?"


    Without directly answering Kearney,


    Gerard tossed the cat onto the =


    balcony, warning, "Don''t run off! Or


    you''re bing cat stew tonight!¡±


    "Meow!"


    Gerard shut the balcony door and turned to George and Kearney, "That''s not my cat. It''s just a cat I''m trying to get rid of."


    "Gerard! How could you think of ditching such a cute cat? If you don''t want it, give it to me!" Kearney said, excited.


    Gerard walked over, "The cat''s too ugly. It''s better off gone."


    Only when-Gerard approached did -.


    Kearney 1 Hotice the injury on his face,


    immediately forgetting about the¡¯


    cat, Holy smokes! Gerard, what


    happened to your face?¡¯


    Hearing this, George, who had been feeding the fish, rushed over.


    "What happened to Gerard?"


    This was the first time they''d seen Gerard injured, especially on his face.


    Clearly, it was from a fight.


    "Did someone bully you, Gerard? Tell me, and I''ll sort them out for you!" Kearney rolled up his sleeves, ready for a fight.


    "Count me in!" George picked up a pair of nunchucks nearby.


    Gerard justughed, "Nobody bullied me. My grandma hit me." His tone was so light, as if he was discussing what he had for breakfast.

 Chapter 329

    "Huh?" Kearney and George were both stunned


    ¡°J did what?¡±


    "What''s going on here?¡±


    They were the tightest of buds.


    Gerard couldn''t keep it to himself any longer. He spilled the beans, telling them everything from start to finish


    Hearing this, the tric was livid!


    ¡°Your grandma is way out of line!¡±


    "Has she lost her mind because she''s old? Going so hard on her own grandson!¡±


    "Gerard, didn''t you try to exin?


    Gerard just smiled and remained silent. J never gave him a chance to exin from the get-go.


    Right then, Healy''s mom, Sadie, came over with a bottle of arnica oil, ¡°Gerry, this arnica oil is great for reducing swelling. Give it a try.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Aunt Sadie.¡± Gerard took the bottle of arnica oil from Sadie¡¯s hands,N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Sadie sighed, seeing how well-behaved and smart Gerard usually was, she couldn''t fathom why J would be so harsh. The poor kid, with no


    mother to defend him. It was heartbreaking!


    ¡°You''re wee,¡± Sadie continued. ¡°You''re as wee here as if you were in your own home. Whatever you want to eat or drink, just let me know."


    Gerard''s eyes suddenly reddened, and his nose tingled. He hadn''t cried when J pped him. He hadn''t cried when J was kicking him out,


    but now, he could hardly hold back. Seeing Sadie, he was reminded of his own mom. If his mom were here, would she feel heartbroken..


    "Aunt Sadie, can I give you a hug?¡± Gerard''s voice was choked.


    Sadie wrapped her arms around Gerard, ¡°Sweetheart, are you missing your mom?


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Gerard made a sound, barely audible through his nasal cavity.


    Held in Sadie¡¯s embrace, Gerard felt as if he was being hugged by his own mom. If only he and Healy were really brothers. Then he would have a


    mom too.


    Thinking about how the kid had grown up without a mother, and the ordeal he went through today, Sadie''s eyes also began to tear up, ¡°If you ever


    miss having a mom, juste over with Healy to my ce. You boys are all like brothers, around the same age. If you don¡¯t mind, you can think of


    me as your mother.¡±


    Gerard finally broke down and cried.


    Sadie gently patted Gerard''s back.


    The other three in the room also had teary eyes.


    After a moment, Gerard pulled away from Sadie and bowed, "Aunt Sadie, thank you.¡±


    Sadie wiped her tears away, smiling, ¡°No need to be formal with me. You boys go on up and chat. If you need anything, just let me know.¡±


    With that, Sadie turned and went downstairs, leaving the space to the kids.


    "Gerard, what are you nning to do now?" Healy asked


    Gerard turned to look out the window, ¡°I''m thinking of heading to Cloudcrest.¡± After all, things hadpletely fallen apart, and he had nothing left to


    lose.


    Kearney panicked, ¡°But will you evere back?"


    Gerard shook his head. He didn¡¯t know. Right now, all he wanted was to find his mother. He hadn''t had time to think about anything else


    George chimed in, ¡°Gerard, exams


    are just around the corner. Why ? IN


    don''t you" wait until after the exams


    to goto Cloudcrest? Inthe ~~


    meantime, you can stay at my


    ce.¡± .¡±


    -


    Healy said, "No need for that, Gerard can stay with me. It''ll be fine.¡±


    Kearney added, "Or my ce too!"


    Just then, there was a knock at the door.


    Healy went to open it. It wasn¡¯t anyone else but Sadie.


    "Mom, what''s up?¡±


    Sadie ncedhnto the room,


    speaking softly, ¡®Gerry''s family butler


    is here. He.said the olddy has >


    realized I ber mistake and now feels


    terriblexfor misunderstanding Gerry.


    She''ssent the butler to ask him to


    core back home.¡±


    to¡¯ =


    Continuing; Sadie added, ¡°The butler


    mentioned that the olddy deeply


    regrets hitting Gerry and for driving


    him away without understanding the


    situgtion She''s ready to apologize if


    Gerry I is willing to return hone.¡±


    Cdntent


    Hearing this, Healy nodded, "Alright, Mom, I''ll let Gerard know.


    Sadie nodded back, "I''ll leave you boys to it then.¡±

 Chapter 330

    After Sadie left, Healy returned to the room and ryed Sadie¡¯''s message to Gerard without missing a single word.


    Gerard was lounging on the couch, aptop bnced on his knees, one hand hovering over the keyboard. Upon hearing Healy, his expression


    remained neutral, his face betraying no particr emotion. Then, he pressed the Enter key, clicked save, and closed the document. No one could tell


    if he really took the message to heart.


    "Gerard?"


    "Mhm." Gerard closed hisptop.


    Healy continued, "Gerard, what are you nning to do?"


    "Go back."


    "Go back?" Healy, Kearney, and George were all taken aback.


    Gerard nodded, "The Lindsay family''s legacy isn''t going to fall into the hands of strangers! If I don''t go back, wouldn''t that just y right into Edna and


    her daughter''s hands? They''d love nothing more!¡±


    He had to protect everything that belonged to the Lindsay family, especially the ce his mother held.


    George nodded in agreement, "Gerard''s right! We should go back! We can''t let that mother-daughter duc win!"


    The three of them escorted Gerard downstairs. Reaching the bottom, they found J had also arrived.


    Seeing Gerard descend, J was overwhelmed with emotion and ran to embrace him, crying, "Gerry, I''m so sorry! Grandma wronged you, it was


    my mistake! I promise I won''t do it again! Can you forgive me?"


    J was genuinely regretful. Before finding Gerard, she was terrified something bad had happened to him. Now, seeing Gerard, it was as though a


    huge weight had been lifted from her heart.


    Gerard remained silent. J knew Gerard was angry. Any child would be upset under such circumstances.


    "Gerry, I''m sorry!¡± J''s hands trembled as she touched Gerard''s swollen cheek, "Does it still hurt?"


    "It doesn''t hurt anymore.¡± Gerard shook his head.


    Seeing Gerard finally speak, J was overjoyed, "Gerry, does this mean you forgive me?"


    Gerard''s voice.was tinged with


    emotion, "Graridma, I was never


    angry with you, I just heartbroken.


    Heartbroken that you would choase


    to beligve strangers over your Qwn


    grandson, whom you raised. A


    always thought you knew me better


    than anyone else in the world."


    Hearing this, J felt a surge of sorrow. She had hurt the child too deeply. She had failed him.


    "Gerry! I''m so sorry! I promise I won''t do it again!" J cried, hugging Gerard tightly, "Let''s go home together, okay?"


    Gerard nodded.


    Seeing J personally apologize to


    Gerard, Healy, George, and Kearney


    all breathed a sigh of relief. At least


    Gerarg-y wouldn''t have to sufferany


    more qr evances when he w¨¦nt


    back.  nN


    -


    After exchanging a brief greeting with Sadie, J and Gerard left together.


    Just as they settled into the car, Gerard seemed to remember something, "Stop the car, please.¡±


    "What''s wrong?"


    J was puzzled too.


    Gerard opened the car door and ~~.


    hurried beck towards Healy''s house.


    Seeinghim return, Healy curiously


    asked, "Gerard, why have yoe


    back?" .


    igContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "I forgot the cat,¡± Gerard replied.


    Kearney chimed in, "I thought you said you weren''t keeping the cat?¡±


    "I''m getting rid of it." As he said this, Gerard was already scooping up the cat.


    "No way! Gerard, you''d throw it away and not even offer it to me?" Kearney had a soft spot for animals.


    "It wouldn''t be good for you. Better to just get rid of it."


    Kearney: "


    By the time Gerard got back into the car, he had a cat cradled in his arms.

 Chapter 331

    Seeing Gerard cuddling a scruffy cat, J frowned slightly, about to say something, but then, biting her tongue, she swallowed her words.


    Oh well!


    If the boy likes it, let him be. They had just had a spat earlier that day, and she couldn''t afford to start another over a mere cat. Simba was behaving


    well, cuddled in Gerard''s arms, remaining still. Before long, the car pulled up to the entrance of the Lindsay family estate.


    Gerard handed the cat to the butler, "Mr. Jenkins, could you please have someone give it a bath, buy some cat stuff, and then bring it to my room?"


    "Of course.¡±


    Taking the cat, the butler asked, "Master Gerard, are you nning to keep it?"


    Gerard frowned slightly, looking away in disdain, "Who would want to keep such an ugly cat?"


    The butler thought, bewildered: If you''re not keeping it. why the bath, the buying things, and sending it to your room?


    When Delia saw Mr. Jenkins and J bring Gerard back, she immediately called Edna to get ready. After Gerard returned to his room, J


    personally brought him some anti-swelling medicine.


    "Thank you, Grandma."


    Seeing Gerard was not angry with her anymore, J smiled, saying, "Silly boy, there''s no need to be formal with Grandma!"


    He was indeed the child she had raised. Still close to her heart.


    Then J continued, "Today, Grandma didn''t mean to... When I heard about that thing, my mind just went nk, and all I could think of was your


    late great-aunt..."


    "Grandma, I understand," Gerard nodded, "I get it."


    "There, there, good boy. Grandma''s care wasn''t for nothing," J''s eyes were filled with relief.


    After leaving Gerard''s room, J had someone prepare ginseng soup for Gerard and specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare many of Gerard''s


    favorite snacks.


    Cloudcrest


    The windows jn the room were


    open. The sping breeze blew in,


    making the''white curtains flutter.


    The bay w indow was covered with-a


    thick carpet, andonitwas a small


    white''table, which now hosted.2 a pilePublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    of parts. Anthea sat cross- egged I in


    feont of the table, focused-on the


    parts in her hands.


    to


    "Annie!"


    Just then, Nanson burst into the room.


    "Uncle, what''s up?" Anthea looked up slightly.


    Nanson continued, "We have an international contract negctiation with seme foreigners at thepany this afternoon, Annie, can youe and help


    your uncle as a trantor?"


    Because it inysivedpany


    secrets, Napson didn''t trust hiring a


    trantor.and he himself was not->


    fluent eneugh. It was at this XN


    moment that Nanson truly realized


    howsmportant it was to learn¡±


    El Engfish well.


    oe)


    "What time in the afternoon?" Anthea asked.


    "At 3:30."


    Anthea nodded slightly, "Okay." Then added, "Uncle, maybe you should really start learning English? What if I''m busy next time?"


    "You''re right, Annie! I''ll start studying English from today!" Nanson''s gaze then fell on the table in front of Anthea, curiously asking, "Annie, what''s


    that?"


    "Our family''s vacuum robot, you don''t recognize it?" Anthea raised an eyebrow slightly.


    Vacuum robot? It looked nothing like one. More like a dismembered piece of machinery than anything...


    Nanson''s eyes widened, "Why did you dismantle it like this?"


    Anthea repliechcasually, "The robot


    had too many bugs and not enough


    functions Beyond vacuuming, it was


    pretty useless, and even then, it


    didn''t do a good job! So, I decided to


    disassemble it and rebuild it Lgive ita


    major upgrade." Content befongs to


    =


    "All dismantled like this, you think you can put it back together?" Nanson doubted his niece''s im, but he had no proof.

 Chapter 332

    "Of course it can be fixed. Why else would I bother taking it apart?¡± Anthea''s voice was light as she continued her work.


    She nced down, her fair fingers tracing the cold, hardponents, creating a picturesque scene.


    Nanson suddenly realized that when his niece, Anthea, was focused, she was quite impressive.


    Of course, she''d be even more impressive if she weren''t always exaggerating!


    "What''s for lunch, Anthea?" Nanson asked.


    Anthea pondered for a moment, "Let''s order in. I''m craving cold noodles.¡±


    "Alright, cold noodles it is! I''ll ce the order. After lunch, we can take a break before heading back to the office.¡±


    "Okay."


    Nanson went to the living room, ced the order, and then browsed online for a new robot vacuum.


    Although Anthea imed she could reassemble the robot, Nanson had his doubts she could turn that pile of junk back into a functioning vacuum!


    To prevent the new purchase from meeting the same fate at Anthea¡¯s hands, Nanson decided to opt for a higher quality model, one less susceptible


    to enthusiastic disassembly.


    Just as he settled on a choice, a knock came at the door.


    Nanson walked over to open it.


    The delivery guy greeted him.


    "Hello, is this Mr. Nanson''s ce?"


    "That''s me." Nanson nodded.


    The delivery guy handed over the food, "Here''s your order.¡±


    "Thanks." Nanson took the food, closed the door, andid everything out on the dining table


    Two servings of cold noodles, a portion of fried chicken, and some fried peanuts.


    "Anthea, lunch is ready."


    "Coming."


    Anthea replied but didn''t appear until ten minutester, strolling out from her room at a leisurely pace.


    "Do you want orange juice or soda, Anthea?"


    Nanson looked up and froze, stammering, "Wha-what is that?"


    Behind Anthea followed a strange cylindrical object about half a meter tall, not particrly pleasing to the eye, with a blue light on top and emitting


    soft beeping sounds.


    "I''m not a ''what.'' I''m Little White, the cleaning robot! Pleased to serve you!" the cylindrical object spoke in a mechanical voice.


    It could talk!


    Nanson jumped.


    Little White continued, "Sir, may I assist you with anything?"


    Still in shock, Nanson managed to say, "The kitchen''s a mess; could you clean it up?"


    "Right away."


    Little White glided towards the kitchen.


    As Nanson watched it disappear, he turned to Anthea in disbelief, "How does it know where the kitchen is?"


    Anthea took a sip of her soda, "I programmed it with our houseyout when I was coding.¡±


    Programmed? Houseyout?


    "Huh?" Nanson was confused.


    Just then, Little White emerged from


    the Kitchen, ¡®Report: the kitchen is?


    now clean, and the trash has been


    taken out. Do you require cleaning


    elsewhere?¡±


    ig


    Holy cow!


    It''s done already?


    Nanson was amazed, "lt can even take out the trash? That''s quite advanced!"


    Little White responded with a hint of


    pride,¡¯ Indeed, sirl I am the most


    sophisticated cleaning robot in''t e


    universe!¡±


    =


    The most sophisticated in the universe?


    Nanson raised an eyebrow. That proud demeanor, that self-admiring tone, why did it feel so familiar?


    "It even understands me!¡± Nanson looked at Anthea, "Where did you get this robot?"


    Anthea''s expression remained calm, "Il built it from the one we had at home. Didn''t you just see?¡±


    What?


    Nanson thought he was hearing things.


    "The one we had before?" Nanson was incredulous, "Are you sure?"


    The previous robot was also purchased by Nanson.


    Three hundred bucksContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Although itwas "smart," it only had.


    basic sensors and repeated cleaning


    patterns, couldn''t talk, couldn''tc?


    self-empty its bin, and definitely


    couldn''t understand human? ¡°speech.


    "Yep." Anthea nodded, "The one you bought before."

 Chapter 333

    Nanson couldn''t help but marvel as he approached Little White, taking in every detail with an incredulous look. Clearly, this was not the vacuum


    cleaner he had bought before.


    "This one seems a bitrger than the old one, doesn''t it?" Nanson remarked


    Anthea, pulling a drumstick from a bucket of fried chicken, replied, "Yeah, the old one was too short and kind of just blended into the background, so I


    decided to repurpose some old paint cans and sheet metal we had lying around.¡±


    It was only when Nanson saw the paint brandbel still attached to Little White that he truly believed Anthea hadn''t been pulling his leg. She had


    actually built this herself. From the simplest of parts, she had assembled a top-tier robot. His niece was incredibly talented!


    Nanson inspected Little White from every angle. Feeling Nanson''s gaze, Little White glided back half a meter. "Master, I know I''m the epitome of


    beauty, but you staring at me like this is making me blush!"


    The epitome of beauty? Nanson was at a loss for words. He finally understood why Little White seemed so familiar ¡ª it reminded him of Anthea. Both


    were equally self-assured.


    After dinner, the duo set off for thepany. "Take care, dear masters. Be safe on your way, and Little White will be here waiting for your return,"


    Little White said, escorting them to the door.


    "Goodbye," Nanson waved.


    "Goodbye," Little White replied, closing the door.


    Staring at the closed door, Nanson eximed, "This robot''s smarter than I thought! Anthea, how did you put it together?"


    "It''s pretty straightforward! Just some programming, setting up the software, and then organizing the execution, control, and storagemands,


    along with a few other instructions," Anthea exined as if it were nothing.


    If only she had better materials, she could have built an even smarter vacuum cleaner! To Anthea, it was simple, but Nanson was utterly baffled.


    "My dear niece, you''re amazing!" It took Nanson a moment to find the words.


    Anthea''s response was modest, "It''s just a makeshift solution for now.¡± If only she had more time to refine and improve the equipment.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Nanson was speechless. A makeshift solution? This intelligent vacuum cleaner was just a stopgap to Anthea? He realized he was out of his depth in


    the world of tech geniuses.


    As they spoke, they reached the


    underground parking lot. Nanson


    unlocked his''car and opened the


    driver''s doar, It had been a while


    since Anthea had driven, and she


    was itching to get behind the wheel


    agai Unfortunately, she hadn''t


    gotte n her driver''s license. yet, so she


    settled into the passenger seat,


    nning to get her license after her


    exams.


    ~~


    NL


    Nanson was an excellent driver, and


    soon they arrived at thepany:~


    headquarters, Following Nansen


    inside, they immediately becarne the


    center of attention.   a


    "Holy cow! Isn''t that President Yeager''s daughter? She''s gorgeous! Looks a lot like President Yeager!¡±


    "Are you kidding? President Yeager doesn''t even have a girlfriend, let alone a daughter!"


    "Oh, right..."


    "Then who is she?"


    It wasn''t until Anthea called out "Uncle" that everyone understood. She was President Yeager''s niece. No wonder she was so beautiful.


    Anthea followed Nanson to his third-floor office, where his secretary, Helena, was organizing documents for an afternoon meeting.


    "Helena, this is my niece Anthea.


    She''ll be joining us for the meeting


    with TQAEON''s representatives this


    afterneon. Could you bring the:


    proposal for Anthea to review?"


    Nanson introduced.


    t&" od


    Helena was taken aback. How old was Anthea? Eighteen? Was she really going to understand the proposal? Helena thought Nanson might be


    joking...


    Seeing Helena frozen in ce, Nanson urged, "Helena, what are you waiting for? Go get the proposal!¡±


    "Yes, President Yeager!" Helena snapped out of it and quickly fetched the document.


    "Ms. Yeager," she said, handing it over.


    "Thank you," Anthea took the proposal, scanned it quickly, and handed it back. "I''m done."


    Helena was stunned. That was it? Did she actually grasp what the proposal was about?


    Nanson then asked, "Anthea, do you see any issues with the proposal?"

 Chapter 334

    Anthea shook her head slightly, "It''s pretty much okay.¡±


    "That''s a relief."


    Helena was stunned. She thought Nanson was being a bit silly. Anthea was just a kid; what did she know? It was like the blind leading the blind!


    Their meeting with TOAEON Corporation was scheduled for 3 p.m., so Nanson, along with Anthea and Helena, started their journey at 2 p.m


    TOAEON was an international firm that had been rooted in Luxphinia for many years. Previously, TOAEON had partnered with another international


    courier service, but due to a slew of bad press recently tarnishing their image. they were on the lookout for a new partner.


    Upon their arrival, Nanson''s group discovered they weren''t the only ones eyeing the partnership¡ªover twentypanies were in attendance,


    including two publicly traded courier firms.


    Nanson felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him. His earlier confidence evaporated at the sight. Even publicly tradedpanies


    were in the mix; what chance did his small firm stand?


    Disappointment filled Helena''s eyes. "Let''s just go back,¡± Nanson said, crestfallen.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Why leave?" Anthea raised an eyebrow slightly.


    Nanson''s gaze swept over the crowd, "We''re no match for thesepetitors.¡±


    "Not trying at all ensures we''re no match. Uncle, fleeing isn''t your style!" Anthea countered


    Helena stepped in, "Ms. Yeager, you might not understand, but these courierpanies are leagues ahead of us in size. Ever heard of SwiftSend?


    They went publicst year! We stand no chance against them."


    Anthea smiled faintly, "Being bigger or more well-known doesn''t necessarily mean they''re better at what they do. Every big conglomerate started as a


    smallpany. How can you be so sure we''ll lose without even trying? If we don''t believe in ourselves, then we''ve already lost.¡±


    Helena thought Anthea was being naive. Talking a good game without understanding the reality. What chance did a small arm stand against a thigh?


    It was just a waste of time to continue.


    Nanson looked up at Anthea, "Annie, what do you suggest?¡±


    "We absolutely cannot back down now! Nor should we underestimate ourselves!" Her voice was soft yet carried a calming force


    "Alright!" Nanson nodded, "Uncle will listen to you!"


    "President Yeager?" Helena was shocked. Nanson was too easily swayed! He was actually taking this pie-in-the-sky talk seriously...


    Nanson turned to Helena, his face all seriousness, "Let''s go with Annie''s n.¡±


    Helena, at a loss for words, just muttered, "Ch."


    Just then, someone came over to greet Nanson, "Nanson!"


    "President Davenport.¡± Nanson greeted politely.


    President Davenport, Easton Davenport, also ran a courierpany. Easton offered Nanson a cigarette and said, "Eyeing this deal too, Nanson?"


    Nanson replied with a smile, "A man''s gotta do what a man''s gotta do, right? We''re all striving for better.¡±


    "True," Eastorrexhaled a ring of


    smoke, "Butdooking at the turnout


    today, us smaller firms don''t stand


    much ofa chance. Instead of O


    wasting 1 time here, might as well


    head back and focus on other


    veritures. I''m heading out You?"


    In fact, Easton wasn''t the only one thinking of leaving: many smallerpanies were already bailing. Nanson confessed, "I''m going to give it a shot.¡±


    "Give it a shot? Eastonughed as if


    he''d heard ayreat jo e, "No offense,


    Nanson, but look at those oo


    com panles ahead of us. Each one¡¯


    more capable than the next. Way


    waste time banging your head


    against a brick wall?"


    At that, Anthea locked up slightly, "Mr. Davenport, if you think so little of yourself, that''s your business. But why discourage my uncle?"


    Easton was taken aback. What a sharp-tongued youngdy! "And she is?"


    Nanson apologized with a sheepish.


    smile, ''Sairy, President Davenport:


    This isimy niece, just a kid speaking


    her mind. Please don''t take ith


    personally.¡±

 Chapter 335

    Easton waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Come on, I''m too old to be squabbling with a youngdy. It''s good to be confident, kiddo, but don''t let it blind


    vou. Overconfidence is just arrogance in disguise.¡±


    "Confidence should be backed by something solid,¡± Anthea retorted calmly. "You''re locking at me through tinted sses. Even if I understate my


    case, you''d use me of being full of myself.


    That girl sure had a sharp tongue!


    Easton turned to Anthea, skepticism clear in his voice, ¡°So, you''re saying your uncle has a fifty-fity shot atnding the deal?¡±


    "A fifty percent chance,¡± Anthea confirmed.


    Easton couldn''t hide his scoff, "Banking on that fifty percent is like betting on a lottery ticket, hoping for a jackpot!¡±


    Nanson¡¯spany, QuickSend Parcels, was a small fishpared to Easton¡¯s empire. Even a child could see that TOAEON wouldn''t pick them over


    the big sharks. TOAECN wasn''t run by fools!


    Anthea raised an eyebrow, unbothered, ¡°The proof of the pudding is in the eating, Mr. Davenport. Let''s just wait and see.¡±


    Easton could only shake his head in disbelief. Pretty face, but not much upstairs. No wonder they say beauty and brains seldom go hand in hand.


    He didn¡¯t bother to argue further, turning to Nanson with a tone dripping with sarcasm, ¡°Nanson, then I wish you luck on clinching the deal. If you do,


    you owe me a dinner.¡±


    Nanson, catching the irony, simply smiled in response. Even Helena couldn''t help but feel embarrassed for them.


    Time ticked away, swiftly bringing them to 3 PM. TOAEON allocated five minutes to each contender. To win, they had to make every second count.


    Nanson and his team were ted to present twentieth.


    Anthea grabbed the proposal, "Uncle, let me do the talking. Just give me a quick rundown of our strengths.¡±


    Nanson nodded, briefing her on the


    specifics of thie courier industry.


    Helena listered in, her heart .


    pounding TOAEON''s staff were alt


    native English speakers. Could >


    Anthea, just a kid, really pull this off


    without beingughed out ofthe


    reom? Nanson was taking-a huge


    gamble.


    ~


    *QuickSend Parcels, you''re up,¡± an assistant from TOAEON announced, opening the conference room door.


    Nanson, not fluent in English but familiar with basic phrases, took a deep breath, "Annie, let''s go.¡±


    Anthea nced back at him, reassuring, ¡°Don''t worry, Uncle.¡±


    Nodding, Nangon tried to appear


    calm as they@ntered the room,


    followed by Helena They were


    greeted oy: a middle-aged man with


    golden-hair and piercing blue eyes.


    He seemed friendly at first nce,


    bute sharp intelligence lurked


    behind his gaze. Tricky customers,


    the lot of them.


    The assistant introduced them, ¡°President Yeager, meet TOAEON''s Deputy CEQ, Mr. Lambotte.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Lambotte, pleasure to meet


    you! I''m anson, head of QuickSend


    Parcels, and this is my niece, >


    Anthea. ¡ìhe''ll be discussing our


    proposat with you on my behalf¡±


    Nansen managed to get the words


    outra script he had rehearsed for


    ds. .~


    Lambotte gave a nod, signaling for them to begin.


    Anthea stood, plugged a USB into theputer, and started her presentation, connecting it to the projector behind her. Her voice was clear, with a


    charming British ent.


    Lambotte, initially disinterested, perked up at her words, his gaze sharpening. He had seen countless proposals that day, none particrly engaging.


    But Anthea¡¯s presentation caught his attention. Where others focused on the future, Anthea emphasized mutual benefits. What do businessmen value


    above all? Profit.


    Not only did Anthea highlight the potential gains, she also provided a realistic analysis of QuickSend Parcels¡¯ prospects.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Nanson and Helena were astounded by Anthea''s eloquence and confidence.

 Chapter 336

    Helena had been worried sick about whether Anthea could even speak English. But boy, was she in for a surprise. Not only did Anthea speak English


    like a native, her expertise in her field was nothing short of jaw-dropping. The grace! The eloquence! She seemed anything but a child! Helena was


    utterly floored. She had been skeptical about Anthea at first. Now, she felt like dropping to her knees in awe!


    "You know, QuickSend Parcels is just a little-known small frypared to giants like SwiftSend and shPost. They''re leagues ahead of you in size!"


    Mr. Lambotte suddenly challenged, "What makes you think I should choose yourpany?¡±


    Anthea smiled gently and replied in a calm, unhurried manner, "Because, Mr. Lambotte, I believe you''re not someone who judges a book by its cover.


    If you truly felt that SwiftSend and shPost were worth partnering with, we wouldn''t be having this meeting today.¡±


    She continued, "Besides, every bigpany started small, just like yours did. At one point, you had only six employees, and look at you now, twelve


    vearster, a major yer in the industry. This proves that size doesn''t necessarily equate to strength. You value strength, and I''m sure you''ll give this


    opportunity to these who are prepared for it."


    Anthea''s words hit right home. Mr. Lambotte hadn''t expected such apelling argument from a youngdy from the East.


    "Excuse me, and I know it might be a bit rude to ask, but what''s your name?" Mr. Lambotte initially hadn''t taken Anthea seriously due to her young


    appearance, thus overlooking her name.


    "I''m Anthea."


    Mr. Lambotte stood up, walked over to Anthea, and extended his hand, "Ms. Yeager, it''s a pleasure," he said, surprisingly in fluent Mandarin.


    Nanson and Helena were stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief.


    Anthea shook his hand calmly, "The pleasure is all mine."


    Turning to his assistant, Mr. Lambottemanded, "Go tell the others we''ve found our partner. No need for them to wait in line anymore."


    The assistant nodded, "Right away," and ryed the message. Thepanies waiting in line were in uproar.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Whichpany had snagged the partnership with TOAECN? Especially since the heavy hitters, SwiftSend and shPost, hadn''t even entered the


    fray yet!


    SwiftSend and shPost were equally baffled. Just moments ago, they had considered each other their mainpetition. But now, before the battle


    had even begun, they had lost!


    There had to be apany out there even more formidable than them. How bizarre!


    Since Mr. Lambotte had spoken in


    Mandarin, Nanson and Helena


    shared a took of sheer incredulity. ->


    Sige ¡éeuld believe that Anthea


    had actually secured the <


    partaership. This was beyond¡±


    impressive!


    oe)


    Nanson even pinched himself hard on the thigh. Yikes¡ª That hurt! No dream. This was reality!


    After finalizing the partnership


    details, it wag3aiready six in the


    evening. MroLambotte was so


    impressed-ith Anthea heeven <c< p=""></c<>


    Ny


    considered poaching her for ~~:


    TOAEON. Learning that she was still


    a high school senior only shotked


    hig further. He gave her a


    thumbs-up, "Luxphinia is ¡°Truly and


    of talents!"


    Previously, Largbotte had his biases


    against Luxphinia, thinking itcked


    the prowess of Country Pellonia.


    Meeting@nthea changed his a


    perspegtivepletely, revealing


    the {re depth of a great natign. A


    depth that wars and turmoitcould


    n¨¦ver erase. Respectablejndeed!


    Leaving TOAEON with the contract in hand, Nanson still couldn''t shake off the surreal feeling. They had actually secured a partnership with


    TOAEON!


    Meanwhile, the news of QuickSend Parcels securing the partnership spread like wildfire among the courierpanies. Everyone was shocked that


    TOAEON had chosen such an obscurepany.


    Hearing the news, Easton, who was chatting with friends, was bbergasted, "Wait, TOAEON signed with whom? QuickSend Parcels over SwiftSend


    or shPost?"

 Chapter 337

    **Revised Trantion:


    "Not at alll" My friend shook his head, incredulously. "You know the person in charge there, right? It''s Nanson from QuickSend Parcels!¡±


    Bang¡ª


    The cigarette slipped from Easton''s fingers andnded on the table as he stared at his friend in disbelief. "Are you sure about this?"


    "Absolutely! My sister works in the upper management at SwiftSend. She told me herself. Could she be lying?"


    Easton felt a pounding headache. Just a few hours ago, he had mocked Anthea for chasing pipe dreams. And now, here he was, eating his words.


    Standing up, Easton headed for the door.


    "Hey! Where are you off to?"


    Without looking back, Easton replied, "Going to see Nanson!" He wouldn''t believe it until he heard it straight from the horse''s mouth


    He just couldn''t wrap his head around it. How could TOAECN possibly be partnering with Nanson?


    There had to be some mistake!


    Soon, Easton arrived at Nanson''s office. The receptionist recognized him and let him through without a hitch.


    Making his way to Nanson''¡¯s office, he found Nanson looking surprised to see him sweating profusely. "President Davenport, what brings you here? Is


    it urgent?¡±


    Easton managed a smile, "Nanson, I heard you secured a partnership with TOAEON! Congrattions!¡±


    Nanson offered Easton a ss of water, courtesy of Helena. "You''re quite informed, President Davenport!¡±


    That caught Easton off guard. He''d thought it was a misunderstanding, a little jab to embarrass Nanson a bit.


    But no, it was true.


    A contract with TOAECN was worth at least seven figures!


    And if this turned into a long-term deal, it would be a goldmine.


    Jealousy was an understatement!


    Now. Easton only regretted not sticking it out with Nanson. If he hadn''t walked away, that deal could have been his.


    Sighing. he finally managed to speak. "Well, congrattions!¡±


    "Thanks, let''s have dinner tonight," Nanson offered.


    But Easton was curious, "No need for dinner. I''m just wondering, how did yound the TOAECN partnership?"


    Nanson was talented, sure, but scoring a deal with TOAEON seemed a stretch.


    Nanson chuckled, "You know me, I only know a bit of English. It was mostly my niece who talked with Mr. Lambotte.¡±


    "Your niece?" Easton was even more astonished


    Nanson nodded proudly.


    Easton was floored. "Your niece, that young girl, she''s of age?¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "She''s 19!" Nanson said, swelling with pride.


    Easton was dumbstruck. To think, a 19-year-old had such prowess!


    When he''d-spoken with Anthea -.


    before, he sensed shewasno


    ordinary young woman. But he


    hadnt imagined she could clinch a


    deal like this. Content belorigs to


    ig


    Truly, the younger generation was formidable!


    Nanson then mentioned, "President Davenport, your daughter must be around my niece''s age, right?"


    Easton''s daughter was indeed about


    Anthea¡¯ sage, but their capabilities


    were worlds apart. Thinking of his


    daughter, who only seemed to-


    approach him for money, Easton felt


    a pang of bittersweet emotion.


    Cdntent


    Someparisons are just painful.


    Meanwhile, back in Capital City.


    It wasn''t uatil after dinner that J


    remembered Edna. She quickly =~


    turned to Delia, "Edna and Darleen


    are probably still out looking for


    Gerry Call her, tell her Gerry''¡ì been


    found, and not to worry!" Content


    b¨¦longs  =


    "Right away, ma''am,¡± Delia responded, though inwardly she was fuming.


    Feeling indignant on behalf of Edna.


    The nerve!


    Edna had been nothing but kind to her, always caring and even preparing nourishing soups daily. Yet, she was only remembered now.


    Absolutely heartless!


    After hanging up, Delia''s expression darkened. "There''s trouble, ma''am..."

 Chapter 338

    Seeing her like this, J was startled, "What''s wrong? Did something happen to Edna?"


    Delia shook her head. "Miss Edna is fine..."


    Hearing that Edna was okay, J breathed a sigh of relief, "Good, as long as Edna''s alright.¡±


    Delia continued, "It''s Darleen who''s in trouble. Miss Edna said on the phone... Darleen, in her attempt to find the young master, got identally hit by


    a car!"


    "Hit by a car?¡±


    Hearing this, J was visibly shocked and immediately stood up from her chair, "What happened exactly?"


    Delia went on, "I''m not entirely sure about the details. Miss Edna mentioned that Darleen is still in emergency care. She was worried you''d be anxious


    and specifically asked me not to tell you! But I couldn''t keep this from you; my conscience wouldn''t allow it... after all, Darleen got into this situation


    because of something to do with the young master..."N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    J couldn''t believe that Darleen was in trouble and asked, "Which hospital are they at now?"


    "I think they''re at Lifeline Medical Facility,¡± Delia answered.


    J hurriedly said, "Quick, contact the driver! I need to go to Lifeline Medical Facility immediately!¡±


    Gerard was standing upstairs, overlooking everything happening below.


    The plot Edna and her daughter had cooked up was not bad!


    But no matter how they yed their parts, he would never allow Edna to marry into the family. Never!


    J quickly arrived at Lifeline Medical Facility.


    Darleen was still in the ER.


    Edna was sitting outside on a blue stic chair, crying her eyes out, "Darleen, you can''t be in trouble. If something happens to you, how am I


    supposed to go on?"


    "Edna!"


    J quickly approached her.


    Seeing J, Edna locked incredulous, "J! How did you find out? I... I didn''t want you to know..."


    J cut her off, reproaching, "You child! Such a serious matter, and you thought to keep it from me! Is Darleen okay?"


    This kid, just too kind-hearted!


    J sighed internally, her eyes full ofpassion.


    "I didn''t want you to worry," Edna sobbed.


    Just then, the door to the emergency room opened, and a doctor came out.


    Edna immediately approached, "Doctor, how''s my daughter?"


    J chimed in, "Doctor, money is no object for our family! Please, do everything you can to save my granddaughter!¡±


    The doctor pulled down his mask, smiling, "Fortunately, she was brought in on time, so the patient is no longer in danger.¡±


    Edna then asked, "My daughter is about to take her SATs; will this affect her exams?"


    The doctor hesitated, then replied, "As long as she gets proper rest, it shouldn''t affect her SATs.¡±


    "Doctor! Thank you!" Edna bowed deeply to the doctor, overwhelmed with gratitude.


    Hearing that Darleen was okay, J also let out a sigh of relief.


    The doctor continued, "The patient has been moved to a room now; you should go see her."


    Edna and J went to the room


    Darleen had a head injury, with bandages wrapped around her head, looking very weak.


    "My dear, are you alright?" J approached, holding Darleen''s hand.


    Darleen tried to show strength and-.


    shook her head, "J, I''m sorryl


    \o] only did I fail to find Gerry, but I


    alsocaused you worry... Have \ you


    found Gerry?"


    swnovel.


    "We found him! Yes!" J nodded repeatedly, "Darleen, don''t worry, Gerry is safe now. You just focus on getting better.¡±


    Darleen sniffled, crying, "J, I''m sorry, it''s all my fault. I caused you to misunderstand Gerry... I''m sorry..."


    Hearing this; J, with a heart full


    ofpassion, said, "Silly child, it [


    not your fault. It was grandma who


    didn''tunderstand the situation. I


    know you meant welll Don''t worry,


    grandma doesn''t me youl"


    Cdntent belongs to


    "Thank you, grandma!"


    "It''s okay, my dear, everything''s alright now."


    Edna stood?by, wiping away tears,


    her voicethoarse, "J, indeed, .


    Darleery Was wrong this time, but


    thankfully Gerry has been found. If


    Gerry adn''t been found, wevould


    have been the ultimate sinners!"


    Cdntent belongs to

 Chapter 339

    J stood up and embraced Edna warmly. ¡°Edna, I know you and Darleen only had Gerry''s best interests at heart, so I''ve never held any grudges


    against you!"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Edna scoffed inwardly.


    What a hypocrite this old bat is!


    If she truly harbored no resentment, she wouldn''t have waited until now to reach out to her and Darleen. Clearly, she was upset! Luckily, Edna had


    already nned her next move.


    J stayed at the hospital untilte before she finally left.


    After J''s departure, Darleen looked at Edna, worry etched on her face. "Mom, are you sure this will work?" The fear was still visible in her eyes


    from the recent events.


    Edna was truly frightening.


    Darleen¡¯s car ident was no ident.


    It was Edna who had intentionally crashed into her. All to ensure she could marry into the Lindsay family, she was willing to do absolutely anything!


    Edna sat beside the hospital bed. "Don¡¯t worry, that olddy has let go of her grievances.¡±


    After so many years of knowing J, no one understood her better than Edna. She took this risky step precisely because she knew J so well.


    Darleen hadn''t had the ident today, the issue with Gerard would have continued to be a thorn in J''s side.


    As it turned out, Edna''s guess was spot on. Upon hearing about Darleen¡¯s ident, J not only forgave Darleen but also felt somewhat guilty.


    When she returned to the Lindsay household, she ordered the kitchen to prepare a bunch of nutritious meals to be sent to the hospital for Darleen.


    It was now April, with the weather gradually warming up. Having been in Cloudcrest for so long without making a public appearance, Daniel decided


    to host a cocktail party at Cloudcrest¡¯''s most exclusive members-only club.


    For one, it was towork.


    Secondly, Cloudcrest was a goldmine of high society beauties, none of whom were inferior to those in Capital City.


    Daniel immediately thought of Reba.


    His cocktail party wouldn''t beplete without Reba.


    By now, Daniel considered Reba his confidante.


    Then, he thought of Anthea.


    Anthea was his idol. If Anthea could


    attend the party, it would be perfect.


    Moreover, Adthea and Reba used


    to be close friends. Despite a o


    misunderstanding between them;


    misuderstandings were meant to


    be redolved eventually. Bothawere


    exceptional individuals, and-Daniel


    wanted to give them a chance to


    reconcile and be as close as


    they once were.


    After setting the date for the party and finalizing the guest list, Daniel went to the Christensen Group to see Sherman. He brought up the party.


    Sherman was always a bit of a recluse, and upon hearing the n, he immediately said, ¡°I''ll pass.¡±


    " . " . .


    No going?* Daniel was a bit


    disappointed. ¡°Sherman, you''re


    turning nto a monk, avoiding all:


    lr,


    ~


    social-events. You''re not seriously


    considering joining a monastery, are


    yor?¡±


    wT


    -


    Sherman remained silent.


    Daniel continued, "Alright. if you won''t go, I''ll ask the big guy and Ms. Morris if they''re interested.


    Suddenly, Sherman looked up. "When and where?


    Daniel was confused. "What do you mean?


    ¡°The time and ce for the party,¡± Sherman rified


    Surprised, Daniel gave him the details.


    Sherman nodded slightly. ¡°Got it.¡±


    Daniel wag curious about Sherman''s


    sudden change of heart. Could it~


    be... Because of Reba? After all, it


    was.after he mentioned Reba


    that Sherman decided to attend!


    Yes! It must be!

 Chapter 340

    The more Daniel thought about it, the more excited he became. He couldn''t believe that Sherman, usually so stoic and indifferent toward Reba,


    actually cared about her deeply. Otherwise, he would never have agreed to attend the cocktail party this time! So, it was clear Sherman decided to go


    to the party for Reba.


    After leaving the Christensen Group office, Daniel personally went to invite Reba to join him at the cocktail party. Reba was thrilled to receive


    Daniel''s invitation. A party hosted by Daniel was bound to have Mr. Christensen in attendance. This time, she was determined to reim the dignity


    she lost at the RealTimeFlow anniversary g. After all, Cloudcrest was her domain! She was going to make Mr. Christensen fall madly in love with


    her, to the point where he wouldn''t consider anyone else. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Reba''s lips curved into a confident smirk.


    After finalizing ns with Reba, Daniel reached out to Anthea. He didn''t have Anthea''s contact on any social media tforms, so he had to


    message her on GlobalGigaNet, "Hey, you there?"


    "What''s up?" Anthea was online, busy with some tasks.


    "I''m throwing a private cocktail party and I''d love for you toe!"


    Anthea hesitated. Parties weren''t really her thing. Seeing Anthea¡¯s silence, Daniel yed his trump card, "Hey, I''ve invited a Michelin three-star pastry


    chef to make desserts on-site!"Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    At thest RealTimeFlow anniversary g, Daniel noticed Anthea''s love for desserts. That night, she devoured over a dozen pieces of dessert,


    leaving Daniel in awe. Most girls, keen on maintaining their figures, would steer clear of sweets. But Anthea seemed to defy that logic, indulging as if


    there were no consequences.


    Sure enough, upon reading Daniel''s message, Anthea quickly typed back, "Send me the details."


    A Michelin three-star pastry chef. This sounded promising! Anthea squinted, already imagining the tiramisu, chocte mousse, frostings, and pecan


    brownies waving at her.


    Upon receiving Anthea''s reply, Daniel breathed a sigh of relief and immediately sent over the details. The cocktail party was set at an exclusive hotel


    in Cloudcrest, scheduled for Saturday evening at six.


    Tomorrow was Wednesday, and


    Anthea had school to attend. With


    the college entrance exams


    approaching, the atmosphere in >


    ss was tense. Every desk was.


    piled high with study materials. the


    mostiioti ceable being¡¯ Three Years


    ofLollege Entrance Exam, Five


    Y¨¦ars of Mock Tests." The


    countdown to the college entrance


    exams was written on the


    ckboard: 38 days left.


    /


    As the exams drew nearer, the online polls became more heated. Currently, over 3000 people were rooting for Reba. And Anthea? She barely had


    over 1000 supporters. No one believed Anthea could achieve outstanding results in the exams.


    Northbridge High School''s top heartthrob posted, "If Anthea scores higher than Reba, I''ll live stream myself eating a cell phone!¡±


    Sily, a known cynic,mented, "Eating a cell phone? Please, she won''t even score 100 in total! If she beats Reba, I''ll live stream myself eating


    shit!"


    "Team Yeager all the way! Our girl Yeager doesn''t cheat, and she''s too proud to even consider it!" another user added


    "I just saw Anthea''s past grades in Mr. Bain''s office. All six subjectsbined, she scored a total of 52! The regr ss must be full of blind


    followers,pletely brainwashed by Anthea,¡± chimed in another.


    "Everyone has a past, right? Can''t we acknowledge Yeager''s efforts?" defended one.


    "Total score gf52, and she''s aiming


    to be the toplof the grade? If effort


    was all it took, then there wouldn''t


    be any ul uhderachievers i in our school.


    Just admit to cheating, why dort


    you?Cheaters and their enablers,


    shame on them!" another criticized.


    "Annie, do these people have nothing


    better to do? ?B¨¦cusing you of


    cheating? AS''ifl They¡¯ re just jealous,¡±


    Tanya fumed, her face flushed with


    anger as she clutched her phone.¡¯


    I''m going to screenshot everyone


    wha & Said they''d eat shit or acell


    phone. When the exam resultse


    out, I''l make them eat their words!"

 Chapter 341

    While talking, Tanya snapped screenshots and saved them all on her phone.


    Anthea''s expression remained indifferent, as if she wasn''t the subject of the rumors. "The truth wille out on its own. Besides, we''ve got the SATs


    coming up. These rumors will naturally fall apart by then!¡±


    With that, Anthea snatched Tanya''s phone and smoothly ced a set of practice tests in front of her. "You should spend less time on your phone and


    more time on these, Tanya. Don''t you want to join me in getting into Capital City University?"


    Tanya groaned, "Big Annie, getting into Capital University is a long shot for me. I''d be lucky to get into Capital City Teachers College!"


    Although not as prestigious as Capital University, Capital City Teachers College was still a top choice.


    Tanya''s grades were average, but with Anthea''s help, she had seen significant improvement. Still, getting into the Teachers College was a challenge.


    "Just keep working on these practice tests, and you''ll make it," Anthea encouraged, handing Tanya a notebook filled with summaries and potential


    SAT questions. "This should help you a lot."


    Tanya''s improvement wasrgely thanks to the notes Anthea had given her previously.


    "Annie, I love you so much!¡± Tanya eximed, hugging Anthea tightly.


    Time flew, and scon it was Saturday.


    5:30 PM


    Anthea left her house on time, dressed simply in a green dress.


    Green could be a tricky color to pull off, but Anthea''s fair skin and delicate features made it seem as if the color was made for her. The simple,


    understated design looked high-end on her, making everything else seem dull inparison.


    As Anthea stepped out, a sleek sedan pulled up beside her.


    The window rolled down, revealing a face as smooth as jade.


    "Anthea."


    "Alex?" Anthea raised an eyebrow slightly.


    Alex nodded lightly. "Where are you headed?"


    "The Venus International Hotel,¡± Anthea replied.


    "I''m actually headed that way myself. Mind if I give you a lift?"


    "Wouldn''t it be a bother?" Anthea asked, slightly embarrassed


    "It''s just a press on the gas for me."


    With that said, Anthea had no reason to refuse. "Then, thank you.¡±


    She got into the car, and a faint scent of mint filled the air¡ªfresh and pleasant.


    However, Anthea preferred fresh air, so she rolled down the window a bit before asking, "How''s Audrey doing?"


    "Much better since taking the medicine you gave her. She keeps saying she wants to thank you properly,¡± Alex responded


    Anthea smiled, "She''s too kind."


    Alex, focusing on the road, reached into the glovepartment and pulled out a small box of candies. "Want to try one?"


    "Thank you," Anthea said, taking a piece.


    Soan, they arrived at the Venus International Hotel.


    Alex got out and opened the door for her.


    Anthea thanked him again, and he


    watched her go, the evening light¡±


    casting: soft glow on his face.¡±


    "You'' ve been thanking me since you


    got ir No need for formalities


    between friends."


    t&" id


    Anthea smiled, "Alright then. Drive safe, and I''ll treat you to dinner sometime.¡±


    "Sounds good,¡± Alex nodded


    From a distance, their interaction seemed close, almost intimate.


    Cne radiantly beautiful, the other refined and genteel.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Such a pairing naturally drew many admiring nces.


    This scene also caught the eye of a man in a luxury car not too far away.


    Holding a pen, his other hand resting


    on the steering wheel, dressed ina


    sharp, buttoned-up coat, his chiseled


    features had ayer of frost that


    seeped imprable, sending


    shivers down the spine. Caritent


    b¨¦longs  =


    Suddenly, Fie pulled out a cigarette,


    the harsh tobo vor filling his?


    mouthi-As the smoke cleared, the


    sedan carrying Anthea had


    disappeared from view. Caitient

 Chapter 342

    She was still standing there, the only one left in a green dress.


    After greeting Alex, Anthea was about to head inside when a gentle voice called from behind, ¡°Anthea, dear.¡±


    Turning slightly, Anthea saw Reba in a morous red evening gown.


    There''s an old saying, "You don''t hit a smiling face," so with a faint smile, Anthea greeted, "Ms. Morris.


    Reba thought she was mistaken. But no, it really was Anthea. Daniel had actually invited Anthea too. But this was fine by her. Tonight, she would


    show Anthea her ce, that a fake heiress should act like one. A usurper trying topete with her? Completely delusional!


    "Shall we head in together?¡± Reba offered.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Anthea nodded slightly.


    The two walked side by side into the hotel.


    Reba usually looked stunning in red. But standing next to Anthea, it was a different story.


    As soon as they entered the hotel lobby, they drew everyone''s gaze.


    "Who is that standing next to Ms. Morris?¡±


    ¡°She''s so beautiful!


    "Great figure, fair skin, stunning features¡ªmy God, she¡¯s gorgeous!¡±


    ¡°I used to think Ms. Morris was pretty, but now, she just seems okay!"


    ¡°It''s all aboutparison.


    These whispers infiltrated Reba''s ears, uninvited


    Had everyone gone blind? They actually thought Anthea was good-looking! Reba was supposed to be the soaring phoenix. What was Anthea in


    comparison?


    Just then, a petite woman approached, curiosity in her voice: ¡°Ba, you''re here! Oh, who''s this beauty with you?"


    This was Gloria Davenport, the heiress of the Davenport family, who maintained rtions with both the Morris and the Davenport families, hence


    Reba was on good terms with her.


    Grabbing Gloria''s hand familiarly, Reba smiled, ¡°Jojo, this is Anthea! Don''t tell me you don''t recognize her?¡±


    Anthea?


    Gloria blinked, then covered her mouth in disbelief, ¡°You mean, Anthea Morris?"


    Reba nodded with a smile. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Holy smokes!


    Gloria locked as if she¡¯d been struck by lightning.


    She knew Anthea all too well. Always


    dressed in bizarre outfits, makeup


    like a ghost; barely literate¡ªcalling


    her a singpleton was an insult to the


    word itself. Though the Davenport


    family-had been close to the Morris


    family, Gloria was never fond of


    Anthea. She couldn''t believe the


    transformation before her eyes.


    Not just Gloria, everyone was stunned. When Anthea was just Anthea, she was the subject of everyone''s jokes.


    ¡®I thought she was some heiress, turns out it''s the infamous fake heiress!¡±


    "Wasn''t she cast out by the Morris family? How did she even get to attend Mr. Robinson''s party?


    "With her statis, of course, she


    doesn''t quality to attend Mr.


    Robinson''s, party. She must have ~~


    tagged a atong with Ms. Morris. Ms:


    Morristhas such a kind heart; fit


    weredme, I wouldn''t bring that I


    sirpleton herel¡±


    swnovel.ne =N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    +


    The ridicule was sharp as knives.


    But Anthea seemed not to care at all. Her serene face remained unaffected, as if the taunts weren''t directed at her.


    Reba''s lips curled into a smug smile, her eyes gleaming with triumph.


    Just then, a blond, blue-eyed middle-aged man approached.


    "Holy cow! Mr. Lambotte from TOAEON is here too!"


    TOAEON held a solid international reputation, especially in the luxury goods market, making its vice president, Mr. Lambotte, a household name from


    his frequent appearances in financial newspapers.


    "Mr. Robinson really has clout, managing to invite even Lambotte.


    Reba puffed up her chest. While


    others might rot be acquainted with


    Lambotte, she had met him a few


    times before. Previously, she had <


    submitted jewelry designsto ~>


    TOAEON. It was clear to her that Mr.


    Lamotte was here to greet} Qer and


    figglize the design deal. Seon, she


    would be a jewelry desigfer for


    TOAEON!


    As Lambotte drew nearer, Reba mentally prepared her pitch and extended her hand, ¡°Hello...¡±

 Chapter 343

    The room was thick with shock and whispers.


    No one expected that, of all people, Lambotte woulde locking for Reba.


    True blue always shines through.


    And how it put the pretenders in their ce!


    But then, in a twist straight out of a drama, Lambotte breezed past Reba as if she were invisible, making a beeline for Anthea. "Ms. Yeager, what a


    surprise to see you here."


    Anthea offered a small, knowing smile. "Mr. Lambotte, the feeling is mutual."


    There, in the midst of her grand entrance, Reba''s hand hung awkwardly in mid-air, caught in the embarrassing limbo of greeting and retraction.


    Her shock was palpable. Lambotte was here for Anthea?


    How did they even know each other?


    What in the world was going on?


    Reba''s face was a mask of disbelief.


    The crowd was equally stunned.


    Anthea and Lambotte knew each other?


    Moments ago, they were mocking Anthea, and now? Now, their faces smarted with the sting of their own ridicule.


    A nobody knows Lambotte?


    "Ba, let''s grab a drink, shall we?" Gloria whispered, sidling up to Reba and offering an out by changing the subject.


    With Gloria''s intervention, Reba''sposure found some footing.


    "Ba, how on earth does Anthea know Lambotte?" Gloria prodded


    Reba tried to y it off. "Well, my dad and Mr. Lambotte are quite close..."


    Gloria''s frown deepened, catching on quickly. "So, you''re saying Mr. Lambotte greeted Anthea just to save face because of your dad? That''s hardly


    fair to you. You''re the real deal, not her!"


    Anthea, the audacious one!


    Reba quickly tried to correct any misunderstanding. "Gloria, that''s not what I meant. Anthea... she''s actually quite kind..."


    Gloria snorted. "Ba, you''re the kind one. If Anthea had any decency, she wouldn''t be stepping on your toes. Wait here; I''ll set her straight.¡±


    "Stop, Gloria!" Reba pleaded, grabbing at her friend''s sleeve


    But Gloria was resolute, her sense of


    justice as straight as an arrow.


    "Ba, you might tread lightly, but I


    don I can''t stand to see you )


    wronged. Leave it to me. '' Content


    ~~


    With that, Gloria picked up a wine ss and made her way towards Anthea, who was in deep conversation with Lambotte.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Ms. Yeager, I received your design.


    proposals¡¯st night. They''re brilliant,


    truly indine with our brand Rh


    phsophy. I''m confident theyll be a


    hit, ¡°Lambotte was saying.


    ~~


    Anthea raised her ss in thanks when suddenly...


    Crash!


    Gloria barged into Anthea, spilling wine all over her.


    Anthea, quick as ever, managed to save herself from aplete disaster, but her dress bore the brunt.


    "Can''t you watch where you''re going?¡± Anthea''s frown was sharp, her patience thin. Even a fool could see Gloria''s move was deliberate.


    Lambotte was rmed. "Are you alright?"


    Anthea simply shook her head, indicating she was fine.


    "Oh, terribly sorry, I just didn''t see," Gloria''s voice dripped with insincerity.


    "Didn''t see?" Anthea raised an eyebrow. "You couldn''t find anything else to bump into?"


    Her challenge drew the crowd''s attention, turning the incident into a spectacle.


    Gloria yed the victim, her eyes welling up. "l really didn''t see, Ms. Yeager. I''m so sorry.¡±


    Reba, seizing the moment to


    y peacemaker, chimed in witha


    smile, "Anthea, everyone makes


    mistakes. Gloria has apologized.


    Let¡¯ snot make a mountain obit of a


    melehill shall we?"


    t&" id


    The crowd nodded in agreement, admiring Reba''s grace and poise.


    True blue, indeed.


    As the praise washed over Reba, she soaked in the vindication, slowly reiming her spotlight.


    Anthea, unfazed, responded in kind, dousing Reba with her ss of wine.


    The room fell silent, waiting for the next move in this unexpected drama.

 Chapter 344

    Nobody saw iting when Anthea made her move!


    The sudden turn of events left Reba frozen in shock!


    She could only feel a sticky mess stered across her chest. It didn''t take a genius to figure out she was in a rather sorry state


    "What on earth do you think you''re doing!" Gloria shouted, her voice filled with disbelief.


    Anthea shrugged lightly, "Oh my, I''m so sorry, my hand just slipped, Ms. Morris. It wasn''t on purpose, don''t be mad!¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Slipped? You did that on purpose!" Gloria was fuming with anger.


    Anthea, looking down on Gloria with a sparkle in her eyes, replied calmly, "Everyone makes mistakes, I''ve already apologized. Let''s not make a


    mountain out of a molehill. Ms. Davenport, Ms. Morris, why hold onto grudges?¡±


    She threw Reba''s own words back at them.


    Gloria stood rooted to the spot, her face flushing between shades of red and white. She never expected Anthea to turn the tables like this! Nor did she


    expect Anthea to be so eloquent. Was this really the same Anthea she knew?


    Reba looked up at Anthea, her eyes filled with humiliation, "Anthea, I''ve always treated you like a sister. Don''t you think you''re being a bit too


    much?"


    Anthea crossed her arms, "Who''s really being too much here, Ms. Morris? Since your parents never taught you to walk a mile in someone else''s


    shoes before you judge, I guess it''s up to me to teach you that lesson today!"


    After her speech, Anthea nced down at Reba and added, "The weather''s getting warmer, Ms. Morris. You might want to cut down on the iced


    coffee and drink more water."


    The bystanders started to react.


    "Anthea kind of has a point!¡±


    "You''re not alone in thinking that!"


    "Seems like Reba isn''t as innocent as she looks!"


    "Suddenly, I find Anthea quite charming.¡±


    Hearing the crowd''sments, Reba was livid. But she had to swallow her anger!


    That little witch! How dare Anthea?


    After excusingherself with Mr.


    Lambotte, Althea headed to the


    aS .


    restroomto deal with the wine stain


    on her dress. Just as she reached"


    the restroom door, a young woman


    stopped her, "Excuse me, areyou


    Ms= Yeager?¡¯


    =


    "I am," Anthea nodded slightly.


    The young woman handed her a beautifully wrapped package, "Ms. Yeager, my name is Anna. Mr. Christensen asked me to prepare this dress for


    you."


    "Sherman?" Anthea raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes," Anna nodded.


    Anthea took the package, "Then I won''t be shy about epting it. Please, thank him for me."


    "Will do."


    After changing in the restroom, Anthea found Anna waiting at the door.


    "Just give me the dress you changed out of, and I''ll have it cleaned for you," Anna offered.


    Anthea, holding her handbag, replied, "No need to trouble yourself, I''l wash it when I get home. By the way, where''s Mr. Christensen? I should thank


    him in person.¡±


    "Right this way,¡± Anna led Anthea to


    the hotel''s exclusive member''s area.


    Far from the noisy ground floor, the.


    carpetedcorridor here was so quist


    you cod hear a pin drop. Turning a


    Co ner, they saw Sherman standi ng


    atthe balcony on the third floor,


    oterlooking the entire event.


    He stood there, hands resting on the railing, surveying the scene below. His sharp profile betrayed no emotion, yet he exuded the aura of someone in


    complete control


    "Thanks for the dress,¡± Anthea approached him.


    Sherman turned slightly, noticing


    Anthea in her new outfit. A white


    off-the-shoulder gown. The design


    perfectly shewcasing her graceful


    corbones: The cinched waist


    entuated her slender figure, ~~ _


    tempting one to measure its


    slimress with their hands. The


    gown''s hem was embe lished with


    tity diamonds, which sparkled under


    the lights. Typically, a dress so


    lavishly decorated would overwhelm


    most, but not Anthea. The


    diamonds, rather than stealing the


    show, only added to her radiance.


    Jp


    p.


    NS

 Chapter 345

    But she outshone the diamonds!


    Next to her. the diamonds seemed dull.


    The gown suited her far more than Sherman had imagined.


    "It''s just a dress, no need for thanks," Sherman said, his tone casual.


    He had witnessed the whole affair earlier.


    He thought Anthea would be at a disadvantage, overwhelmed by public opinion.


    But surprisingly, not only did she not suffer, she turned the tables on Reba


    Her handling of the situation was far beyond her neen years.


    Anthea leaned on the railing, gazing down at the garden level. "Nice view here, you''ve got a good eye for spots.¡±


    "Sherman! You''re really here? Aren''t youing down to see...?"


    Daniel arrived, panting.


    His surprise was evident on spotting Anthea beside Sherman. "The... the Genius?"


    "Mr. Robinson,¡± Anthea nodded slightly.


    It was really Anthea!


    Daniel was astounded.


    How did Antheae to be with Sherman?


    And..


    Daniel''s expression wasplex.


    Seeing that Daniel and Sherman needed to talk, Anthea excused herself, "Sherman, I''l head down to the garden level then.¡±


    At that, Sherman nodded slightly.


    Daniel was stunned


    What did he just hear?


    Anthea had called Sherman by his first name!


    Usually, aside from him, no one else dared to address Sherman so casually.


    To others, a respectful "Mr. Christensen¡± was obligatory.


    And he, due to a life-saving act in the Middle East eight years ago, had earned Sherman''s trust...


    But Anthea had known Sherman for just a few days?


    In Daniel''s eyes, Sherman was never one to easily favor someone.


    Even with Anthea¡¯s tech prowess, this special treatment seemed unusual.


    And Anthea was wearing that dress.


    "Sherman, that dress the Genius was wearing, it''s the one we brought from Capital City, right?" Daniel asked


    "Mm-hmm," Sherman nodded, his expression unchanged.


    Daniel''s face was a picture of shock!


    It really was!


    Swallowing hard, Daniel voiced his confusion, "Sherman, do... do you like the Genius?"


    The dress Anthea wore wasn''t just any dress brought from Capital City!


    It was designed by Sherman''s sister, Yuna Christensen, intended for her brother''s future bride.


    Just the diamonds on the dress cost millions.


    The fabric was imported from L Country.


    It was meant for Reba to wear at their engagement ceremony.


    But now, due to a misunderstanding, the engagement was called off.


    And today!


    It was Anthea who wore the dress.


    Could he have misunderstood?N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Was Sherman here tonight not for Reba, but for Anthea?


    Daniel was bewildered.


    How could Sherman fall for Anthea?


    Though Anthea was impressive, what about Reba if Sherman preferred Anthea?


    Anthea didn''t need a man to thrive.


    But Reba was different


    Reba needed Sherman


    "You''re overthinking it. My feelings for Anthea are purely of admiration,¡± Sherman responded, fiddling with his lighter.


    "Admiration?¡± Daniel frowned, IN


    "Sherman, would you let her wear a


    dress personally designed by Yuna


    for rere admiration? That dress


    was meant for your future wife¡±


    Sherman looked at Daniel, "It''s just a


    dress. worn and done. Why make it


    complicated? Besides, I have no


    ns to marry.¡±


    =


    "Sherman, you really don''t like the Genius?" Daniel pressed


    "I don''t,¡± Sherman shook his head


    "Since youdon''t like the Genius,


    consider Ms. Morris again! Ms.


    Morris was your fiancee, after all


    And¡¯ she" s kind and good- hearted!¡±


    Sherman nced at Daniel, "If she''s so great, why don''t you marry her? I''ll even support you.¡±

 Chapter 346

    Daniel paused, looking a bit sheepish. "How could I ever match up to Ms. Morris?"


    Daniel truly believed he was unworthy of the exceptional Reba.


    Sherman, with a slight parting of his lips, deadpanned, "You two, one''s a clueless yboy, and the other''s a cunning fox. You''re practically a match


    made in heaven."


    The term ¡®cunning fox'' was something Sherman had picked up from Anthea recently. Talk about putting it to use.


    At that, Daniel was beside himself, rushing to defend Reba: "Sherman! You''ve got Ms. Morris all wrong! She''s not what you think; she''s genuinely


    kind-hearted! She''s helped countless people; she wouldn''t even harm a fly!"


    He couldn''t fathom why Sherman held such a deep bias against Reba. Sherman usually seemed like a sharp guy, one with a clear sense of right


    and wrong. How could he be so mistaken now?N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Without entertaining Daniel''s protests, Sherman turned and headed downstairs.


    Daniel sighed in frustration. Missing out on somee as kind-hearted as Reba¡ªSherman would regret it one day, and by then, it would be too


    late. Even if Sherman came to see Reba''s worth, given her character, it wasn''t guaranteed she''d reciprocate his feelings. After all, Reba wasn''t


    one to chase after wealth and power for its own sake. Daniel wished Sherman would realize this before it was toote.


    Downstairs, Anthea was embarking on a dessert-tasting adventure, devouring over a dozen tes in one go. The Michelin-starred pastry chef,


    completely astonished, asked, "Miss, aren''t you worried about putting on weight?"


    Anthea lifted her gaze slightly, smiling, "When the desserts are this divine, who cares about a little extra weight?"


    There wasn''t a pastry chef alive who didn''t revel in such praise.


    The chef beamed, "Since you''re such a fan, let me showcase my specialty, ¡®Dessert Mont-nc''!¡±


    This dessert was a rarity in Michelin-starred restaurants, served in limited quantities. Reservations were booked up until next year.


    Anthea''s eyes sparkled. ¡°I can''t wait!"


    As the chef began preparing the dessert on the spot, Anthea chatted with him and learned he was of Chinese descent.


    Before long, the legendary Dessert Mont-nc was ready. Kendal presented it to Anthea. "Give it a try."


    The dessert looked absolutely exquisite. Taking a spoonful, Anthea tasted the sweet, rich chocte vor exploding on her tongue. "Delicious!


    Absolutely delicious! Kendal, your skill is unmatched!"


    Kendal was overjoyed at thepliment


    Sherman, justing downstairs,


    saw Anthea enjoying her dessert


    and chatting with the pastry chef.


    They seemed to be having a great ~~


    ~~


    time. Sherman noted how easily


    Anthea got along with everyone,¡±


    front fo ming a close bond with


    Karen to calling Adah a sister, and


    nGw engaging with a pastry chef.


    Few could boast such amiability.


    When Karen first met Anthea, she


    was a nobody, a ¡®beggar woman.


    Sherman stood there, a rosary in hand, his presence exuding an aura of restrained power and untouchable majesty, drawing curious nces and


    spection about his identity.


    Reba spotted Sherman almost immediately and noticed he was looking her way. Sherman was watching her!


    "Reba, when did you get here? Why didn''t you let me know?" A pleasant male voice broke the silence.

 Chapter 347

    Reba turned around and saw it was Daniel. She spoke softly, "Everyone at this cocktail party tonight seems to be from a mere distinguished


    background than me, so I thought I shouldn''t bother you, Daniel.¡±


    How considerate of Reba!


    Daniel couldn''t help but admire her inwardly. Unfortunately, Sherman always failed to see it


    Just then, a portly man approached, cradling avish velvet box, eager to show his attentiveness.


    "Mr. Robinson, I recently acquired this set of vintage writing tools at an auction. They were said to be left behind by a master craftsman. I know your


    grandfather was a man of letters, and he surely would appreciate these. Please, ept this humble gift."


    Daniel''s gaze fell on the velvet box, pondering for a moment. He motioned for his assistant to take the box, then turned to Reba, "Reba, I''ve


    heard you have quite the talent for calligraphy, and your ancestors were renowned for their skill. Why don''t you give these masterpieces a try and see


    how they fare?"


    It was an invitation for Reba to showcase her calligraphy in front of everyone. They say handwriting reflects the person. One''s handwriting speaks


    volumes about their character and upbringing


    Perfect timing, since Sherman had a soft spot for calligraphy. Perhaps, this could pique Sherman''s interest in Reba.


    At Daniel''s suggestion, the crowd began to murmur, intrigued to see if Reba''s handwriting was as impressive as rumored.


    Reba, of course, was more than willing to put on a calligraphy show for the audience. Even though her "system" hadn''t been upgraded to level 10


    vet, disying her calligraphy skills was well within her capabilities. With the "system" at her disposal, she was a calligraphy master.


    "I''l give it a try, then!"


    Daniel had someone set up the vintage writing tools. Reba stepped forward, picked up a pen, and began to write on a piece of hanging


    parchment.


    Everyone watched intently. With confidence, Reba penned two lines: "Embracing all rivers, Reba stands tall!¡±


    The writing was fluid and elegant, an absolute delight to behold


    "Beautifully done!"


    "The Morris family truly has a legacy!¡±


    The audience sincerelyplimented her work. Reba humbly responded, "It was nothing special, thank you for your kindness.¡±


    Gloria suddenly said, "If Ba can write so beautifully, then Ms. Yeager, who grew up in the Morris household, must be even more skilled, right?¡±


    Anthea, that little troublemaker, had caused her so much distress! Now, she wouldn''t miss this opportunity to see Anthea embarrassed.


    Following her cue, Reba said, "I''m sure Anthea is quite talented as well."


    Gloria suggested, "Why don''t we have Ms. Yeagere up and see who''s more skilled between her and Ba?"N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    At this, all gyes turned to Anthea, -.


    who wag enjoying some cupcakes.


    Caught off guard, Anthea frow ned


    slightly. Who could focus onwriting


    when there were sweets ta ¡®be had?


    "My handwriting isn''t great; I''d rather not embarrass myself."


    Hearing this, everyone seemed to


    understand-Anthea was just not up


    to the mark: She couldnteven >


    recognize-all the letters, how cauld


    she kow calligraphy? No wonder


    shewas afraid topete with


    Rebal


    =


    It just shows, what''s fake can never be real! Even if she''s be prettier, she''s not fit for the spotlight.


    Reba, always understanding,  -.


    defended-Anthea, "Although Anthea


    Es wp in our home, she isn''t of


    Mortis blood, so it''s understandable


    if her handwriting isn''t perfect.¡±


    Anthea raised an eyebrow, setting down her dessert, "Since everyone''s sc eager to see, I wouldn''t want to spoil the fun."

 Chapter 348

    Anthea was never one to seek the spotlight. But with Reba nipping at her heels, refusing to let up, Anthea decided it was time to show her what


    real talent looked like!


    She scoffed at Reba''s amateurish handwriting. Anthea hadn''t even considered it a challenge.


    Reba was momentarily taken aback. She hadn''t expected Anthea to suddenly ept the challenge. Was Anthea desperately iling for a win?


    After all, Anthea had grown up in the prestigious Morris family, receiving the finest education, only to bebeled a failure by everyone. Yet here was


    Reba, who had wed her way out of the slums, shining brightly! She was leagues ahead of Anthea!


    With that thought, Reba''s lips curled into a smug smile, reveling in her perceived victory. A flower, after all, shines brighter against a backdrop of


    leaves. And at this moment, she considered herself the most radiant flower of all!


    Gloria watched Anthea with a sneer, "Everyone in Cloudcrest knows about Ms. Yeager''s reputation. If you''re not up to the task, Ms. Yeager, maybe


    you shouldn''t waste everyone''s time." It was downright embarrassing! A failure who couldn''t even hold a pen properly, daring to challenge Reba in


    calligraphy? Completely delusional!


    "Seeing is believing, Ms. Davenport. Even someone from a distinguished background should understand such a simple concept,¡± Anthea replied,


    locking towards Daniel. "Could Mr. Robinson please fetch me another pen?¡±


    Daniel nodded and quickly had a servant prepare ancther pen. Soon, the servant brought over the pen


    Taking the pen, Anthea approached the table, holding a pen in each hand. She leaned forward slightly, dipping the pens into the ink. A strand of hair


    yfully fell across her face, adding to her charm.


    The crowd was surprised by Anthea''s actions.


    "Holy smokes! What''s she nning?¡±


    "Two pens at once?"


    "If she''s really going for it with both hands, that''s insane!"


    "It''s an act! She''s just stalling for time!"


    Anthea, a failure who couldn''t even fully recognize characters, how could she possibly manage this? Not even the most renowned calligraphers could


    achieve such a feat.


    Reba watched Anthea, her eyes


    filled with smugness. Like everyone


    else, she couldn''t believe Anthea


    would suce¨¦ed. She was curious to


    see how. Anthea would manage.{o


    save Kk face. But as far as Rebeca


    was concerned, Anthea''s reputation


    cotildn''t sink any lower. A-stepping


    stone was always just that, no


    matter how hard it tried.


    Not just Reba and Gloria, but others in the room were ready to witness Anthea''s humiliation. Some even took out their phones, ready to share


    Anthea''s failure on social media.


    At that moment, Anthea, having dipped her pens in ink, straightened up and began to write with both hands, her movements as fluid as flowing water.


    From a distance, her actions even carried a certain graceful martial beauty.


    Quickly, words appeared on the


    paper: "Hidden skill Witally


    clumsiness; rity igelnl obscurity;


    brilliance within modesty, strength


    igy flexibility." Her strokes were?


    bold and powerfull The writing''on


    cachside had its own style, & gach


    stoke striking awe into the Viewers.


    It had the power ofifianding


    mountains and rivers!


    Such skill could note without


    decades of practice, let alone being


    achieved with both hands. A


    Rebals own writing, which was¡±


    decent; paled I inparison. Next to


    Anthea¡¯ s, it looked like the work ofa


    grade schooler. There was imply no


    cGhtest! to


    Anthea had won this round spectacrly! The room fell silent. No one had expected Anthea to possess such skills. She had achieved what even


    renowned masters had not. Was this really the same person everyone had dismissed as a failure?


    The crowd was stunned. Those who hade expecting tough at Anthea were left speechless. This was beyond impressive!


    Reba felt a chill run down her spine. What was going on with Anthea? She was supposed to be a failure who barely recognized a few words, so


    how could she produce such beautiful calligraphy?


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

 Chapter 349

    The sound of apuse thundered through the air, each p echoing with a resonance that seemed to pierce the very soul.


    The intensity of the pping was directly proportional to the sourness spreading across Reba Morris''s face. As the rightful heiress to the Morris


    family''s vast estate, she found herself bested by an imposter, a counterfeit heiress who had not only usurped her ce but was also known far and


    wide as aplete and utter failure.


    How was she to hold her head high in Cloudcrest society after such a humiliating defeat?


    Not far from themotion, Sherman''s gaze cut through the crowd, zeroing in on a phrase that seemed to sum up the evening''s surprise, "Mastery


    lies in simplicity, and wisdom in humility.¡±


    The meaning was clear: it''s better to appear underwhelming than to unt one''s intellect; better to be modest than to radiate arrogance; better to


    seem approachable than aloof; better to retreat than to advance without caution.


    Sherman couldn''t help but chuckle softly to himself.


    Those words...


    Weren''t they the perfect description of Anthea herself?


    All these years, she had been hiding her brilliance behind a veil of ordinariness.


    "Anthea, you''re incredible!" Daniel approached her, admiration clear in his voice.


    Anthea''s response was light, "I haven''t practiced my calligraphy in a long time. I''m a bit rusty.¡±


    This was no false modesty.


    Back in her world, even the most revered figures in the calligraphy scene would have to tip their hats to her.


    This was her first time picking up a pen since arriving here.


    Daniel was stunned by her casual admission. If this was her being "rusty," what heights could she reach if she truly applied herself? Would the


    masters of the calligraphy world need to retire in her presence?


    "Anthea, you''re too modest,¡± Daniel continued, "By the way. did the dessert made by the Michelin-star chef tonight meet your expectations?¡±


    Anthea nodded, "It was quite delightful.¡±


    At this, Reba''s expression darkened further.


    What had Daniel just called Anthea?


    A prodigy?


    How could Anthea possibly deserve such a title?


    Daniel was supposed to see her, Reba, as his confidante. How could hevish such attention on Anthea instead?


    Shameless!


    Anthea was utterly shameless.


    Memories ofst year''s RealTimeFlow g shed through Reba''s mind. Back then, just like tonight, Anthea had stolen the spotlight that rightfully


    belonged to her.


    A nameless fear began to spread


    through Reba''s body, just as a


    sharply dressed gentleman >


    approacked, "My father is a great.¡±


    admire of calligraphy. I would {ove


    to purchase these pieces for-nim to


    stugly. Would you consider gelling


    them, Ms. Yeager?"


    The room went silent at his words.


    The man was not just any affluent guest.


    He was Jasper White, the eldest son


    of the prestigious White family,


    known for their deep roots in ~


    Cloudcr¨¦st''s history. Despite his


    youth~Jasper had made significant


    strides I n both business and politics,


    elevating the White family" status to


    the pinnacle of Cloudcrest society.


    Nobody had anticipated that Anthea''s calligraphy would catch the eye of someane like Jasper!


    As the saying goes, having connections makes everything easier.


    Many had hoped to forge a connection with Jasper during the evening, but none had found the opportunity. And yet, here was Anthea, unexpectedly


    winning his favor.


    Anthea smiled gently, "A gentleman helps others achieve their beauty. If you like them, you can have them.¡±


    "Thank you for your generosity, Ms.


    Yeager. ES Jasper White. Here''s ALY


    card. Should you ever need any


    assistance, please don''t hesitate to


    congact me," Jasper offered


    extending his card with both hands.


    "I''l take you up on that offer without being too modest, Mr. White.¡± Anthea epted the card, a smile ying on her lips.


    Witnessing this exchange, Reba felt a surge of bitterness. She watched as Anthea effortlessly charmed Jasper, her gaze filled with venom.


    Her fists clenched so tightly that her nails bit into her palms, yet she felt nothing


    If not for Anthea, she could have been the one in that spotlight.


    She could have been the one receiving praise!


    It was Anthea who had taken everything from her.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    No, she couldn''t let Anthea trample over her!


    She was meant to be the phoenix rising from the ashes, not Anthea


    Anthea was nothing but a stepping stone for her.


    Noticing Reba''s difort, Daniel asked with concern, "Reba, are you alright?"


    "I''m fine." Reba managed a strained smile, pretending as if nothing was amiss

 Chapter 350

    Daniel continued, "If you''re not feeling well, you can rest in my lounge."


    "Thanks, Daniel, but I''m really okay," Anthea assured him.


    After handing the letter to Jasper, Anthea returned to the dessert table, ready to indulge in more sweets. She was in heaven with every bite. With a


    piece of dessert in her mouth, she slightly squinted her eyes, her delicate features curling into a contented smile.


    This sight caught Sherman''s attention from a distance. Fiddling with his rosary beads, he found himself almost subconsciously walking over to her.


    "Nice handwriting," a deep, maic voice suddenly said near her.


    Anthea looked up to see a tall figure standing before her, his lips tight, his sharp features softened by the chandelier''s glow. Unlike the other men in


    suits at the party, he wore a simple white button-up shirt, its cuffs embroidered with intricate patterns. In his hand, he held a polished red rosary bead,


    highlighting his pale, slender hands. He had an air of aloofness about him, as if he could vanish with the wind at any moment.


    It was Sherman


    "Thanks for thepliment,¡± Anthea said, offering him a piece of the dessert. "This bava is really good. Want to try?"


    Sherman epted and tasted it, his expression unchanging. It was too sweet for his liking. He wondered how she could enjoy it so much.


    "How do you like it?" Anthea asked.


    "Um, it''s very good," Sherman nodded slightly.


    Anthea then rmended, "Nice, isn''t it? There''s also this princess cake that''s really good. Want to try?"


    Despite his resistance to the overly sweet desserts, Sherman couldn''t refuse anything Anthea suggested. He ate them all, not wasting a single bite.


    Seeing Sherman enjoying the


    sweets, Anthea felt like she had


    found a kindred spirit. "The best ~~


    dessert (Ve ever had was in a far, far


    away ce," she started to say; then


    caught herself, remembering-this


    was-a different world. "A very distant


    ce."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Maybe we can try it together sometime?¡± Sherman suggested, ying with his rosary bead, his demeanor unchanged.


    Anthea took a big bite of the mousse cake. "If we get the chance, we should," she mused, knowing deep down she might never return to her old


    world.


    "Then it''s a n.¡±


    "Sure," Anthea nodded, offering Sherman another piece of dessert.


    Daniel, witnessing this scene, was


    dumbfounded-He rubbed his eyes,


    but the scep¨¦ before him remained


    unchanged.¡± Sherman, of all people;,?


    was enjoying desserts! And if Daniel


    remegnbered correctly, Sherman


    was-iot only a vegetarian but also


    disfiked sweets. He had never even


    eaten a birthday cake before! But


    today, Sherman was indulging in


    desserts.


    Was the Sherman he knew all this time an imposter?


    Reba also noticed this scene and felt a twinge of jealousy. Why Anthea? Why was she so close to Mr. Christensen? She believed she should be


    the one standing by Mr. Christensen''s side.


    "Daniel, does Anthea seem very close to Mr. Christensen?" Reba asked, feigning indifference.


    Worried Reba might misunderstand, Daniel hurriedly exined, "Don''t get it wrong, Reba. I asked Sherman before, and he said there''s no


    romantic interest between them! They''re just good friends.¡±


    o romantic interest? Reba


    narrowed her eyes, a glint of hope


    flickering thrsugh them. Why would


    Daniel exin this out of the blue?


    Could it Be... Mr. Christensen had >


    allen For her? Perhaps Mr.


    Christensen was worried shemnight


    mistinderstand, which is why he had


    Daniel exin. After all, Daniel and


    r. Christensen were best friends;


    there were no secrets between


    them.


    So. it must be love.


    Everything seemed to be unfolding just as she had hoped. That night at the family dinner, Mr. Christensen must have noticed her. Otherwise, Daniel


    wouldn''t have gone out of his way to rify things.

 Chapter 351

    If Mr. Christensen didn''t care about her at all, why would Daniel go to such lengths?


    It made sense!


    How could someone of Anthea''s lowly status ever catch the eye of Mr. Christensen? The only reason Mr. Christensen had approached Anthea was


    probably to get her attention, after all, Anthea had once usurped her position! Thinking this, Reba felt that the grievances she had suffered before


    were insignificant


    After all. Mr. Christensen loved her.


    Cnce married to Mr. Christensen, who in all of Luxphinia would dare lock down on her?


    Reba smiled slightly, saying with intent, "I was just asking, but I do think Mr. Christensen and sister Anthea make a good match.¡±


    She said this on purpose.


    She had to let Sherman know through Daniel that she was not like other mboyant women. Only by doing the opposite could she make Sherman fall


    for her irretrievably!


    Daniel said, "They do seem like a good match, but I think a goddess with Sherman is somewhat mismatched. Both are so formidable, Sherman suits


    someone more demure and gentle, like you, Reba.¡±


    Anthea and Sherman were equals. Two strong personalities together just don''t mix. Neither of them is less than the other, and if forced together,


    conflicts are inevitable!


    Most importantly.


    Sherman is a vegetarian. And Anthea eats everything. How could Sherman ever tolerate someone who eats meat by his side? So, Reba is clearly


    a better match for Sherman.


    Reba chuckled, somewhat shyly, "Me, a match for Mr. Christensen?"


    Daniel paused.


    Was Reba backing out because she felt she wasn''t good enough for Sherman? She''s too kind!


    Daniel continued, "Reba, you''re wonderful, don''t underestimate yourself.¡±


    "Really?" Reba looked up at Daniel.


    Daniel noddechearnestly, "You''re the


    kindest, mastgenuine girl I know.


    Sherman''s.the same, he''s been -


    vegetarian for years, you two area


    perfecbma ch. It''s just that Sherman


    can te a bit stubborn sometimes,


    hard to see beyond the surface.¡¯


    If Sherman cauld look beyond


    appearances: hie wouldn''t have such


    a deep misunderstanding of o


    Reba-Now that Sherman had:


    misunderstood Reba so deeply,N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Danidt couldn''t let Reba continue


    tohisunderstand Sherman:


    ?


    As Sherman''s best mate, Daniel couldn''t just watch Sherman miss out on Reba. Misunderstandings will be cleared up one day. If they miss out on


    each other over this misunderstanding, it would be a great loss.


    "Daniel, thank you for thinking so highly of me."


    With Daniel''s words, Reba felt much more assured. What kind of man was Mr. Christensen? Either he lived a life of asceticism. Or, once he fell in


    love, he would give his all, willing to do anything for her!


    From Daniel''s words, it wasn''t hard to guess that Mr. Christensen¡¯s hesitation in confessing his feelings might be because he was still figuring out how


    to deal with it


    Because in Reba''s past life


    memories, ug-until her death, the


    legendary Mr. Christensen had never


    settled dawn. Going from wantingto


    live a sofitary life to suddenly oY


    meeting someone he wanted\to


    spend the rest of his life with, he


    fst be feeling bewildered.


    Reba believed that it wouldn''t take long for Mr. Christensen to take the initiative toe to her! The more Reba thought about it, the more


    excited she became, her heartbeat quickening


    After the meeting, Sherman offered to drive Anthea home. Anthea didn''t refuse, "That would be kind of you."


    "It''s on the way," Sherman said


    As they got in the car, Anthea said, "Sherman, this dress must have been quite expensive, right? Send me your bank details, and I''ll transfer the


    money to you."


    She didn''t want to owe Sherman a favor.


    Sherman, holding a cross in one hand and controlling the steering wheel with the other, said, "It''s just a dress, don''t worry about it.¡±


    "If you don''t give me your bank details, I''ll transfer the money to yourpany''s ount,¡± Anthea said, her tone light.


    Sherman had never given gifts to any woman before.

 Chapter 352

    It was a first for Sherman.


    And unexpectedly, a rejection followedContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Rubbing his temples in frustration, he nced at Anthea. "Our subsidiary¡¯s website has been under a nasty cyber-attacktely. If you''re looking to


    make amends, maybe you could help me out with that?"


    "Sure, no problem,¡± Anthea replied. "Just send me the login details ance you''re back."


    "Will do."


    After getting home and taking a shower, Anthea received the login credentials from Sherman. Logging in, she realized she''d been given the keys to


    the kingdom: the main admin ount.


    Raising an eyebrow, she wondered, did he really trust her that much? Sherman didn''t seem the type to be careless.


    Drying her hair with a towel, Anthea''s fingers flew over the keyboard, a blur of English letters filling the screen, line after dizzying line.


    After a brief digital skirmish, it became clear she wasn''t up against one person but a team of five, working together seamlessly. Thankfully, the


    Christensen Group had a top-notch firewall, bolstered by a crack crisis management team. Otherwise, they wouldn''t havested this long under such


    an assault.


    Ten minutester, Anthea shut herptop and messaged Sherman, "Hacker issue resclved. I''ve beefed up the firewall too. Let me know if there''s


    anything else.¡±


    "Thank you."


    "Don''t mention it."


    Sherman replied at a casual pace, "It''s gettingte. Time to rest. Goodnight.¡±


    Goodnight?


    Anthea nced at the time. It was only half-past ten. Raising an eyebrow, she mused, do older people always go to bed this early?


    "Goodnight, grandpa.¡±


    Grandpa?


    Sherman frowned at the message. Did he really seem that old? Adhering to his disciplined routine, Sherman prepared for bed. His life had been a


    series of punctual sleep and wake times for a decade, unbroken by anyone or anything.


    Somewherein the city, in a sealed


    room with: fiveputers, a group


    of four fen and one woman were


    busy a at their keyboards. Suddenly,


    bluescreens of death appeared on


    their monitors!


    -


    "Boss! Someone''s hacked myputer!¡±


    "Mine too!"


    "Damn, mine''s gone as well!"


    The team leader, a man with tattooed arms, snapped, "What''s going on? I thought you were top-notch hackers?"


    A chubby team member stood up, "We were about to break through their firewall, but then it''s like they switched yers on us..."


    "That''s your excuse?" the leader roared, incredulous at being outyed. Being professional hackers and getting hacked in return was a disgrace.


    The room fell silent until the leader-.


    spoke again, "Wasn''t their top hacker


    W supposed to be on vacation


    abroad? Apart from W, who else


    could take you all down?"   ~~


    They had chosen this time to strike, believing W to be out of the picture. Yet, they''d been countered


    "We''ve shed with W before. This doesn''t feel like his work."


    "Definitely not! W''s good, but against all five of us, he couldn''t just hijack our systems."


    "You''re all worthless!" the leader exploded in anger, immediately ordering newputers for another attempt


    But this time, they couldn''t even log in


    "Boss, my ount''s been stolen..."


    "Mine too!"


    The leader, feeling something was terribly wrong, checked his ownputer, only to find his ount hijacked and the appeal date set a century


    ahead!


    "Son of a gunWe''ve hit a snag!¡± he


    cursed, tossitg aside his cigarette,


    He hadn''tparticipated in the attack,


    which could only mean one thing


    their adversary had traced their IP


    and wiped them out in one fell


    SWB0P.


    :

 Chapter 353

    Who in the world is this guy?


    When did such a character appear in the hacking world?


    Today was the day Carole returned from her trip.


    Having just finished breakfast, Nanson hopped into his car to pick Carole up from the airport.


    Anthea had school today and couldn''t join in to pick Carale up. ¡°Uncle, drive safe, okay?¡±


    ¡°Uncle, drive safe, okay?¡± Little White mimicked in a yful tone


    "Got it,¡± Nanson replied, patting Little White''s head with a smile


    Carole''s flight was scheduled tond at 9 AM.


    Nanson had barely arrived when he spotted Carole, dragging her suitcase out of the terminal.


    ¡°Sis!¡± Nanson waved excitedly at Carole.


    ¡°Nanson,¡± Carole jogged over, suitcase in tow. ¡°When did you get here?¡±


    ¡°Just arrived.¡± Nanson said, taking over her suitcase.


    Carole then asked, ¡°Annie went to school?¡±


    ¡°Yep,¡± Nanson nodded, continuing, ¡°Sis, was everything smoath on your trip?¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t have been better!¡±


    They chatted as they walked


    An hourter, they were home.


    Nanson rang the doorbell


    ¡°Isn''t Annie at school? Who''s home then?¡± Carole asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Someone is,¡± Nanson nodded.


    "Who?" Carole was increasingly curious.


    Nanson gave a mysterious smile, ¡°A new member.


    "A new member?¡± That spiked Carole''s curiosity even more


    ¡°Yep.¡±


    Just then, the door opened


    ¡°Wee home, masters.¡±


    Carole gasped in surprise, "What is this?


    Little White looked up, "Master, I am not a ¡®what¡¯. I am the universe''s most advanced robot! You can call me Little White!¡±


    "Since when did we get a robot?¡± Carole turned to Nanson


    Nanson chuckled, ¡°It wasn''t bought. Annie built it from an old vacuum cleaner.


    ¡°Annie built it?¡± Carole was incredulous.


    Robotics invelved high technology and programming skills.


    Anthea was just a high school senior, could she be that brilliant?


    Nanson added with a smile, "Sis, you wouldn''t believe it if you hadn''t seen it with your own eyes.¡±


    Then, turning to Little White, he said, ¡°Little White, tell my sister who created you.¡±


    Little White straightened up proudly, ¡°The most beautiful and smart Annie in the universe, of course!¡±


    Carole was initially skeptical.


    But hearing that, she immediately believed it.


    That tone.


    That attitude.


    It was just like Anthea.


    Nanson went on, ¡°Sis, there¡¯s oatmeal and pancakes in the pot if you''re hungry. I''m runningte for work, gotta dash.¡±


    "Ckay,¡± Carole nodded, urging him, ¡°Go on, I''ll be fine.¡±


    "Master, shall I warm up the oatmeal for you?" Little White suddenly offered.


    Carole, surprised, said, ¡°You know how to heat up oatmeal?


    "Of courset" Little White replied with


    a hint of pride. ¡®Not only can I heat


    up food, but I can also clean, , take


    outthe trash. There''s a lot ttan do!


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    IB


    "Well, aren''t you impressive!¡±


    "Absolutely! I''m super duper awesome, after alll¡±


    Carole: *......


    Nanson rushed to his office.


    Just as he parked his car and was hurrying out, he identally bumped into someone.


    ¡°I''m so sorry, are you alright?¡± Nanson quickly helped the person up.


    The persoftwas a stylish young


    woman, pretty and with delicate


    features. She dusted herself off,¡±


    understandingly saying, ¡°It''s okay, it


    was an ident!¡±


    to  ig


    Assured that she was fine, Nanson didn''t linger and hurried into his office.


    He had a ton to do.


    After Nanson left, the young woman also quickly made her way out.


    In the evening, after work, Nanson


    stopped by a convenience store ?


    grab some instant noodles. At the


    checkout, he reached into his pocket


    and found it empty. ¡°Can I pay with


    my-phone?¡¯


    ¡°Sure,¡± the cashier nodded, pointing to a QR code on the counter. ¡°Just scan this.¡±


    Nanson took out his phone


    Ironically, it was dead.


    As he stood there, feeling awkward, a pleasant voice chimed in, ¡°Put this gentleman''s items on my tab, please.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± the cashier nodded. ¡°That''ll be $128 in total.¡±

 Chapter 354

    A young woman handed the cashier a couple of dors. Nanson was taken aback as he looked at her, feeling a sense of familiarity. After a moment, it


    clicked, "You... you''re thedy I identally bumped into this morning, aren''t you?"


    The young woman paused, then realization dawned, "Oh, it was you."


    Nanson offered a sheepish smile, ¡°I''m really sorry about this morning! And thank you for covering for me."


    "Life''s full of random encounters, meeting here must be fate. You''ve already apologized this morning," she replied, then added, "I believe in paying it


    forward. Helping you is like helping myself. Everyone faces tough times now and then."


    Nanson was impressed by her maturity. If everyone thought like her, the world would indeed be a much better ce.


    "Regardless, I owe you thanks. If you don''t mind, could we exchange numbers? I''d like to pay you back for the food." He hadn''t just bought instant


    noodles, but also coffee and a sports drink, totaling a pretty penny.


    "No need,¡± the young woman insisted. "If you really want to thank me, just lend a hand to some else in need. That''ll be payment enough.¡±


    "My name''s Nanson. I work at QuickSend Parcels. Don''t worry, I have no ulterior motives.¡±


    The young woman offered a gentle smile, "Mr. Nanson, I didn''t think you did. Just remember to help someane else. That''s all I ask."


    Still feeling indebted, Nanson tried another approach, "Well, I drove here. Can I at least offer you a ride home?"


    "No, thank you. I can manage on my own."


    With that, the young woman turned and left. Nanson watched her leave, feeling an unexpected fondness for this stranger. It was rare to encounter


    such genuine kindness


    Later, Anthea rushed to Yeager''s Delicacies right after school, eager to see Carole, who had been working tirelessly away from home. Sneaking up.


    Anthea hugged her, "Mom! I''ve missed you so much!"


    It had been over twenty days since theyst saw each other, with Carole preferring not to disturb Anthea''s studies withte-night calls, especially with


    exams around the corner.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Holding Anthea, Carole frowned, "Annie, you''ve lost weight! Haven''t you been eating well? I told your uncle to make sure you had pork trotter soup


    every day."


    Carole was concerned, remembering how she used to make nourishing pork trotter soup for Anthea every night.


    Antheaughed it off, "I''ve been having it! Do I look thinner? You must be imagining things!¡±


    Still, Carole was convinced Anthea had lost weight and decided to cook a hearty meal that night.


    Time flew by, and before they knew


    it, final exams were just around the


    corner. Anthea seemed unaffected


    but her fl frends, Lizzie and Tanya,


    were visibly stressed, staying upte


    to study and showing up with dark


    circles under their eyes.   ?


    Cne day, Anthea invited Tanya to lunch, but Tanya declined, "Annie, you go ahead. I''ve got an apple in my locker if I get hungry."


    Anthea frowned, "Tanya, you haven''t been to the cafeteria in over a month.¡±


    Realizing how long it had been, Tanya looked up, "Has it been that long?"


    "Come on, we need to eat to stay strong. Lizzie''s waiting for us outside," Anthea insisted.


    Tanya hesitated, "I''m really not hungry. My grades aren''t as good as yours or Lizzie''s. If I don''t get into Capital City with you guys, I''ll never forgive


    myself. I have to keep trying, so I don''t live with regrets.¡±


    Time passed quickly, and June


    . ae .


    arrived. Therg were only eight days


    left until the-eollege entrance exams.


    While Anthea remained calm, her-*


    ssmates grew increasingly NN


    anxialss, especially Lizzie and- 6 Tanya,


    what pushed themselves tod the limit,


    often studyingte into the r night and


    showing signs of exhaustion.


    At lunchtime, Anthea urged Tanya to join her for a meal. Tanya waved her off, "Annie, you go ahead. I have an apple in my locker if I get hungry.¡±


    Anthea frowned, "Tanya, you haven''t been to the cafeteria in weeks."


    Stunned, Tanya put down her pen and looked at Anthea, "Has it been that long?"


    "Yes, it has. We need to eat to stay healthy. Come on, Lizzie is waiting for us outside,¡± Anthea insisted.


    Tanya sighed know. But I feel like I


    need to study more. My grades


    aren''t as good as yours or Lizzie''s, Af


    I don''t make it to Capital City wit


    you gays, I''l never forgive myself. I


    haveto give it my all so I don''t have


    regrets."


    svinovel =


    Anthea nodded, understanding her friend''s determination. "Alright, but let''s at least grab a quick bite. You''ll study better on a full stomach.¡±

 Chapter 355

    Seeing this, Anthea sighed and let Tanya be.


    After Anthea left, Tanya continued grinding away at her study questions.


    When Anthea emerged alone, Lizzie eximed in surprise, ¡°Tanya''s skipping lunch again today?"


    Anthea nodded.


    Lizzie said with admiration, "She''s really going all in, isn''t she?"


    Anthea smiled. "She''s aiming for Capital City University. She scored 523 onst week''s practice test, still more than 80 points shy of Capital City''s cutoff, so she''s pushing herself hard."


    Lizzie nodded, "Got it. Looks like I need to step up my game too. Let''s all make it into our dream schools."


    "We definitely will," Anthea said, full of confidence for the future.


    Knowing that Anthea''s big exams were just around the corner, Karen had gone out of her way to get a good luck charm from the local church to give to Anthea.


    When Adah heard about it, she said, "Mom, can Ie with you? I''ve never been to Annie''s school."


    Karen nodded, "Sure, let''s go together."


    They arrived just as school was letting out, and the sight of so many young students streaming out brought back their own school day memories. How quickly the years had passed.


    Then Karen''s eyes lit up, "Adah, look! There''s Annie!"


    Anthea, with her striking looks, stood out even in the standard school uniform, and Karen recognized her immediately.


    "That''s Annie!" Adah confirmed.


    Karen boasted, ¡°Annie is the granddaughter-inw I chose myself. Such an image, such grace, truly stands out from the crowd! Amazing! My grandson is so lucky to have her."


    Adah waved, "Annie! Over here!"


    Reba had just stepped out of the school gate when she saw Karen and Adah waving at her.


    She frowned slightly.


    How annoying could they get?


    Hadn''t she made it clear before?


    The engagement was off!


    And yet here they were, looking for her.


    As if a toad could lust after a swan''s flesh!


    Shameless!


    "What do you want now? The engagement is off! What''s the point of this?" Reba walked up to Karen and Adah, clearly annoyed. Adah was taken aback, "You''re mistaken, we''re not here for you!"


    Karen pushed Adah aside, hands on her hips, and?ashed out at Reba, "Are you sick? Who''s looking for you? Look at yourself in the mirror! You''re not even fit to wash my future granddaughter-inw''s feet! She''s a thousand times, no, ten thousand times better than you!" N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Reba had never been so publicly insulted since her return.


    She trembled with rage.


    "You crazy old woman! Say that again!"


    Karen was defiant, "What if I do? You are sick! And delusional! Thinking you''re a fairy when you look more like a tramp! It''s hrious!"


    As Reba''s face turned paler, Karen added fuel to the fire, "Go ahead, hit me! I dare you. Touch me


    I


    the


    nose!"


    and I make you pay.


    Swnovel


    Reba held back her anger.


    This was the school entrance, crowded and visible. If she was seen hitting an elderly woman, her reputation would be ruined beyond redemption. "Mrs. Christensen! Adah!" Just then, Anthea came running out.


    Reba nced at Anthea, then back at Karen and Adah, her eyes shing with scorn. Birds of a feather flock together! Lowly people only deserve to be with their own kind!


    She didn''t need to waste her time with them.


    Reba turned and walked away.


    Karen spat towards Reba''s retreating figure, "Pah! Trash!"

 Chapter 356

    Karen''s voice was loud and piercing.


    Several feet ahead, Reba''s eyebrows knitted together in disdain at hearing the term "trailer trash" thrown her way.


    That old witch!


    How dare she?


    Had Karen shown a shred of humility, perhaps Reba might have tossed a few crumbs of kindness her way.


    But now?


    Forget it!


    She wouldn''t waste her charity on someone so beneath her.


    A family fallen from grace, deserving of their bankruptcy and destined for a life at the bottom of the socialdder.


    This was the first time Anthea had heard Karen let loose with suchnguage in all the days she''d known her, sparking a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Mrs. Christensen, do you know her?"


    At the sound of Anthea''s voice, Karen''s demeanor flipped like a switch, her face blooming into a smile, "Oh, Ann, there you are! Who would want to know such a vile person? Let''s not talk about her. By the way, Ann, aren''t you about to take your SATS? I got you this lucky charm from the church, keep it with you, and you''re sure to ace them!"


    With that, Karen handed over a yellow charm, its symbols drawn in vibrant ink.


    "Thank you, Mrs. Christensen." Anthea took the charm, tucking it carefully into her zer pocket.


    Seeing Anthea cherish the charm so, Karen beamed with pride.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    She had worried that Anthea might find her too superstitious for gifting her the charm. After all, the younger generation often dismissed the old ways. But Anthea''s eptance proved her wrong.


    Truly, she was the ideal granddaughter-inw, worlds apart from that no-good Reba.


    As Anthea showed appreciation for


    Karen''s gift, Adah, not to be outdone, pulled out a thermos, "Annie, you must be hungry after school, right? I had this special dessert soup made just for you!"


    Anthea''s eyes sparkled at the mention of dessert soup, "Really? Thank you, Adah!"


    "Annie, you don''t have to be so formal with me!" Adahughed, linking arms with Anthea, "There''s a fried chicken joint up ahead. Let''s go sit and eat." "Sounds good."


    Karen quickly took Anthea''s other arm, and together they entered the bustling diner filled with students.


    Anthea ordered for the group using her phone.


    Adah served the dessert soup, passing it to Anthea, "Annie, give it a try. This dessert chef is a genius, it''s a secret family recipe you can''t find anywhere else."


    Taking a sip, Anthea savored the sweetness, tinged with a hint of mint, and the soft dumplings that burst with vor at the slightest pressure.


    "How is it, Annie? Good?" Adah asked eagerly.


    "Delicious!" Anthea nodded, her approval evident.


    Adah filled another bowl, "I''m d you like it, have some more, we''ve got plenty!"


    Karen watched over Anthea with a fond look, "Yes, yes, eat up! If it''s not enough, I''ll have more sent over. Oh, Ann, you''ve gotten so thin. Are you stressed about the SATS?"


    Then, Karen continued, "It''s just an


    exam, after all. You''re aiming for Harvard, right? If your scores fall short, I''ll just donate a couple of buildings to Harvard. Two''s not enough? We''ll make it three, or ten, until they agree to take you!"


    Adah nodded in agreement, "Exactly, Annie. Mrs. Christensen is right. It''s just a few buildings; don''t stress yourself out. We can afford it!"


    Karen and Adah spoke with such sincerity, their faces devoid of any jest, as if donating buildings to an Ivy League school was as casual as picking up apples from the O supermarket.


    Anthea, taken aback by their disy of wealth, choked on her dessert soup, coughing as she tried to process their outrageous offer.

 Chapter 357

    "Cough cough cough!"


    "Annie, are you okay? Slow down with the eating!" Adah was startled and quickly stood up to pat Anthea on the back.


    Karen immediately handed Anthea a napkin, her face filled with concern. "Ann, are you all right?"


    "I''m fine, I''m fine! Just went down the wrong way," Anthea reassured them as she wiped her mouth with the napkin.


    Hearing that Anthea was okay, both of them rxed.


    Adah continued, "So, Annie, don''t put too much pressure on yourself! It''s just Harvard, right? Even if you don''t ace the SATs, we''ve got ways to get you in..."


    Karen nodded in agreement.


    Anthea looked up with a smile, "Adah, Mrs. Christensen, taking shortcuts isn''t the right way! It wouldn''t be fair to others who''ve worked hard for their SATS. Don''t worry, with my smarts, I''ll definitely get into Harvard on my own merit!"


    Karen beamed at Anthea. She couldn''t be prouder. Her granddaughter-inw was simply the best. She had the option to take the easy path but chose to rely on her abilities! How many people in this world would do that like her granddaughter-inw? Truly, she thought, Anthea was the world''s best granddaughter-inw.


    "Exactly, Ann! With your intelligence and awesomeness, you''ll definitely get into Harvard!"


    Adah added, "Annie! I believe in you too!"N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    ---


    Meanwhile, in Capital City.


    Though Darleen had been in a car ident before, she had recovered well over time and was now back to normal. With the SATs approaching, Darleen was more determined than ever! Even though her grades were already top-notch, she couldn''t afford to ck off.


    In the circles of the wealthy, few heiresses actually had ster grades; most got into prestigious colleges through hefty donations! She was determined to stand out with her scores, to make everyone take notice and to make her mother, Edna, incredibly proud!


    Edna brought Darleen some snacks, "Darleen, have something to eat before you hit the books again."


    "Thanks, Mom."


    Edna watched Darleen with satisfaction. Her daughter had always been exceptional, mastering the arts and academics alike. She never had to worry about Darleen, who would spend her free time enrolling in various sses.


    "Darleen, how do you think you''ll do on the SATs?"


    Darleen responded, "Better than Gerard, getting into an Ivy League should be no problem."


    "Really?" Edna asked, surprised and delighted.


    Darleen nodded. Gerard''s grades were decent but not top-tier. Darleen, on the other hand, had been consistently among the top three in her ss. Gerard? Not even close to her level.


    Edna knew her daughter well. She knew Darleen never boasted without reason; if she believed she could outperform Gerard, then she must be ny percent sure of it. What couldGerard amount to? Born to less distinguished family, he might grow up amidst wealth but would never have the pedigree or bloodline topare with Darleen!


    Soon, J would have to acknowledge that only the child of her and Jonah could be the rightful heir to the Lindsay family. Everyone else was just inferior by birth!


    Edna squinted, then said, "Well, Darleen, you get back to studying. I won''t disturb you."


    After leaving the room, Edna prepared a nourishing soup she''d been brewing for J and headed over to the Lindsay family''s mansion. Upon entering, she could hear J''sughter.


    Edna frowned slightly, wondering who else could make J so joyful. In the living room, she found Gerard chatting with J.


    Since that incident, their bond seemed to have grown stronger.


    Edna squinted her eyes. "J."


    "Edna''s here," J greeted with a smile.


    Edna then greeted Gerard, "Gerry."


    Gerard ignored Edna, turning back to J, "Grandma, I''ve got a basketball game with some ssmates. I''ll head out now." Basketball? Edna''s eyes shed with sarcasm.

 Chapter 358

    At this hour, Gerard is still out there, thinking about fun and games. No wonder he can''t hold a candle to Darleen. He''s a lost cause!


    "Go ahead," J said tenderly, nodding her approval.


    "Meow." A cat suddenly darted out from a corner, following Gerard''s steps.


    "Go back," Gerard stopped and turned.


    Simba, instead of going back, ran over and rubbed against Gerard''s leg.


    Gerard frowned slightly, bent down with a look of disgust, and picked up Simba to take him outside.


    The butler, witnessing this scene, couldn''t help but curl his lips into a smile. Young Master Gerard, cold on the outside, warm on the inside. Though he always talked about getting rid of that cat, it was clear he had a soft spot for it.


    Edna brought out a nourishing soup for J with a smile.


    J looked apologetically at Edna, "Edna, Gerry''s got the wrong idea about you. Don''t hold it against him."


    "J, listen to you talk. I''ve always treated Gerry as my own. How could I possibly be mad at him?" Edna replied, then added, "Besides, that was my responsibility..."


    At this, Edna''s face showed a hint of guilt.


    "It''s not your fault!" J reassured her, patting her hand. "You meant well! Don''t you ever say that again!"


    Edna then took out a beautifully wrapped gift box, "Oh J, the SATs are just around the corner. I''ve prepared this gift specially for Gerry. You know he''s not very fond of me, so please, could you give this to him? And don''t tell him it''s from me."


    "You''ve gone through a lot, Edna."


    "It''s nothing," Edna replied with a smile.


    "By the way, why didn''t Darleene with you?" J asked.


    Edna chuckled, "Well, with the SATsing up, you know she''s not as sharp as Gerry. They say the early bird catches the worm. She wants to get into a good college, so she''s hitting the books at home."


    "Who says Darleen isn''t sharp? She couldn''t top her ss if she wasn''t," J countered. "As for Gerry, the SATs are nearly upon us, and I haven''t seen him crack open a book once! Ah, that boy!"


    J sighed. The saying goes, ignorance is bliss. She thought Gerard had been doing alright recently, but hearing Edna mention Darleen studying at home made J uneasy. With the SATS looming, Darleen was diligently studying, while Gerard was out ying ser!


    Edna smiled, "Gerry''s naturally bright. Even without studying, he''ll score well."Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "That boy may be bright, but he''s not focused on his studies," J continued. "He''ll never outdo Darleen!"


    Of course, Gerard couldn''t match up to Darleen! Edna inwardly scoffed, though her face remained expressionless.


    "J, education isn''t the only path


    to sess anymore. Besides, Gerry is set to take over Jonah''s position in the future. His academic credentials won''t matter much, so you really don''t need to worry."


    J felt even more uneasy. "Jonah was a top student back in his day, alwaysing first in his ss. I wonder who this boy takes after!"


    Who else could it be? Edna narrowed her eyes. He must have taken after Carole! If Gerard had been her and Jonah''s child, things would be different! Such a pity. Gerard carried the blood of lesser folk.


    At that moment, J also thought of Carole and waved her hand dismissively, "Let''s drop it. It only adds to my worries."


    ---


    Today is June 6th. The day before


    the SATS The atmosphere in ss had clearly shifted. Everyone was frantically exchanging contact information, taking group photos, and writing messages of good luck...


    Tanya quickly flipped through the answer keys to her practice questions, then on thest page, she wrote down a name with determination.


    Abbott. The name of the person she had silently admired. The first time she saw him was during military training, wearing an unttering camouge uniform, yet he captured her attentionpletely.

 Chapter 359

    Tomorrow''s the big day, the final exam.


    With a turn, paths diverge in different directions.


    Who knows if they''ll ever see each other again.


    Tanya stared at the name for a long while before suddenly looking up at Anthea. "Annie, have you ever had a crush on anyone at school?" Tanya''s curiosity got the better of her. Anthea was stunning, after all, and she wondered which guy could possibly catch her eye.


    "Uh?" Anthea blinked, then shook her head.


    In her past life, she was always single, and in this life, she hadn''t really thought about it.


    Maybe it was because of everything she''d been through before.


    Anthea wasn''t exactly holding her breath for love.


    Seeing Anthea''s response, Tanya wasn''t surprised.


    Because she really couldn''t imagine who would be worthy of Anthea.


    "Do you?" Anthea asked.


    Tanya nodded.


    Anthea''s curiosity peaked. "Who?"


    Tanya hesitated, then said, "Abbott from the honors program."


    Abbott?


    She couldn''t recall much about him.


    Anthea touched her chin, "Is he cute?"


    "Super cute!" Tanya nodded vigorously.


    Her ''first love'' couldn''t be anything but, right?


    "After school, take me to see him?" Anthea continued. "And maybe confess?"


    Tanya shook her head, "Better not..."


    "Why not?" Anthea pressed. "If you like him, say it! We''re graduating soon. Who knows if you''ll ever see him again?"


    Tanya was quite reserved, and her cheeks flushed at Anthea''s words. "I... I can''t."


    "What''s there to be afraid of?" Anthea raised an eyebrow slightly.


    Tanya then asked, "Annie, if you liked someone, would you confess?"


    "Absolutely," Anthea nodded firmly. "Life''s too short. No one knows what the next second holds. If you have love in your heart, why not shout out? Besides, even if he rejects you, so what? You won''t lose anything. It''s hard to find a two-legged frog, but men with two legs are everywhere!" N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    With that, Anthea patted Tanya''s shoulder. "Don''t live with regrets."


    "Annie, I wish I could be more like you," Tanya said, admiringly.


    "Just think it over," Anthea patted her shoulder again.


    Tanya nodded just as the bell for ss rang.


    Mr. Waldron, their homeroom teacher, walked up to the podium with his lesson n as usual, reviewing key points for the exam As the ss was about to end, he cleared his throat, unusually opting not to be sarcastic for once.


    "Alright. Before we wrap up, I just want to say something. You''re about to graduate..."


    As he spoke, his voice choked up. Looking at all the familiar faces, his eyes suddenly reddened, and the words just wouldn''te out.


    He had seen this group of students grow from freshmen to seniors.


    Through ups and downs.


    Tears andughter.


    They had shared honors and faced doubts together.


    Those memories flickered through his mind like a movie, making Mr. Waldron''s emotions overflow. He turned away, took off his sses and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Alright, I won''t say much more. Good luck on your exams!


    With that, he hurriedly left the ssroom.


    S


    The students weren''t in much better shape, many with teary eyes.


    Even the usual troublemakers were sobbing.


    After leaving the ssroom, Mr. Waldron couldn''t help but crouch down and sob softly.


    It took a while for him to calm down and head to the staff room.


    Just as he got there, he heard Mr. Bain''s voice, "Mr. Waldron, the exams are tomorrow. I want to wish your student, Anthea, all the best in getting top marks!"


    Ever since Anthea made the honor roll, Mr. Bain had been convinced she cheated.


    With the final exams approaching, he was sure Anthea would be exposed, and naturally, he was thrilled!

 Chapter 360

    "


    The valedictorian was from their ss.


    Not only that, but their very own Anthea was nothing more than a ss clown inparison.


    Bain''s voice dripped with sarcasm, and Waldron replied with a chuckle, "Don''t worry, even without your well-wishes, our ss champ Yeager will top the charts! And he''ll definitely outscore your buddy Philip!"


    Bain couldn''t help butugh, lifting his cup of tea, "I''ll be watching closely."


    The top student of the year was theirs, and without copying anyone, could Anthea really outdo him?


    That seemed like a fairy tale!


    "I''ll be watching alright," Waldron wasn''t intimidated by Bain.


    Bain put down his textbook, "Just hope, Mr. Waldron, you won''t be too embarrassed to show your face!"


    "Whoever hides, is the loser!"


    Bain nodded, "d to hear you say that."


    Waldron was smug now, but wait till the final exam scores came out. Bain wondered how he''d face anyone then.


    Bain squinted his eyes.


    When school was out for the day.


    Nobody wanted to leave.


    Everyone spontaneously stayed back in the ssroom, walking up to Anthea one by one to thank her.


    Though Anthea had only been with them for a semester, her ce in their hearts was undoubtedly on par with Mr. Waldron, their ss advisor. Anthea had helped them immensely throughout the term.


    "Boss Yeager, it''s almost graduation. I hate to see you go."


    "Boss Yeager, don''t forget us after you graduate."


    The atmosphere grew increasingly sentimental.


    Anthea stood up with a smile, "All good thingse to an end, but rest assured, I''ll always remember you all, and our time in senior year, ss 7. Here''s to acing our exams and getting into our dream colleges."


    Then, Anthea and everyone gathered for a group photo.


    It wasn''t just ss 7 that lingered.


    Students from other sses were


    also saying their goodbyes, knowet


    I that after today, it would


    hard for the group to gather again.


    Nearly an hourter, everyone finally left the ssroom.


    Lizzie was outside, waiting for Anthea and Tanya. Seeing them approach, she ran over excitedly, "Annie, Tanya."


    Anthea smiled, ¡°Lizzie, have you been waiting long?"


    Lizzie shook her head, "No, my ss just ended too."


    The trio walked and talked together.


    Suddenly, the conversation shifted to crushes.


    Tanya shared her crush with Lizzie.


    Lizzie said, "I have a crush too, and we''ve promised to attend the same university."


    Tanya, surprised, said, "Really? What''s the story? Who made the first move?"


    Lizzie shook her head, "Neither of us. We''ve known each other since we were kids, but at fifteen, his parents moved to Capital City for work. The day he left, we promised to meet again at Capital University!


    "I''m so jealous, Lizzie! You never mentioned this before," Tanya said, admiringly.


    Lizzie said, "We''re like best buds; he


    has no clue I


    Slike him. But if I g


    CapitalN?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    University, I''m going


    into


    sure he knows!"


    Just then, Tanya pointed at a group of guys, "Annie, Lizzie, look, that''s Abbott!"


    "Which one? Where? Is he cute?" Lizzie asked curiously, looking in the direction Tanya pointed.


    Tanya, blushing, said, "The tall, slim one with fair skin."


    Anthea squinted, "They all seem tall and slim, none of them looks particrly tan..."


    Tanya, more embarrassed, said, "The one with sses."


    Lizzie, "The guy in the middle of the group?"


    "Yeah," Tanya nodded.


    Lizzie patted Tanya''s shoulder, ¡°Nice choice, Tanya! He kinda looks like my celeb crush..."


    "Which celeb?" Tanya asked curiously.

 Chapter 361

    Lizzie''s crushes on celebrities were as varied as the shows on Netflix-she had a new heartthrob with every series she watched.


    "The guy who sings ''Between the Mountains and the Rivers''! You know, that heartthrob!" Lizzie started humming a few lines, her voice floating through the room, "Falling petals in the rain, your beauty swaying. The scent of flowers in the air, memories of past love awaken. I''d willingly be duckweed, resting at the heart of theke..."


    Anthea, smiling, joined in the enthusiasm, "I really like him too."


    "That just proves great minds think alike! I''ve bought all his albums. Have you, Annie?" Lizzie asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.


    Anthea nodded, "Pretty much the same here."


    Just then, Lizzie turned to Tanya, "Tanya, we''re heading into the battlefield tomorrow. Don''t you want to confess your feelings to him? I think you two would be a great match!"


    Tanya shook her head, "Better not."


    She didn''t have the courage to confess. What if she got rejected? That would be too embarrassing!


    "I could ask for his number for you if you''re too shy!" Lizzie offered.


    Tanya quickly grabbed Lizzie''s hand, "Lizzie, please don''t stir things up!"


    Seeing her reaction, Lizzie couldn''t help but say, "Lizzie, you''re usually so brave. You''re not even afraid of cockroaches. I''m just talking about asking for his number. What''s there to be afraid of? Start chatting on social media, and who knows? He might fall for you over time."


    Lizzie gave Tanya a meaningful wink when she mentioned the possibility of growing affection over time.


    Tanya''s cheeks, already a bit flushed, turned a deeper shade of red. She pinched Lizzie lightly, "Lizzie..."


    Anthea was puzzled, "Is there something wrong with growing affection over time?"


    "Alright, alright, I''ll stop teasing you!" Lizzie patted Tanya''s hand, "Whenever you''re ready, just let me know, and I''ll get his number for you." "Thank you, Lizzie."


    "What are you thanking me for? That''s what friends are for! Since we''re heading into battle tomorrow, how about we go out for a meal tonight to celebrate?"


    Anthea nodded, "Sure, we could go to my ce."


    Lizzie quickly interjected, "Let''s not go to your house tonight. We always eat there. Let''s switch it up and go for some BBQ. My treat!"


    Although the meals at Yeager''s Delicacies were delicious, and Carole never charged them, Lizzie felt it was time to offer something in return. Tanya agreed, "Yes, let''s go have some barbecue. I haven''t had skewers in ages."


    So, the three of them ended up at roadside stand enjoying their


    l.ne


    barbecue. If it weren''t for the exams the next day, they might have even indulged in a little drink.


    The three of them spent over three hundred dors, and Tanya sneakily paid the bill.


    When Lizzie went to settle the ount, she found out Tanya had already covered it, "Tanya, I was supposed to pay. Why did you do it?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Tanya just smiled, "You can pay me back next time."


    "Deal!" Lizzie slung an arm around Tanya''s shoulder.


    The next day, June 7th, marked the first day of the national college entrance exams. Nanson, who usually loved to sleep in, surprisingly woke up early.


    At six in the morning, he was already out of bed, a rare urrence since he usually wouldn''t wake up before 7:30.


    He thought he was the early bird, but to his surprise, Carole was up even earlier, busy in the kitchen making porridge. "Why are you up so early today?" Carole asked, curious.


    Nanson replied, "Isn''t Annie''s exam


    today? If don''t get up early, who''s going


    take her to the exam


    e19


    center? By the way, sis, what time does the first exam start?"


    "From 9 AM to 11:30 AM," Carole answered.


    "We have three hours then. The


    exam center is an hour''s drive from here, considering traffic and


    stoplights, we should leave by 7


    o''clock. I''ll go wake Annie up for breakfast now."


    Just as he finished his sentence, footsteps echoed from the living room. Turning around, Nanson saw Anthea returning from her morning run.


    "Holy smokes, my niece! You went for a run too?"


    Anthea nodded, "I run every morning."

 Chapter 362

    Anthea had always been fond of sleeping in, but her original physical condition was less than ster, the kind that would get winded after a quick jog. Thankfully, her fitness had significantly improved after some dedicated effort.


    As Carole ced the freshly made breakfast on the table, she urged, "Hurry up and eat. Once we''re done, we''ll head to the testing center. We can''t afford to bete for the exam."


    The breakfast was a well-rounded affair: oatmeal porridge, milk, bacon and egg muffins, toast, and a side of tangy pickled radishes.


    It was only after breakfast that Anthea learned Carole and her Uncle Nanson both intended to escort her to the exam. Smiling, she refused, "It''s just an exam, Mom, Uncle. There''s no need to make such a fuss. Don''t dy your work on my ount; I can go by myself!"


    "How could we not?" Nanson protested. "What if you run into trouble on the way and miss your exam? This is a major milestone in your life! It''s crucial we take you ourselves!"


    Nanson had never participated in a college entrance examination himself. Failing to get into college was one of his biggest regrets in life. That''s why he regarded Anthea''s exams with utmost seriousness.


    Carole nodded in agreement, "Your uncle''s right. We might let you go to school on your own on regr days, but for the SATS, we must take you. By the way, did you pack everything? Make sure you have your admission ticket and ID!"


    "Got them all right here," Anthea said, lifting her clear pencil case.


    "All set then," Carole continued. "Oh, and I heard they have metal detectors at the entrance. Annie, it might be best if you avoid wearing anything with metal on it."


    "Mhm," Anthea nodded, deciding then to change out of her jeanster.


    After eating, Anthea returned to her room and changed into a light blue maxi dress. It was a simple yet elegant choice, adorned with a string of delicate white flowers at the waist, as if entwined around her, fluttering with her every step. It was truly beautiful.


    Unable to decline Carole and Nanson''s insistence, Anthea let them escort her to the exam center.


    On the first day of the SATs, the roads were bustling more than usual. What was normally an hour''s journey took an hour and a half due to traffic. At the school gates, a crowd of parents gathered to send off their children.


    Nanson advised Anthea, "Annie, just do your best. If youe across a question you can''t answer, don''t panic. If needed, there''s always next year!"


    Carole nodded, "He''s right. Don''t put too much pressure on yourself. There are plenty of students who retake exams."


    "Mom, Uncle, don''t worry. I''ll do my


    best and not let you down," Anthea assured them before adding, "l should head in now. Don''t wait for me outside; get back to work!"


    "Alright, we''ll leave once you''re inside," Carole replied.


    Nanson nodded in agreement, "Go on, then."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    As Anthea turned towards the school''s entrance, Carole and Nanson watched her go, a feeling of pride mixed with concern.


    Meanwhile, a distinguished figure stood out among the parents, despite his attempts to blend in. Dressed in a finely tailored suit, he sported a pair ofrge sunsses that hid his eyes but revealed a chiseled jawline and perfectly shaped lips. He popped a candy into


    his mouth, seemingly el


    of


    the man parked across the street in a ck sedan who had been observing him for a while. Dressed in a traditional button-up, the man casually rolled down the window, resting an arm on it, his gaze fixed on the scene, a hint of rivalry shing in his eyes.


    It was the same man who had taken Anthea to the party the other night. Who was he?


    Sherman couldn''t help but feel a sense of rivalry towards this stranger. Shortly after, he sent a text from his phone: [I need information on someone.]


    Unlike the anxious students around her, Anthea walked towards the exam hall with a calm demeanor. Her striking looks and confident stride drew many admiring nces.


    "Wow, she''s gorgeous!" someone eximed.

 Chapter 363

    "I swear I know her!\"


    \"Sure, you do.\"


    \"No, really! She''s the star of ss 7 at Northbridge High School! Super famous there!\"


    \"No wonder she''s so gorgeous... a school celebrity, huh...\"


    Soon enough, Anthea found her way to the exam hall. There were two teachers guarding both the front and back doors. Entering the hall, not only did they pat you down, but they also ran a metal detector over you.


    At the front of the line was a bespectacled guy who set off the detector continuously at his back, making the proctors exchange weird nces. "Got something on you? Why''s it beeping at your back?"N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Normally, you''d expect beeping at the back for girls, not guys... That was a bit hard to believe.


    As soon as these words were out, not only did others start looking their way, but the guy''s face also turned beet red. "I... I''m not wearing anything weird..."


    Just then, a few girls standing beside the guy discreetly stepped back a few steps. The once incessant beeping of the metal detector suddenly stopped. Realizing the mix-up, the proctor said, "Go on in."


    With a quick pace, the guy hurried inside.


    Anthea, having prepared by wearing all cotton undergarments, passed the metal detector without any issue. She smoothly entered the exam hall. Choosing a seat by the window, she only needed to slightly turn her head to enjoy the lush greenery of summer outside.


    A boy in a crisp white shirt had been eyeing her from the moment Anthea walked in, his gaze flitting towards her now and then. In all his years of schooling, he had never seen a girl as pretty as her.


    Before long, it was 9 AM. The


    proctor went over the exam rules before distributing the test papers.. The first test was in Language Arts Anthea started with the essay, then moved on to the rest of the paper. She wrote quickly, as if without needing to think, and yet her handwriting was stunningly beautiful.


    By 10:30, Anthea had finished, but since she couldn''t leave early, she double-checked her answers before resting her head on the desk to nap. While everyone else was furiously writing, there was Anthea, napping. The proctors couldn''t help but look her way. In all their years of teaching, they''d never seen someone sleep during their exams. Was her performance that bad?


    Anyone with even a semnce of ambition wouldn''t dare sleep during their exams. It seemed like a waste of teaching to them!


    Soon, it was time to collect the


    papers. At the sound of the bell, everyone stopped writing, and the proctors collected the papers personally. When one of them collected Anthea''s, he took an extra moment to look. What he expected to be a flop turned out to be a top-tier performance. It wasn''t just the content of the answers. Just the handwriting alone was enough to amaze. No wonder she feltfortable enough to sleep; she had the skills to back it up.


    After handing in her paper, Anthea left the hall. Just then, a boy ran up to her. "Excuse me, miss?"


    "Are you talking to me?" Anthea turned, her gaze meeting his.


    Facing Anthea, the boy''s cheeks flushed, and he nodded. "Yes."


    "What''s up?" Anthea asked.


    The boy went on, "I''m Palmer, we were in the same exam hall. I was in the middle group, you were in the first. Can we be friends? Which high school are you from?"


    "I''m from Northbridge High School," Anthea replied.


    "I''m from Central Town High, right next to your school," Palmer continued. "Being in the same hall must be fate. How about we exchange numbers?"

 Chapter 364

    "Sorry, I left my phone at home," Anthea said, her voice polite yet firm.


    Upon hearing this, Palmer knew his chances were gone. His footsteps slowed in resignation.


    As soon as Anthea stepped out of the school gates, she spotted Nanson and Carole among the crowd of parents. She hurried towards them, "Mom, Uncle, didn''t I tell you not to wait for me? Why haven''t you gone back?"


    The June sun was merciless, baking everything under its gaze. Nanson and Carole were sweating profusely, their skin sunburned.


    Seeing Anthea, both Carole and Nanson''s faces lit up, temporarily forgetting the scorching heat. "Annie, how did it go?"


    Anthea nodded, "Pretty good, the questions were straightforward."


    Just then, a microphone was thrust towards her. "Hello there, I''m a reporter from Cloudcrest TV. Which high school are you from, and how did you find the exam? Was it tough?"


    Anthea offered a polite smile, "Sorry, I''d rather not be on camera. Maybe you could interview someone else?"


    "We can blur your face," the reporter suggested.


    Nanson stepped in front of Anthea, pushing the microphone away. "My niece prefers not to be on camera. You can ask me any questions you have."


    The reporter, sensing Nanson''s firm stance, apologized and moved on to find other interviewees.


    Afterwards, Nanson decided to treat them to lunch, but with the area being crowded, he drove them to a more upscale restaurant.


    They finished lunch by half-past twelve, with the math exam not starting until three.


    So, Nanson booked a couple of rooms in a nearby hotel for them to rest.


    "Mom, Uncle, you really don''t have to wait for me. Please, go back. It''s such a waste of your time," Anthea implored.


    Both Nanson''s courier service and Carole''s diner needed their attention.


    Nanson replied earnestly, "Annie, this is a milestone in your life. It''s essential to have family by your side. Look around; every student here has someone waiting for them. Even if we went back, we''d be too worried to focus on anything."


    Carole nodded in agreement, "He''s right. No matter how busy we are, we need to be here for you."


    Anthea felt a wave of emotion, remembering her loneliness during her exams in her past life. This time, she felt the warmth of family she never had before.


    "Mom, Uncle," she said, wrapping them in a hug, "Thank you."


    Caught off guard, Nanson and Carole chuckled, "Silly girl."


    The math exam in the afternoon went as scheduled, with Nanson and Carole waiting outside.


    The weather turned muggy, and Nanson, checking his phone, saw a forecast for rain. He dashed to a nearby convenience store for umbres and water.


    While he was away, ady struck up a conversation with Carole, "Hey there, does your kid have exams today too?"


    Carole nodded, "Yes, my daughter."


    Thedy was astonished to learn Carole only had one daughter, wondering silently about the family lineage''s continuation but chose to express her surprise differently "You''re so young; surely you''t want more kids, right?"


    Carole smiled politely, "No, we''re happy with just one."


    Thedy continued, "But won''t you regret itter? It''s tough when you get older with just one child to rely on."


    Carole remained firm, "Our daughter is very caring. We won''t regret it."N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Thedy, undeterred, shared her


    own story, emphasizing the importance of having sons. But Carole''s gentle dismissal highlighted a shift in perspectives, valuing quality rtionships over traditional expectations of family size.  S

 Chapter 365

    At this, thedy lowered her voice, brimming with pride, "Listen, darling, between you and me, a woman really needs a son. It''s only with a son that you can really stand tall. Honestly, in my quest for a son, I had to let go of two girls."


    Even though it was already the 21st century, many older folks still clung to outdated notions. Only a boy could carry on the family name, while girls were just seen as pretty additions. For a woman, not having a son meant facing humiliation both in public and in private. Speaking nicely, she said she let go of two girls. But in reality, they were abandoned. Back in the day, the number of people who would abandon their daughters in hopes of having a son was just too high...N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Hearing this, Carole looked at thedy, astounded. Seeing Carole''s reaction, thedy sighed, a look of resignation on her face, "Ah, what can you do? If I hadn''t sent them away, we would''ve had too many kids to feed..."


    Carole felt a pang in her heart. She thought of her own circumstances. Had her grandmother not taken her in, she would have been given away by her parents too. Sadly, her grandmother passed away too soon. She never got to repay her grandmother''s kindness.


    When the topic shifted to her son, thedy''s face lit up with pride, "Thankfully, my son''s doing us proud! In his school, out of over 30 sses and 1600 students, he always ranks within the top 1000. I''m sure he''ll get into a great university!"


    Carole maintained a polite yet awkward smile.


    "And how''s your daughter doing?" thedy inquired further.


    Carole responded modestly, "Just average."


    Thedy chuckled, "Girls are never as clever as boys! It''s normal for your daughter to be average. Anyway, a high education for girls isn''t that useful; sooner orter, they''ll just end up getting married. A high school diploma is quite enough! Times have changed now; even girls can go to school. In our days, I didn''t even set foot in a primary school, but look at me, I''m doing just fine! My two little ones, just like me, haven''t seen the inside of a school."


    Carole just smiled, saying nothing. Because arguing with someone with such a different viewpoint was futile. Perhaps it wasn''t thedy''s fault. It was the tragedy of an era.


    "Hey, what''s your Facebook? Let''s connect! When my son gets into university, I''ll invite you for a celebratory drink!"


    "Thank you for the offer, but I''ll pass," Carole declined politely.


    Thedy nced at Carole, pressing on, ¡°Aren''t you thinking of having another child? Doesn''t your husband mind? Oh, the man you were standing with, is he your husband?"


    "He''s my brother."


    Thedy nodded, "Oh, I see! I thought he looked a bit like you! And your husband?"


    Carole didn''t want to continue the conversation, but she replied politely, "We''re no longer together.¡±


    "Divorced?" thedy asked, surprised.


    Carole didn''t borate, simply nodding.


    "So, you''re on your own now?"


    "Yes."


    Thedy''s eyes darted around, ¡°It''s tough for us women, darling. You''re still young and pretty; you really should find yourself a man. Life''s impossible without a man by your side."


    Carole responded calmly, "Times have changed. Men and women are equal now. A woman can live a good life without a man."


    Thedy shook her head, "Those are justforting words! Without men, the world woulde to an end! Anyway, darling, I know a good man, recently divorced, who hasn''t found the right match yet."


    Despite Carole having a child, thedy considered it a minor issue since the child was a girl and already in high school. She figured a marriage would also mean a sizable dowry. It seemed like a win-win!


    "Thank you, but I''m not interested in remarrying," Carole refused directly.


    Blythe found Carole a bit too proud. Sure, she was beautiful, but she was also divorced. How could shepare to a young, never-married girl? Her brother was already doing her a favor by not minding her past. What more could she want? No wonder her husband left her! She deserved to be alone!


    Though Blythe thought this, her face remained all smiles, trying to cozy up to Carole with every word.

 Chapter 366

    Mike had been single for over a decade.


    His sister, Sarah, always felt a twinge of guilt about it. If she could y matchmaker and find him a partner, it would fulfill their parents'' longstanding wish.


    7-Eleven was bustling, thanks to its proximity to the local high school where exams were being held. The store was packed, with a long line snaking towards the cashier.


    Mike picked up three umbres and three bottles of water, preparing to pay, when he spotted a familiar face across the aisle.


    It was the young woman he had bumped intost time.


    "Hey, fancy meeting you here again," Mike walked up to her with a friendly grin.


    The young woman paused for a moment before recognizing him, "Oh, it''s you."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    They lined up at the cashier together.


    Mike chuckled, "You covered my billst time. Allow me this time."


    "No, that''s alright, but thank you," she demurred.


    "Don''t worry about it. If I pay for you today, I''ll still help someone else in need next time I''m here," Mike assured her.


    With a smile, she conceded, "Well, in that case, I won''t argue. Thank you."


    "My pleasure," Mike said, paying the cashier.


    Stepping outside, Mike continued, "Are you here for the exams as well?"


    The young woman looked surprised, "Ah? I don''t have kids!"


    "Sorry, my bad. You look so young, I assumed you weren''t married yet," Mike quickly corrected himself.


    She nodded, "That''s correct."


    "Nice to meet you, I''m Mike, like the archangel Michael. And you are?" Mike extended his hand.


    "Violet White, like the color, and the flower," she said, shaking his hand.


    Mike found he liked Violet right away, so he ventured, "Would you mind if we exchanged numbers?"


    Violet hesitated, then nodded, "Sure."


    After exchanging contact info, Mike saw that Violet was 29, seemingly single.


    "I''ve got to run; my niece is just finishing her exams. Let me take you out for dinner sometime," Mike said. Violet smiled, "Sure, you go ahead."


    After saying goodbye, Mike jogged towards the exam venue, just as the skies opened up.


    "Sarah! Got you an umbre," Mike handed one to his sister as he arrived.


    "Perfect timing with these umbres, else we''d be soaked," Sarahughed, epting it.


    Their neighbor, Betty, edged closer, "I forgot mine, mind if I share?"


    Sarah wasn''t particrly fond of Betty but couldn''t refuse, "Sure, it''s big enough!"


    As the bell rang, signaling the end of the exams, anxious parents perked up, eager to see their children.


    With the rain pouring, students rushed out.


    Mike spotted his niece, Annie, "There you are!"


    "Uncle Mike!"


    "Open the "You


    want us waiting outside,


    gays venenbre," Mike smiled,


    but see, you''d be drenched without


    us!"


    Betty scanned the crowd for her son, then turned to Sarah, "Is that your daughter?"


    "Yes," Sarah nodded.


    "My goodness, she''s beautiful!" Betty eximed.


    It was clear where Annie''s attention had been - not on her studies, but probably on dating, Betty thought.


    Sarah, ttered by thepliments on Annie''s looks, responded modestly, "She does alright."


    "Mom," Annie approached, umbre in hand.


    Betty scrutinized Annie closer. From


    afar, she thought Annie looked


    pretty, but up close, she was


    stunning. ovel.ne?


    Swnovel


    She had never seen a young girl so beautiful!


    "Annie, this is our neighbor, Betty," Sarah introduced.


    "Nice to meet you, Betty."


    "Likewise," Betty nodded, then turned to Annie, "Heard you had math this afternoon. Was it tough?"


    "Not really," Annie responded lightly. Math was her forte, having finished the exam in just an hour.


    Betty assumed Annie was just being modest, smiling, "With looks like yours, it''s okay if exams don''t


    always go well. Life''s long. Det


    lose heart! My son''s also in there. He''s got great grades and is sure to get into a top college. He''ll make our family proud!"


    Annie frowned slightly at that.

 Chapter 367

    Why does Blythe talk like that? It''s kinda... weird.


    "Mom!"


    Right then, another voice chimed in.


    "Sweetie!" Blythe quickly turned around, "Oh, sweetie, you must be exhausted from all that testing, huh? Here, let me hold your pencil case for you!"


    That was Blythe''s son, Bernie.


    Bernie was a skinnyd, not very tall, barely reaching up to Anthea''s shoulder, and even shorter than Blythe.


    After introducing her son, Blythe added, "This is my son, Bernie, but we all call him sweetie."


    Carole nodded, somewhat at a loss for words, managed to say, "Blythe, your son sure looks lively!"


    Blythe beamed, "Oh, he''s always been a bright spark, very smart too. Folks around here say he''s got a gift, like he''s blessed by the heavens..."


    Bernie, growing impatient, nced at Blythe, "Could you cut the chitchat? I wanna go home! I''m hungry!"


    "Oh dear, sweetie''s hungry! My apologies, how could I forget? Come on, let''s head home," Blythe then bent down.


    Carole was puzzled as to why Blythe was crouching when suddenly, Bernie hopped onto Blythe''s back!


    And then, to everyone''s shock, Blythe stood up, carrying Bernie.


    Carrying him? At his age?


    Carole was dumbfounded!


    Not just Carole, but Nanson and Anthea were equally bewildered.


    What in the world was that about?


    Nanson leaned closer to Carole, whispering, "Is that kid okay? Does he have some illness? His legs not working? He seems fine otherwise." Carole shook her head, "No idea, but I don''t think he''s sick. Blythe had four daughters and just this one son. Probably just spoils him rotten." Anthea frowned slightly, "No wonder I found Blythe''s way of speaking odd, it''s the ssic favoritism. Spoiling their son like that, it won''t end well." "You can say that again," Carole, not one to gossip, couldn''t help but add, "To raise that boy, Blythe even sent away two of her daughters!" Anthea sighed in disbelief.


    Hard to imagine anyone favoring their child to such an extent.


    Even going as far as to send their own daughters away.


    Carole then changed the subject, "So, Annie, how did you do in math?"


    "Not bad," Anthea nodded.


    As they walked to their car, they passed a sleek ck vehicle.


    Anthea raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of familiarity with the car.


    Though she didn''t recognize the license te and couldn''t see inside due to the tinted windows.


    From inside the car, however, the upants could see out clearly.


    And in that moment, as Anthea nced back, everything seemed to fall silent.


    She stood there, sheltered under a white umbre.


    Dressed in a blue outfit, blending with the rain around her.


    Even through the raindrops, her face was clear.


    A vision serene as a calm sky after rain, waiting.


    Alex''s action of unwrapping a candy froze.


    Their eyes met.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    In the depths of a once shadowed heart, a warmth began to spread.


    And for years toe, Alex would remember this moment.


    "Annie, get in," called Nanson.


    "Coming," Anthea replied, getting into the car.


    Nanson started the engine, and leaving the ck


    drove off


    behind, which only moved mine


    after


    they had left. Contene


    An hourter, they were home.


    belongs


    By then it was past six, so Anthea decided to order pizza for dinner.


    During the meal, Nanson was glued to his phone, chuckling away.


    "What''s so funny, uncle? What game are you ying?" Anthea asked, curious.


    "Did Iugh?" Nanson looked up, surprised.


    Anthea nodded, "Yeah, you did."


    Nanson touched his lips, "Guess I did, then."


    He was chatting with Violet.


    Turns out, Violet, who seemed so gentle at first nce, was incredibly witty in conversation.


    Nanson was already fond of her, and their chat that evening only made him like her more.


    Anthea nced at Carole and whispered, "Mom, don''t you think uncle''s been acting weird tonight?"


    Carole nodded, "He does seem a bit off."


    The next day was the final day of exams.


    Due to histe-night conversation with Violet, Nanson woke up with dark circles under his eyes.


    "Uncle,


    night.


    should stay home today.


    Mom and cab to the exam center," Anthea suggested.


    I can just take a todaet


    "No way! I can''t do that," Nanson protested. "Today''s thest day of exams. I have to drive you there myself. One night of poor sleep is nothing. Back in my day, I''d stay up all night gaming and still go to work the next morning like nothing happened."

 Chapter 368

    Annie couldn''t resist her Uncle Nathan''s request and simply let him have his way.


    From 9:30 to 11:30 in the morning, it was theprehensive science exam. Then from 3:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon, it was the English test. To avoid bumping into Blythe, Caroline had opted for a different spot to wait for Annie today.


    Finishing thest exam meant one thing: high school was truly over. As the students emerged from the examination halls, their faces were a mix of relief and a hint of unease. High school''s end marked the end of their youth as well.


    "Mom, Uncle!" Annie jogged out of the exam hall.


    "Annie!" Nathan went straight for the usual question, "How did you do today?"


    Grinning, Annie responded, "Pretty good, I think I might just snag the top spot in the city."


    "Really? You serious?" Nathan was incredulously hopeful. Top of the city! Valedictorian! That''s not something you im lightly. It sounded a bit far- fetched!


    Annie nodded confidently, "I''ve got a good feeling about it."


    Laughing, Caroline added, "Alright, let''s head home. To celebrate Annie wrapping up her exams, we''re going out for a feast tonight!"


    Since Caroline and Nathan hadn''t experienced French cuisine before, Annie found a highly rated French restaurant online with a great ambiance. After their meal, Nathan chuckled and said, "The food was great, though the portions were kinda small. Twenty-one courses and I barely got a taste before it was all gone."


    Caroline nodded, "The portions are indeed small, but ces like these are more about the service and atmosphere. The quantity and taste of the foode second."


    "You''re right, Mom," Annie said. "France is famous for its romance; it''s a perfect spot for couples to dine. So, Uncle, you better step up your game!" Nathan yed along with augh, "Just you wait, by the end of the year, I''ll bring you a new aunt."


    Annie waved her phone, "I''ve got that on record, Uncle. We''ll be waiting for you to bring back an aunt by year''s end."


    After the French dinner and a trip back home, it was past nine. After a shower, Annie started her live stream. Having not seen Annie for two days, her fans were ecstatic.


    [Ah! Annie''s back!]


    [How did Annie do on her exams?]


    "Don''t worry, I won''t disappoint you."


    [User: ThorHammerStriker, sends a sports car!]


    [User: Pupper, sends a sports car!]


    What followed was a barrage of fireworks, smoke bombs, and gifts. Annie logged into her gaming ount leisurely, "Let''s start tonight''s stream with some chess, then we''ll move on to League of Legends."


    No sooner had she announced her n than a challenge popped up on her screen.


    [Leisure Hermit has sent you a challenge.]


    Before Annie could even respond, the chat went wild.


    [He''s here! The jinx is here with a death wish!]


    [This jinx sure is persistent.]


    [I actually enjoy watching the jinx y against Annie. He might be the only one who can really give our streamer a run for her money.]


    [I''m shipping them so hard.]


    [This ship, I''m totally on board!]


    On the other side of the screen,


    Sherman was focused on his chess game, asionally ncing at his phone which disyed Annie''s live stream. Disliking how the chat, covered the screen, he turned off the chat function, unaware of his new nickname or the shipping frenzy he and Annie had ignited.


    Fifteen minutester, the game concluded. Unsurprisingly, he lost. Sherman narrowed his eyes, still unable to decipher her ying style after all this time. Even with just a pawn left, she could turn defeat into victory. Every game with her was a fresh experience.


    Picking up his phone, Sherman sent a gift.


    [User: RealTimeFlow202106080126 sends 50 Beauty Unparalleled!]


    A fairy in a rainbow dress, riding a cloud, slowly flew across the screen. Due to its high cost, the gift was broadcast across the tform, visible to everyone streaming at that moment, regardless of the channel they were on. Priced at $50,000 each.


    As soon as the gift was sent, the chat exploded, [Holy cow! That''s a big spender!]


    [This is a real whale!]


    [Mr. Moneybags, adopt me!]


    [A million dors, right?]


    [Are you dumb? That''s two and a half million!]


    Before the shock could settle, another wave of gifts arrived.


    [User: RealTimeFlow202106080126 sends 50 Beauty Unparalleled!]


    [This is a true big shot!]


    [Came from the next door stream just to see this whale.]


    [Me too! I''m here for the spectacle of five million.]N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    [What a coincidence, me too!]


    The number of viewers in the stream skyrocketed from 120,000 to 130,000, then 140,000, and finally 150,000.


    Oblivious to the chaos in the chat, Sherman was unaware that his casual act of generosity had stunned the entire tform, boosting his ount''s followers significantly.

 Chapter 369

    Even some of the most famous female influencers were sliding into his DMs. They all wanted a piece of this golden patron.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Right after sending thatst wave of gifts, Sherman''s phone began to ring.


    "Hello?"


    "Mr. Christensen," his secretary''s voice came through from the other end.


    "Go ahead."


    Leaning back in his chair, Sherman idly twirled his pen, exuding a calm demeanor.


    "Mr. Christensen, I''ve found the information on the person you asked me to look into. It''s been sent to your email."


    "Alright."


    After hanging up, Sherman logged into his email and opened the attachment his secretary had sent.


    Alex.


    Male.


    Single.


    28 years old.


    Eldest son of the Peterson family.


    Head of the Peterson Group...


    Alex? What kind of person was he? How did Anthea know him?


    A cloud seemed to darken Sherman''s mood further, making it hard for him to breathe.


    On the other side, Anthea was stunned upon receiving gifts worth five million. Throughout her time streaming, the wealthiest fan she had encountered had given her a one-time donation of fifty thousand. But five million... This was a first for her. And it seemed the donor was using a new ount, not even bothering to change the default username.


    However, Anthea didn''t dwell on it too much. Once the money was in her ount, she anonymously donated it in portions to impoverished areas and orphanages. Since she started streaming, Anthea had not kept a single penny of her earnings, donating all of it instead.


    The next day, Anthea went over to Sarah Allen''s ce to tutor her. After a long period of hard work, Sarah''s grades had steadily improved, and it seemed likely she''d get into a top-tier university next year.


    Time flew by quickly, and before they knew it, it was time to check their college entrance exam scores. She, along with Lizzie and Tanya, were on a video call, eagerly waiting to see their results.


    "Holy cow! I hit the jackpot! Scored 658! Looks like getting into Capital City University is a breeze! Annie, Lizzie, got your scores?"


    Lizzie, bursting with excitement, said, "Got it, got it! I scored 718!"


    "Congrats, Lizzie!"


    "And you, Annie?"


    Anthea furrowed her brows slightly. "My results seem to be dyed."


    "Dyed?" Tanya sounded perplexed. "Maybe there''s a system glitch?"


    Lizzie mentioned, "I heard that the top scorer''s results are released a bitter than others. Annie, don''t tell me you''re the valedictorian?" "Holy smokes! Our school has a valedictorian!" Tanya was ecstatic, even more so than if she had topped the exams herself.


    Anthea shook her head. "I''m not sure what''s going on. But congrats to you both, Tanya and Lizzie. You''ll get into your dream schools." Tanya suggested, "Annie, once your results are out, let''s meet up, all three of us."


    "Sure thing."


    After chatting for a bit over forty minutes, just as they ended the call, Nanson and Carole came over to ask, "Annie, got your results? How did you do?"


    Anthea replied, "There seems to be a glitch. My results haven''te up."


    "How could that be?" Nanson wondered.


    Carole reassured her, "No worries, just wait a bit longer. Even if the scores aren''t what we hoped, it''s not the end of the world. We can always try again next year."


    "Exactly, your mom''s right, Annie. No need to panic."


    Afterforting Anthea, Nanson and Carole headed off to work.


    But Anthea wasn''t the only one puzzled. Her ss teacher, Mr. Waldron, had been glued to hisputer screen since the release of the results. However, entering Anthea''s exam and ID number yielded no response.


    What was going on? The results should have been out by now!


    Meanwhile, Bain checked Philip''s score. Philip had scored an impressive 743, just seven points shy of a perfect score. Ranked 2nd in the city. Seeing this, Bain was overjoyed. Though Philip wasn''t the city''s top scorer, second ce was still a win.


    Bain couldn''t help but boast to Waldron, "So, Mr. Waldron, got Anthea''s results yet? She must''ve scored high, right?"


    Waldron''s face fell. "Anthea''s results are still pending."


    "Still pending?" Bain''s tone carried a hint of mockery. "Mr. Waldron, let''s not beat, around the bush. Generally, only the top scorer''s results are dyed. Even Philip''s scores are out. Our Philip scored second in the city!"


    "If it''s not there, it''s not there. Why are you making such a fuss?" Waldron retorted, clicking away in frustration.


    Just then, theputer screen refreshed.

 Chapter 370

    Waldron stared at the spreadsheet on hisputer, letting out an excited shriek reminiscent of a groundhog spotting its shadow on Groundhog Day.


    "Ah!"


    "What''s gotten into Mr. Waldron? Scared by his own student''s grades?" Bain chuckled. "Come on, we all knew Anthea was just copying from others. No big deal, Mr. Waldron. Every ss has its ckers aiming for a shortcut. No shame in that! We all get it around here."


    Hearing this, the other teachers in the staff room turned their eyes towards Waldron, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.


    giarism!


    Not exactly a badge of honor to wear around.


    The next second, Waldron leaped up, electrified with excitement.


    "First ce! Our ss''s star, Boss Yeager, nailed the top spot! She''s the valedictorian of the whole city! Our ss produced the city''s valedictorian!" "Valedictorian?" Bain''s face was a picture of sarcasm. "Mr. Waldron, are you living in a fantasy? Snap out of it!"


    Just then, the principal burst into the room, grabbing Waldron''s hand in a hearty shake. "Mr. Waldron! Congrattions! I just got off the phone with the district office. Anthea scored a whopping 749 points! She''s Cloudcrest''s top schr! Get ready, the local news crew will be here any minute to interview you!"


    749 points?


    Valedictorian?


    At that, even Bain was speechless.


    The other teachers crowded around Waldron''s desk, eyes glued to theputer screen disying Anthea''s scores.


    Language Arts: 149 points.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Math: 150 points.


    Foreign Language: 150 points.


    Comprehensive: 300 points.


    No extra credit for national policies.


    No extra credit for local policies.


    Total: 749 points.


    Pure score, no extra points, and yet, Anthea''s score was unbeatable.


    Congrattions filled the room.


    Waldron beamed, "Everyone, don''t rush off after work. Dinner''s on me tonight. My treat!"


    Bain sat back, his face a shade paler.


    This was supposed to be his moment!


    Anthea was his student.


    If only he hadn''t let Anthea transfer, what business would Waldron have celebrating?


    Bain felt like pping himself.


    To add insult to injury, Waldron couldn''t resist a jab, "Mr. Bain, congrattions on coaching the second-best student in the city!"


    Bain''s face turned even sourer.


    What''s the point of being second in a race where first ce steals all the limelight?


    If he hadn''t let Anthea transfer, he''d be celebrating both the first and second top scorers right now.


    Waldron patted Bain on the shoulder, "Really, Mr. Bain, I owe you one. Without you, we wouldn''t have Boss Yeager shining in our ss, let alone having the city''s valedictorian! Make sure you have an extra drink on me tonight!"


    Bain''s face was a study in difort, his forehead beaded with sweat.


    Carole was bustling about in her diner when an unexpected call came through.


    "Hello?"


    "Hi, is this Anthea''s mom?"


    "Speaking."


    There was palpable excitement on the other end, "Hello, this is the admissions officer from Apex Ascent College,st name Lu. Congrattions, your daughter Anthea scored an outstanding 749 points in her finals! I was wondering if?"


    vel.n


    Carole''s mind went nk.


    It took her a moment to find her voice, "You''re not pulling my leg, are you?"


    "Ms. Yeager, why would I joke about something like this? Haven''t you checked Anthea''s scores on the official website? She''s the science stream topper in your city!"


    "I''ll check it right now," Carole said, her hands trembling as she hung up.


    No sooner had she ended the call than another rang.


    "This is Anthea''s mom, Ms. Yeager speaking."


    ret


    "Ms. Yeager, congrattions! I''m from the admissions office at Capital University. Your daughter topped the charts with 749 points Have you considered our university? If she joins us in Capital City, we''ll take care of themute and waive alptuition fees!"


    After hanging up, Carole hurried to the diner''sputer, logged onto the grading system, and saw Anthea''s scores for herself.


    She covered her mouth, disbelief giving way to tion, "Nana! Come here a sec!"


    Nana rushed over, "What''s up, boss?"


    Carole beamed, "Annie''s the city''s top schr! Tell everyone dining right now, in celebration of my daughter''s achievement, their meals are on the house! And for anyoneing inter, everything''s half off! Plus, I''m raising everyone''s sry by 800 bucks this month!"


    Nothing beats sharing good news.


    Carole was over the moon, eager to spread the joy far and wide.


    Nana returned the smile, "Congrattions, boss! I always knew Annie would pull through with flying colors! I''ll spread the word right away!"

 Chapter 371

    The customers dining at the local diner were thrilled when they heard the news and crowded around to congratte Carole. Some even asked to take selfies with her, basking in the glow of being the "Valedictorian''s Mom." Many shared the moment on social media, feeling lucky to be in the presence of the city''s top schr.


    Nanson, much like Carole, was bombarded with calls from prestigious universitiespeting for Anthea. After hanging up thest call, he was in a daze! He quickly summoned his secretary, Helena.


    "President Yeager, what can I do for you?" Helena asked.


    Trying to keep his tone steady, Nanson instructed, "Order a tea for everyone in thepany right now, and tell them they can leave half an hour early today. I''m treating them to a hotpot dinner!"


    Helena gasped in surprise, "What''s the asion, President Yeager? What happened?"


    Nanson could no longer contain his excitement. "My niece! Anthea! Annie, the one you metst time! She topped the city in the exams! Number one in the whole city! 749 points! She''s the first in years to score 749 without any extra points!"


    "Congrattions, President Yeager!"


    Ever since Helena had seen Anthea''s capabilities, she knew the girl was no ordinary teenager. That she would top the exams wasn''t a surprise at all! Who else could secure a contract with TOAEON so easily?


    ...


    Meanwhile, in Capital City, Darleen scored 743 points, the third highest in the city. Naturally, Edna took Darleen to visit the Lindsay family. Upon their arrival, Gerard was chatting with J.


    J was delighted to see Darleen. "Look who''s here! Come here, Darleen! Grandma hasn''t seen you in days."


    Darleen immediately went over to give J a shoulder rub. As Edna served J some nourishing soup, she cautioned, "Careful, J, it''s hot." While massaging, Darleen mentioned, "J, the exam results are out. You promised me a surprise if I did well. Do you remember?"


    J sat up straight, excitement in her voice. "The results are out? How did you do, Darleen?"


    Edna pretended to be stern. "This girl! Only the third highest in the whole city! Darleen, with such poor results, you still dare to ask J for a surprise?"


    Darleen pouted unhappily.


    J was surprised. "Third in the city is not good? If Gerry could score that, I''d wake upughing from my dreams!"


    s, Gerard didn''t have such scores.


    Edna said, "J, Darleen tends to be careless with her work. If she had been more careful, maybe she could have been second! Gerry''s grades have always been good; he must have done well too! Right, Gerry, what did you score?"


    Gerard''s tone was nonchnt. "I haven''t checked yet."N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Not checked? Probably too ashamed to admit his score, right?


    Edna''s eyes twinkled with sarcasm, then she added, "Gerry, it''s okay if you didn''t do well this time. A prestigious university is a university, after all. There''s no shame in attending a less known one. Don''t put too much pressure on yourself!"


    J sighed, feeling somewhat embarrassed. After all, Darleen had secured the third spot in the city. And her favorite grandson...


    Darleen, as if suddenly remembering


    something, smiled. "Gerry, there are


    so many people who retake the exams. You could do that too! I''ll help you study! I guarantee you''ll be second in the whole country next year!"


    UMS


    Edna''s eyes gleamed with pride. Her daughter was truly her pride and joy.


    J''s eyes lit up, looking at Gerard. "Gerry, I think what Darleen says makes a lot of sense. Why don''t you retake the year? Let Darleen tutor you personally."


    Gerard remained silent. Just as J was about to say something more, the butler rushed in, breathless. "Madam! Madam!" "What''s the matter? Why the rush?"


    The butler continued, "There are people from the TV station outside, looking to interview the young master! Should I let them in?" J frowned. "Why would the TV station want to interview Gerry?"


    Out of the blue... Did Gerard get into some trouble?


    The butler added, "Haven''t you heard? The young master is this year''s Humanities Valedictorian of Capital City!"


    At that, J''s soup bowl crashed to the floor. "You, what did you say?"

 Chapter 372

    Valedictorian in Liberal Arts?


    Gerard actually became the valedictorian in liberal arts!


    Not only was J stunned.


    Even Edna and Darleen beside her were taken aback, their faces turning ghostly pale.


    How did Gerard manage to be the valedictorian in liberal arts?


    Wasn''t he just an average student?


    What in the world happened?


    Just moments ago, Edna was basking in the glory of Darleen securing the third rank citywide, but in the blink of an eye, Gerard bagged the title of valedictorian in liberal arts!


    Compared to the valedictorian, what''s third ce worth?


    It took J a good while to snap back to reality, grabbing the butler''s hand, ¡°Are you sure? Did Gerry really be the valedictorian in liberal arts?" The butler nodded excitedly, "Yes! It''s true! Madam, the young master really did it! A total score of 749 points!"


    "Wonderful! Truly wonderful! Gerry has finally made the Lindsay family proud!" J''s eyes welled up with excitement, "Quick! Go invite the TV crews in!"


    J was usually not fond of the media.


    The Lindsay family was a prominent dynasty in Capital City, seen as both mysterious and mboyant by outsiders. Many reality shows had approached J for interviews, all of which she declined!


    But now things were different.


    This time it was Gerard who had topped the exams!


    Capital City, neither toorge nor too small, had witnessed Gerard emerging from among the masses, a testament to his abilities.


    Among all of J''s children and grandchildren, not to mention her great-grandchildren, none had ever achieved the title of valedictorian. Gerard truly was the grandchild she had lovingly raised.


    Silent but deadly when it mattered.


    With Gerard bing the valedictorian in liberal arts, J felt a shared sense of honor.


    The butler quickly scurried off to invite the reporters inside.


    J then instructed the other servants, "Quick, prepare some fruit and snacks! And, get some cash gifts ready, too. Not sure how many people wille; better prepare plenty! Oh, and when you''re off duty, each of you go to the butler for a cash gift!"


    "Thank you, madam."


    The servants hustled, plunging the Lindsay household into a joyous frenzy.


    J turned to Gerard, her face beaming with affection, "Gerry, my boy! You''ve truly brought immense pride to the Lindsay family!"


    Edna quickly recovered, smiling,


    "Congrattions, Gerry! Bing


    the valedictorian in liberal arts, that''s no small feat! I''ve only ever seen other people''s kids on TV, but now it''s finally someone from our own family!"


    Gerard, looking towards Edna, spoke with a cold tone, "Edna seems quite excited, as if it has anything to do with her own kids. If you want your child on TV, you could have Darleen repeat the year, and I could tutor her."


    Gerard threw back the words Edna and her daughter had said to him earlier.


    Edna was momentarily choked up, her face a mix of embarrassment and difort.


    Normally, J would have scolded Gerard for such remarks.


    But now, the olddy remained silent, as if she hadn''t heard a thing!


    The audacity!


    She had been so good to her!


    Yet this was how she was repaid.


    At this point, Edna could only swallow her pride and smile,


    "Darleen doesn''t have the talent for bing a valedictorian. Even if she repeated a year, I doubt she could match Gerry''s brilliance and clinch the top spot!" N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    J chimed in with augh, "Darleen has done extremely well too! A girl securing the third rank citywide! Which other family in our circle has a daughter as aplished as Darleen?"


    Edna forced a smile.


    But that was merely considered extremely well.


    At this moment, in J''s eyes, no matter how well Darleen performed, she probably couldn''t hold a candle to Gerard, the valedictorian.


    This thought darkened Edna''s mood slightly.


    Initially, she hade over to revel in what she expected to be Gerard''s failure.


    But the tables had turned!


    Attempting to steal a chicken only to lose the rice.


    Instead, they ended up setting the stage for Gerard''s triumph.


    How did ite to this?


    Edna was filled with regret!


    As the reporters were about to arrive.


    J nced nervously at Edna, "Edna, does my hair look alright? Should I change my dress? Is it okay to appear on camera like this?"


    Edna, masking her feelings with a gentle smile, reassured, "J, you look absolutely fine just the way you are. Your hair is perfect, and your dress suits you wonderfully! Going on TV like this, you''ll be the most beautiful grandmother in Luxphinia!"


    Hearing this, J breathed a sigh of relief, her smile widening as she adjusted her hair, "Edna, you always know how to cheer me up."

 Chapter 373

    Let''s not even go there.


    Edna''s got a tongue on her that no one can match.


    As people age,pliments seem to be the only thing they want to hear.


    Right at that moment, the butler brought a reporter into the living room. J quickly went to greet them.


    The butler introduced, "This is a reporter, ma''am. And this is our young master Gerard''s grandmother, and here''s our young master Gerard himself!"


    The reporter quickly handed over the microphone, "Hello, are you the valedictorian''s grandmother?"


    J was taken aback by the term ''valedictorian''s grandmother'', her smile so wide her eyes squinted shut.


    She had been called many things in her life: Miss J before her marriage, Mrs. Lindsay after, the matriarch of the Lindsay family...


    But this was the first time she was called the valedictorian''s grandmother.


    Suddenly, she felt as if her face was glowing with pride.


    As the saying goes, all trades are beneath schrship.


    J felt this was the pinnacle of her life.


    "I am," J nodded. "I''m Gerard''s grandmother."


    The reporter continued, "Valedictorian''s grandmother, how do you usually educate Gerard? Could you share some parenting tips with the parents watching on TV?"


    J proudly said, "Our Gerry, he''s been bright from the start. Only three years old and he could recite nursery rhymes and the golden rules of behavior. Honestly, I didn''t do much; the boy''s just motivated! Loves to learn! They say spare the rod and spoil the child, but that''s not right, you can''t be violent with children!"


    She was truly proud.


    J had a few close friends whose grandsons also took the SATs this year.


    Once the show aired, they would surely be green with envy.


    Darleen, standing on the side, felt unbearable.


    Just moments ago, she was the center of attention.


    But in the next, she became an ugly duckling.


    Merely a backdrop to Gerard.


    Darleen looked up at Gerard, her eyes full of anger!


    Gerard!


    It was all Gerard!


    If not for Gerard, J would be praising her, and the reporter would be interviewing her!


    How did Gerard, of all people, surpass her and be the top scorer in the city?


    Gerard''s mom was from a lower ss, and so was he!


    Poor grades.


    Daydreaming in ss.


    Never attended any prep courses.


    Neverpleted homework on time.


    And yet she worked so hard!


    She hadn''t slept well in the days leading up to the SATS, but her scores were still lower than Gerard''s!


    It was unfair!


    Utterly unfair!


    Darleen trembled with rage but tried her best to control her emotions.


    After the interview, J invited


    everyone to eat, and even had the servants hand out envelopes stuffed with money to the reporters, overjoyed.


    The reporter, cameraman, and other crew members were thrilled.


    It was their first news run where they received such gifts.


    They had been worried that a prominent family like the Lindsays might refuse their interview.


    But instead, they were met with such warmth.


    J chuckled, "Don''t be shy, everyone. These fruits were just flown in from Pnd this morning. You can''t get these anywhere else."


    As for Gerard, he remained indifferent.


    Neither proud of his valedictorian status nor boastful about appearing on TV.


    If he could, he''d trade all this to have his mother back.


    But s.


    It wasn''t possible.


    Gerard''s gaze drifted past the window, toward the horizon.


    The reporter then said,


    "Valedictorian''s grandmother, my son is taking the SATs next year. Could + perhaps take a photo with you? Maybe some of that good luck with rub off on him?"


    Normally, J wouldn''t entertain taking photos with strangers.


    But today was different.


    Today she wasn''t just the Lindsay family''s matriarch.


    She was the valedictorian''s grandmother!


    Her grandson was the top scorer in Capital City!


    Of course, she was willing to share some of that luck.


    "Of course! No problem," J agreed without hesitation.


    VolN?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    The reporter got his photo with J, and then pulled out a brand-new notebook, "Gerard, could you write a few encouraging words for my son?"


    Gerard nodded, took the notebook, and penned a message:

 Chapter 374

    The sword is forged in the fire and tempered by strife, just as true character is honed in the trials of life.


    Gerard''s handwriting was a testament to practice and precision.


    Graceful yet bold, his penmanship was a thing of beauty.


    The reporter couldn''t help but be impressed as she took the notebook from his hands, giving Gerard an appreciative look.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Gerard truly was a liberal arts prodigy.


    His penmanship alone was something to behold, perhaps even surpassing those who had dedicated their lives to the study of literature.


    "Thank you, Gerard. My son has been working really hard in school. Knowing that this messagees from this year''s top liberal arts student will definitely make his day!"


    "It''s no problem at all. I wish him all the best in his college entrance exams next year," Gerard responded graciously.


    After the interview, the reporter left the Lindsay household.


    J, eager to share the news of Gerard''s achievement with every rtive, grabbed her phone to spread the word.


    "Grandma, I''m going to head upstairs to rest," Gerard announced.


    "Of course, dear. I''ll have the nanny bring dinner up to your room," J replied with a loving smile.


    Gerard nodded and headed upstairs.


    "J, we''ll be taking our leave now. Come on, Darleen," Edna said, preparing to leave.


    "Hold on a moment, Darleen. I promised you a surprise for doing well in school. What would you like? I''ll have someone go out and buy it for you," J offered generously.


    Darleen forced a smile, "Thank you, Grandma, but that''s okay. I was just joking earlier." Deep down, she was embarrassed, especially after Gerard secured the top spot in liberal arts. How could she ask for anything now without feeling ashamed?


    "How can you say it was a joke? I made a promise, and I intend to keep it. Tell me, what do you want?" J insisted, her tone serious. Edna tried to brush it off with augh, "J, you''re too kind. Darleen has everything she needs. She was just trying to make you happy."


    J wasn''t swayed, "Gerry might have topped liberal arts, and Darleen ranked third in our city. It''s a day for celebration. Whatever Darleen wants, I''ll get it for her."


    The atmosphere shifted as Edna''s demeanor darkened. To her, it seemed Darleen was only getting attention because of Gerard''s achievement. This wouldn''t do. Edna was determined to have a child with Jonah, convinced that her child would surpass anyone from Carole''s lineage. "J, really, there''s no need!" Edna insisted, trying to divert J''s attention. "The person who truly deserves your praise is Gerry!"


    J''s face lit up at the mention of


    her grandson. "Exactly! I''ve been thinking about what surprise to prepare for Gerry. He has everything he could possibly want, and I just don''t know what to get him.. J''s voice trailed off, filled with concern.


    Edna''s expression soured further, realizing that J had never intended to give Darleen a gift. She began to question her loyalty to


    ???


    J and what she had truly gained from it. Despite J''s assurances of treating her like a daughter-inw, it was clear her affection was reserved for Gerard alone.


    With a mixture of irony and resignation, Edna announced they were leaving. J offered to have the driver take them home, but Edna declined, stating they had their own car.


    After seeing them out, J reminded Edna to drive safely.


    The car ride back to the Fletcher household was silent, the tension palpable. Darleen, not wanting to worsen the situation, remained quiet.


    Upon arriving home, Darleen attempted to offer Edna a ss of water, only to have it swatted away. The hot tea spilled over Darleen''s hand, scalding her skin.


    "Mom, I''m sorry! I was wrong!" Darleen pleaded, kneeling in fear.


    Edna, overwhelmed with anger and frustration, remained silent, her gaze filled with wrath.

 Chapter 375

    Darleen was the apple of her mother''s eye. From the tender age of three, she had been enrolled in every ss imaginable-ballet, music, chess, and painting¡ªall in an effort to mold her into a universally acknowledged prodigy. But, oh, the disappointment Darleen turned out to be! Despite the fortune spent on her education, Darleen managed to be nothing more than an ordinary girl, especially whenpared to Gerard, who had topped the college entrance exams. Darleen''s third-ce finish was a p in the face!


    "Do you realize where you went wrong?" After a long silence, Edna finally looked down at Darleen.


    "I didn''t study hard enough! I shouldn''t have lost to Gerard..." Losing to anyone but Gerard might have been eptable. From a young age, Edna set the bar: be better than Gerard. And Darleen waspetitive, quick to learn. She won awards in piano and was a chess champion. Her calligraphy and paintings had won second ce inpetitions. To say she was a jack of all trades wasn''t an exaggeration. And her academic performance? Top-notch. She consistently ranked first in her ss. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have secured the third rank in the whole city, a noteworthy achievement considering Capital City had over sixty thousand students taking the exams that year.


    When Edna learned Darleen ranked third, she was initially overjoyed. But Gerard''s first-ce finish made third ce seem like a constion prize. Her daughter was supposed to be the best! Why was she being outshone by someone of lesser stature? Edna had been bested by Carole in the past. She couldn''t bear the thought of her daughter losing to Carole''s child.


    "Why! Why can''t you just make me proud!¡± Edna shook Darleen by the shoulders.


    "Mom, I''m sorry..." Darleen sobbed. "I tried my best! I really did!"


    "Shut up!" Edna cut her off, "You did not try your best! If you had, you wouldn''t be losing to Gerard, that nobody! My daughter, losing to him?!"


    Terrified, Darleen didn''t dare speak or even cry. She couldn''t risk angering her mother further. The air was thick with tension. Finally, Edna copsed to her knees, embracing Darleen. "I''m sorry, Darleen! I didn''t mean to be so harsh! I just can''t stand losing to Carole, and you can''t afford to lose to Gerard! Remember, you must always be better than him, no matter what!"


    Darleen nodded, "Don''t worry, Mom. I''ll make sure to win J over. Someday, I''ll make the Lindsay name proud!"


    Hearing this, Edna''s lips curled into a


    smile. "That''s my good girl!" It was as if she saw a glimmer of hope. "The Lindsays have no daughters Once marry into the family, you''ll be the only granddaughter. We''lbshow Gerard then!"


    Darleen looked up, "Mom! So what if I didn''t be the valedictorian? None of the girls in our circle canpare to me. Even without that title, I can still marry into the Christensens! One day, when you''re Mrs. Christensen''s mother-inw, they''ll all have to respect you!"


    ¡°And Mom, don''t worry. I''ll make sure to prepare those health soups for J. I believe someday, she''ll see our true worth!"


    At the mention of "health soups,"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Edna''s resolve hardened. With those


    soups, J wouldn''t be able to


    resist. Once Darleen marries into the Lindsays and bes thedy of the house, Capital City would be theirs for the taking. With that thought, Edna''s eyes narrowed.


    Jonah had been going through a rough patch, spending his days in a rehabilitation center. Upon hearing the news of Gerard''s sess, Jonah ripped off his IV and, against medical advice, returned to the Lindsay estate.


    "Mom!"


    Hearing Jonah''s voice, J was overjoyed, rushing out to greet him. "Jonah''s back!"

 Chapter 376

    Jonah hurried across the room, "Where''s Gerry?"


    "Resting upstairs."


    Jonah thought about going up to check on him.


    J grabbed his hand, "Gerry''s been burning the midnight oil for his exams. Let''s not disturb him now."


    Gerard had aced the exams, bing the valedictorian!


    Standing out from tens of thousands.


    You can only imagine how hard Gerard must have worked.


    Jonah nodded in acknowledgment.


    J continued, "Howe you''re out of the rehab center? Are you fully recovered? All good?"


    "No big issues left," Jonah replied.


    "Now that Gerry''s be the valedictorian, I''m thinking of getting the whole family back home to give Gerry a proper celebration. After all these years, the Lindsay family finally has its first valedictorian!"


    Jonah slightly nodded, "I''ll handle the arrangements."


    J shook her head, "With your health and the business to tend to, let me take care of this little thing."


    "Fair enough," Jonah''s expression remained neutral.


    Though mother and son, their bond wasn''t as strong as before. Facing J, he had nothing much to say and stood up, "I''ll head back to my room."


    "Alright, I''ll have the doctor check on youter. Rest well."


    J watched Jonah''s retreating back, her eyes unreadable.


    She knew.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Jonah was still holding a grudge.


    Neen years.


    Ever since that incident, he had never spoken to her with any warmth.


    But could she be med for what happened with Carole?


    If she hadn''t intervened back then,


    Jonah would have certainly married Carole.


    And that would have been a real scandal, raising another man''s child.


    It couldn''t be kept a secret forever.


    Once it got out, wouldn''t the whole of Capital Cityugh at the Lindsay family?


    Sigh!


    J heaved a sigh.


    In the end, it all came down to that wretched Carole.


    Had she not meddled and seduced Jonah, the Lindsay family wouldn''t be in this state.


    Jonah without a wife.


    Gerard without a mother.


    If Gerard''s mother had been Edna, he would have been even more outstanding.


    Thinking of Carole, J''s eyes filled with resentment.


    She wished Carole would just disappear!


    Reaching his bedroom upstairs,


    Jonah found it clean and well-kept Although he hadn''t stayed there for a while the servants changed the


    bedding every few months, making it feel lived-in.


    Lying on the bed, Jonah stared nkly at the ceiling.


    Suddenly, he saw a woman''s face smiling at him.


    Who was she?


    As he pondered, Jonah''s eyes suddenly welled up, and a name slipped out, "Carole..."


    Carole? Who was she?


    Feeling as though he had forgotten something important, Jonah quickly grabbed his phone and called out, "Alva, who''s Carole?"


    Alva''s voice came through, "Mr.


    Lindsay, you''ve forgotten those things again, haven''t you? Your wife''s full name is Carole. There''s a hiddenpartment in your room''s safe, with a photo and a letter you wrote to her."


    After the call,


    S


    Jonah rushed to open the safe, finding the photo and letter as Alva described.


    Memories started flooding back.


    Next door, Gerard was busy typing away at hisputer.


    The room was filled with the sound of his rapid typing.


    Once done, he saved the document.


    He sent it to someone marked as [Director Walter] in his contacts.


    After sending the document, Gerard messaged Nanson: [Mr. Yeager, my exam scores are out.]


    Nanson didn''t reply immediately, probably busy.


    Gerard sent another message: [Mr. Yeager, how''s everything at Cloudcrest?]


    [By the way, I scored the highest in liberal arts in Capital City.]


    [Do you think my mom would''ve been happy to hear this?]


    Gerard''s first thought upon bing valedictorian was to share it with his mother.


    Unfortunately,


    He didn''t even know who his mother was.


    Gerard looked at his phone screen, a wry smile on his lips.


    On the other side, Nanson was


    died with organizing a dinner for his staff, nning toel


    them to a steakhouse outing.


    With over five hundred employees at the headquarters, He needed to call the steakhouse in advance to prepare.

 Chapter 377

    After wrapping up some business at thepany, Nanson turned on his smartphone, eager to share the good news with Violet. That''s when he saw the message from Gerard.


    Opening the message, Nanson let out a sigh. Poor kid. Born into wealth, yet motherless from a young age.


    "Gerry, I''m sure your mom would be over the moon to hear about this! She must''ve had her reasons for leaving you; never stop looking for her, I believe a mother and son reunion is bound to happen someday."


    "Oh, and guess what? My great-niece''s results are out too! She aced the science department at Cloudcrest!"


    Gerard replied swiftly, "Congrattions, Mr. Yeager! Guess we''ll be seeing each other in Capital City then."


    "Capital City it is!"


    "[Gift]"


    Gerard paused at the digital gift Nanson sent. Following up, Nanson messaged, "Just a little something to celebrate you topping the arts and my great-niece excelling in the sciences."


    Gerard epted the gift. $66.6. A number filled with meaning.


    "Thanks, Mr. Yeager. Next time you''re in Capital City, dinner''s on me."


    "Sounds good."


    Nanson then went on to share the joy with Violet.


    ...


    Anthea was helping out at the diner when she walked in to a chorus of congrattions, "Annie, way to go!"


    "Annie, you''re a genius! Topping our city in science? How do you do it?"


    Anthea, puzzled, wondered what they were on about. Top scorer? She had aced the science department? Weren''t her results still pending?


    Diners, overhearing the conversation, looked up in curiosity, "So this is Cloudcrest''s little prodigy!"


    She was indeed a sight to behold. Word spread like wildfire, and soon, every patron in the diner had their eyes on Anthea, admiration shining through.


    "It''s been years since Cloudcrest had a top scorer from our own city. You''ve really made us proud, little prodigy!"


    Taking it all in, Anthea managed a thanks before heading upstairs to check her results online. Just as she booted up herptop, her phone rang. It was her teacher, Mr. Waldron.


    "Is this Anthea?"


    "Yes, Mr. Waldron."


    "Have you seen your scores? You scored 749! The science top scorer of Cloudcrest! I''ve been bombarded with calls from schools asking about your first choice, even MIT..."


    Mr. Waldron was beyond excited.


    For years in his teaching career, never had he seen such a scramble for a student of his. And now, heContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    was on the verge of being recognized as an outstanding


    eln


    teacher. Promotion and pay raise were on the horizon.


    So, she really did it...


    "Thank you, Mr. Waldron. I''m not considering schools abroad, though. I want to go to Capital University."


    "Capital University? Are you sure?" Mr. Waldron asked.


    "Absolutely."


    Mr. Waldron nodded, "Alright then. Congrattions, Anthea! And thank you!"


    Anthea smiled, "No, Mr. Waldron, I should be thanking you."


    After the call, Carole came rushing up, engulfing Anthea in a hug, "Annie, you''re absolutely amazing!"


    The thought of being the top science student was beyond Carole''s wildest dreams.


    "Of course!" Anthea replied with a yful arrogance, "Who else but your daughter?"


    Just then, Nana burst in, breathless, "Ma''am, the local news station is downstairs, looking to interview Annie!"


    The news station?!


    Carole was visibly shocked, "Really?"


    "Yes!" Nana nodded eagerly.


    "Then let''s not keep them waiting," Carole urged.


    Anthea wasn''t initially keen on the interview, but seeing Carole''s


    excitement, she didn''t refuse.


    Descending the stairs, they were met not just by reporters, but also the mayor,munity leaders, all there to celebrate.


    Cloudcrest hadn''t produced a top scorer in years. Having a science top scorer was a big deal, and everyone was ecstatic, each taking turns to shake Anthea''s hand and present her with schrships.

 Chapter 378

    The cameras were rolling, capturing every moment.


    It wasn''t Anthea''s first rodeo in front of the cameras, and it showed. She was the picture of calm. Carole, on the other hand, seemed a bit jittery. Anthea gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.


    Carole looked up at Anthea. From this angle, she could see the confident smile on Anthea''s face.


    Suddenly, Carole felt her nerves settle. She smiled at the camera and answered the reporter''s questions with ease.


    After the interview, Carole asked, "When can I catch this on TV?"


    It was her first time being on television, and she couldn''t hide her excitement.


    The reporter replied, "It''ll air in about a week, 6 PM on ''Daily News Digest'' on Cloudcrest TV. There''ll be reruns at noon and 3 PM." "Great, thanks!"


    Yeager''s Delicacies was already a hit in town, but once word got out that the valedictorian of Cloudcrest Science High was the daughter of the owner, the ce was swamped with people wanting to rub shoulders with sess.


    The power of the inte is something else; Yeager''s Delicacies became the talk of Cloudcrest overnight.


    After the interview, Anthea called Karen.


    Karen, ecstatic beyond words, rushed upstairs to find Adah, "Adah! It''s fantastic news!"


    "What''s up, Mom?" Adah, in the middle of a beauty routine with a face mask on, turned to Karen.


    Karen, beaming, announced, "We''ve hit the jackpot! Anthea got the highest score in town! 749 points! The top of Cloudcrest!" "Really?"


    Karen, oozing pride, affirmed, "Of course, it''s true! My granddaughter-inw is just that brilliant!"


    Adah, ditching her face mask, eximed, "Annie''s been aiming for Capital University. Does this mean we can move back to Capital City with her?" They both had had their fill of life in Cloudcrest.


    "Absolutely! Karen nodded. "But


    Sherman needs to up his game. Capital University is crawling with young, romantic guys who know how to charm a girl. What if one of them sweeps Anthea off her feet?" Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Inparison, Sherman, despite being handsome and wealthy, seemedckluster.


    But what''s the use of being handsome? Can good looks fill your stomach? And wealth? Who wants to wake up to a cold face every day?


    Too old! Can''t crack a smile! Doesn''t know how to make a girl happy. Lacks sweet nothings. He''s probably never even held a girl''s hand before. In Karen''s view, Sherman was full of ws.


    "Right," Adah agreed. "Mom, you''re spot on! I''ll have a word with Sherman."


    "Leave it to me. I have a n for that


    boy," Karen said, leaving Adah''s


    room only to bump into Sherman returning from work. He was muttering something, holding a rosary in his hand.


    Karen, puzzled, wondered why such a young man would take to such old-fashioned habits. She couldn''t fathom it.


    Her mood lightened as she hummed a cheerful tune, heading downstairs, "Oh, what a joyous day for usmon folk..."


    "Grandma, what''s got you so cheerful?" Sherman raised an eyebrow inquisitively.


    "Didn''t Ann tell you?" Karen looked at


    him in surprise, "Ann''s the top


    I


    scorer! How could I not be ecstatic? I need to call Riley, make sure he seizes the moment. Before Ann starts college, he should win her over Once she''s at Capital University, surrounded by all those talented young men, she''ll be spoilt for choice! Riley won''t stand a chance then!"


    Karen continued her chatter as she walked downstairs.


    "Grandma," Sherman called out to Karen.


    "What is it?" Karen paused to look at Sherman.


    Sherman''s tone was even, "Anthea and Riley are not a good match. Maybe you should stop ying matchmaker."


    "Since when is it your ce to decide? Mind your own business!" Karen shot him a look before continuing her way downstairs.


    Sherman frowned slightly. Back in his room, Sherman texted his secretary, "Keep an eye on Riley theseing days."

 Chapter 379

    Riley was in her junior year of college. Not long ago, she started an internship at a subsidiary of the Christensen Group. The secretary in front of the screen furrowed his brows slightly. If he remembered correctly, Mr. Christensen and Riley were rted, weren''t they? So why had Mr. Christensen been nitpicking Riley for no reasontely?


    After sending that message, Sherman immediately opened Real Time Flow. Seeing that Anthea hadn''t started her livestream, he exited and set up a live notification before starting to work on some documents.


    The Morris family. With the help of the system, Reba scored fifth in the entire city. Sure, it wasn''t first ce. But considering there were nearly 70,000 candidates in Cloudcrest, Reba''s score was quite impressive. She was very pleased with her performance and promptly shared her scorecard on RealTimeFlow.


    People were astonished by Reba''s score. 736 points! Ranked fifth overall.


    TwilightMintBreeze: "Ba''s amazing! Not like some copycat!"


    NoTearsAtGraduation: "Fifth in the city! Impressive! Haha, wonder how the copycat scored?"


    RainyBalconyWhispers: "The copycat must be too scared to show up now! Go, Ba! Awesome!"


    EleganceAndCharm: "Brainiac alert! Passing some good luck my way!"


    Thements were mocking Anthea. Many even went to Anthea''s ount to attack her maliciously. Reba smiled triumphantly as she watched the scene unfold. Finally, Anthea was getting a taste of her own medicine! The higher you stand, the harder you fall. And this time, Anthea couldn''t get back up. A stepping stone was still a stepping stone.


    Forgetting about the incident was not an option for Anthea, so she quickly took a screenshot of her scorecard and issued a statement.


    "Hey my lovelies! Good evening! Here''s my response to the giarism usations from a while back. [Image.jpg]"


    As soon as the image was posted, RealTimeFlow exploded.


    ThorHammerStriker: "Congrats, Ann! Top of the ss! Hey Reba''s fans, remember when you were hyping up your girl and smearing our Ann? Feeling silly now?"


    Pupper: "Ann is just too good! Fifth ce is nothing! Our Ann is number one!"


    EverywhereBackstabber: "Holy smokes! Top in science in Cloudcrest! No extra points needed! This is what a true genius looks like! Bowed down!" LoveAnnForever: "My beauty queen, V587!"


    AnotherDayLovingAnn1314: "Stamping my love for Ann here!"


    Her statement shot up to the trending searches. When Reba saw Anthea''s statement, she wasn''t shocked or scared. Her first thought was that the screenshot was fake. How could Anthea, of all people, be the valedictorian? It had to be a lie! She had used a system to get fifth ce, so how could Anthea be first? Was it because Anthea was supposedly clueless?


    Following Reba''s lead, such opinions started to spread.


    SingleAndHappy: "From a professional standpoint, Griffin''s screenshot is fake!"


    MorningrmLara: "Oh snap! Knew it! Being a valedictorian isn''t that easy, right?"


    NotPureFool03645: "She''s got some nerve, faking high school exam results!"


    RainyBalconyWhispers87: "Ignorant, that''s what! Really thought everyone else was a fool, just photoshop a pic and im to be the valedictorian!"


    EleganceAndCharm: "Not just ignorant, brainless!"Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Suddenly, the narrative flipped. #Griffin-YC''sFakePhoto# shot up the trending charts. Anthea''s ount was bombarded with criticism. Amidst the chaos, Capital


    el


    University''s official ount released a video, tagging her. The video


    quickly trended.


    Capital UniversityV: "Heard some folks doubting our Boss Yeager''s score? Think Boss Yeager needs to fake it? @Griffin.YC"

 Chapter 380

    When Capital University dropped the bombshell statement, the inte exploded.


    No one saw iting - the official Capital University ount stepping up to publicly back their student!


    ThorHammerStriker: "OMG!! So hyped! Knew Ann wasn''t faking her pics! What a p in the face!"


    Pupper: "Love you, Capital University!"


    GentleBrute2021: "Wait, what?! That''s the official ount??"


    PopCultureQueen: "Fake ount maybe?"


    RealTimeFlowUser20215987423: "Holy moly, it''s legit..."


    BurningLove695: "So, YC is the real deal?"


    Capital UniversityV replied to [Burning Love695]: "No doubt! Boss Yeager is our top schr!"


    Thatment rocketed to the top with 150k likes!


    "How does the official ount sound like Ann''s biggest fan?"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "Checked those eyes, definitely a hardcore Anthea fan!"


    Capital University quickly replied below, "Be confident! The admin is a proud Anthea stan! I live for Yeager''s beauty, V587! [dog emoji]"


    No one expected the official Capital University ount to be a fan of Anthea.


    Upon learning Capital University had cleared her name, Anthea immediately thanked them.


    GriffinYC: "Thanks for the support. See you in Capital City in two months! @Capital UniversityV"


    Anthea''s poprity soared.


    Her response instantly garnered hundreds of thousands of likes.


    She dominated the trending topics.


    Capital UniversityV: "Ahh! My goddess replied to me! I''m going to meet my idol!"


    Thements section was a riot.


    "Wake up! Keep it cool! Remember, you''re the face of Capital University [dog emoji]"


    "This official ount acts more like a parody..."


    "[crying emoji] So jealous, I wanna meet the goddess too."


    "YC is impressive! Beautiful and talented, I''m a fan!"


    "True fans know Ann never relied on her looks. If it weren''t for some folks falsely using her, she might not have even shown her face yet!"


    "Some people can''t improve themselves, so they smear Ann! Disgusting."


    Those who doubted Anthea''s authenticity vanished into thin air.


    Suddenly, Reba became theughingstock.


    Her attempt to smear Anthea backfired spectacrly.


    The onlookers were thrilled, flooding Reba''s ount with criticism.


    "You''re officially a schemer!"


    "cklisted for life, Ba!"


    "Get out of the streaming world."


    "Having someone like you tarnishes RealTimeFlow''s reputation!"


    "Disgusting! Can''t believe someone would stoop so low, not a fan of either, but this is too much!"


    "Shameless!"


    As Reba read these harshments, she turned pale, trembling with rage.


    She had hoped to ruin Anthea''s reputation, but the tables had turned on her.


    Why Anthea?


    Reba couldn''t shake off the suspicion that Anthea had somehowe back from the dead, stronger than ever.


    In Reba''s past life, Anthea was nothing but a bug to be squashed.


    How could she be so formidable now?


    Reba suspected Anthea had a system too, and a more powerful one at that.


    Otherwise, how could she always lose to Anthea?


    It made no sense.


    Furious, Reba grabbed a mug from her desk and smashed it on the ground, "Does Anthea have a system too?"


    Her system responded, "I''ve checked


    before. Anthea has no system. In


    fact, among Luxphinia''s 1.3 I


    , you''re the chosen on


    one."


    "Only me?" Reba pondered, eyes narrowing.


    "Yes."


    "But how could Anthea score the highest without a system?" Reba mused.


    "Host, I advised you to study hard


    before the exams! The system could only secure you fifth ce. If you had studied,bined with my help, Anthea wouldn''t have stood a chance!"


    Reba frowned. She had been confident in her abilities, especially given her past academic


    achievements. But she overlooked one thing: the exam content had changed over thest decade, and her knowledge was outdated.

 Chapter 381

    ?


    She had underestimated the difficulty of the college entrance exams.


    And what surprised her even more was Anthea scoring top in the entire city.


    After all, in her previous life, Anthea was nothing more than a joke.


    At that moment, the system spoke again, "Host, ever since you were reborn, you''ve triggered a butterfly effect! So, Anthea hasn''t been reborn, nor does she have a system! The exams are done, and there''s no turning back now. Your main focus should be on carving out your empire in the tech world! Make Phoenix?YC and Dr. Varn your right and left-hand men!"


    If Anthea had been reborn too...


    Then it wouldn''t have chosen Reba.


    The system continued, "I''ll be transferring some advanced tech research to you shortly!"


    "Alright," Reba logged onto the tech forum and started on her missions.


    Due to her username being just one letter off from Anthea''s and her immediate outstanding performance upon joining the forum, not to mention being female, she quickly became a hot topic.


    PeacefulLife: "Holy cow! This neer YR is amazing! Definitely the dark horse of the year!"


    Phoenix?PowerMax and YoungAce: "Really? This counts as a dark horse? Where does that leave our leader, YC?"


    Phoenix?TimeRiver: "Well, YC is a guy! YR is a girl, how can youpare? I think YR could be a female icon in the tech world!"


    Phoenix?PastInTheWind001: "Though YC is a guy, his achievements are unmatched! Can YCplete 20 missions in a day? Including YR, can any of you even finish 2? Let''s notpare YC with some nobody."


    InkStainedXR: "Who doesn''t know YC is a team of a thousand! I''m rooting for Miss YR, she''s on her own-how could she possiblypete with a thousand-member team? I''m all for Miss YR this time!"


    Phoenix?Damon: "Jealous much! You''re just a team dog! Not talented, yet jealous of YC! Get lost!"


    HappyHappy1258: "Everyone, calm down! YC''s skills are undeniable, but the neer is quite impressive too! After all, she''s a girl! For years, not just in Luxphinia, but even Pellonia hasn''t seen many powerful women."


    And with that statement, everyone agreed.


    It was a valid point.


    Phoenix?YC was a guy after all.


    The tech forum was not short of male geniuses.


    But a woman like Phoenix?YR was a rarity.


    YR was a standout among women!


    Home Treasure0369: "Judging by Miss YR''s profile picture, I bet she''s a beauty!"


    DA_DarkKnight: "I could worship those hands for a year!"


    TechLover!: "Love it, just imagine how cool those hands look typing away at the keyboard!"


    Seeing thesements, Reba''s eyes sparkled with pride.


    The tech world was predominantly male.


    Thus, it showed a stark imbnce of gender.


    She had only just started and already caused such a stir with a few small tasks on the tech forum.


    What would happen when she made even bigger contributions? They would be astounded.


    So, one must not limit themselves.


    Only by aiming high can one see far.


    Even if Anthea was feeling proud was just a small-time


    now,


    streamer, what was there to


    compare?  Ovel


    ?wnovel


    To put it nicely, a streamer.


    In reality, just a clown seeking attention.


    But Reba!


    She was destined to lead the tech world!


    She would stand at the pinnacle of the tech sphere.


    Whether it be Dr. Varn, Phoenix?YC... or even the big shots of Pellonia.


    They would all bow down to her.


    She would be etched into history!Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Once she led the tech world.


    And married Mr. Christensen.


    What would Anthea amount to then?


    Anthea wouldn''t evenpare to a strand of her hair.


    She could, just like in her preamp


    life, crush Anthea, the little with a flick of her finger.


    s  swa


    With these thoughts, Reba''s eyes shimmered with triumph.


    Meanwhile, at the Yeager household.


    After sorting out a Photoshop scandal, Anthea started her live stream.


    But tonight, she wasn''t streaming chess.


    Instead, she yed video games.


    That user named RealTimeFlow202106080126 showed up again.


    This time gifting ten "Supreme Beauties" in a row.


    The chat exploded with "Big spender 666" and "Adopt me" messages.


    After gifting twice,


    Sherman suddenly heard Anthea announce she wouldn''t be ying chess tonight, opting to


    instead. Content belon game on


    Swnovel


    to

 Chapter 382

    Always gaming?


    Sherman frowned slightly, dropped a dozen more virtual gifts, and then shut down hisputer, heading downstairs.


    Karen and Adah were lounging on the living room sofa, their faces covered in avocado masks.


    Seeing Shermane down, Adah asked curiously, "Where are you off to, Sherman?"


    "Over to Daniel''s ce," Sherman replied.


    Adah frowned slightly, "Why head to Daniel''s sote in the evening?"


    The sound of a car engine came from outside.


    Soon after.


    The car stopped in front of the apartment building where Daniel lived.


    The lights in his apartment were on.


    When Sherman walked in, Daniel was sitting on the couch watching a live stream.


    On the screen.


    A streamer dressed in a bunny girl outfit was dancing provocatively in front of the camera.


    She had a great figure. And was pretty attractive too.


    Daniel didn''t hesitate to send 20 virtual sports cars her way.


    The streamer cooed immediately, "Thanks to Mr. Robinson for the sports cars, love you to the moon and back. To show my gratitude to Mr. Robinson, how about I sing a song? What kind of music does Mr. Robinson like? If Mr. Robinson thinks my singing isn''t too bad, maybe he could send a few more sports cars my way?"


    Daniel typed in a song title.


    The streamer began to sing.


    While singing, she made flirtatious winks, heart signs, and blew kisses to the camera.


    Sherman frowned slightly.


    This streamer was nothingpared to Anthea.


    Anthea had never asked her fans for gifts.


    Nor did she wear such revealing outfits.


    And she definitely didn''t make these kinds of over-the-top gestures.


    Tacky.


    It was just too tacky.


    Sherman shifted his gaze away, an unusual look of distaste flickering in his usually impassive eyes.


    "Daniel."


    The sudden sound made Daniel jump, "Sherman? When did you get here?"


    "Just arrived." Sherman twiddled a cross pendant in his hands.


    Daniel hurriedly got up from the couch, "Sherman, did you need something?"


    "Yeah." Sherman nodded slightly.


    Daniel poured Sherman a ss of water.


    Sherman declined with a gesture.


    Seeing Sherman refuse, Daniel took a sip himself, "So, what''s up, Sherman?"


    "Teach me gaming," Sherman continued.


    What?


    Gaming?


    The ever-calm Sherman wanted him to teach gaming?


    Daniel spat out his water in disbelief.


    "Sherman, am I hearing you right? Gaming?" Daniel wiped his hands carelessly on his sleeve.


    "Yep, gaming." Sherman''s eyes were serious.


    Daniel was incredulous, "Sherman, are you feeling alright?"


    "I''m fine." Sherman twirled the cross pendant, "I''m serious."


    Daniel was even more astonished, looking Sherman up and down.


    Why on earth did Sherman want to learn gaming?


    Had he lost his mind?


    Or was he bewitched?


    Sherman leaned forward on the couch, "Hurry up, I don''t have much time."


    Daniel quickly sat down too, "Which game, Sherman?"


    "Kings of Valor."


    "Kings of Valor?" Daniel just stared at Sherman, "Are you serious?"


    Sherman put the cross pendant or


    the table and took out his phone, "I''ve already downloaded it. Teach me about gear, positioning, and awareness."


    Daniel was stunned.


    What had gotten into Sherman today?


    "Sherman, did you get hooked on some streamer?" Daniel asked.


    Sherman remained expressionless, "No."


    Daniel squinted, "Then why suddenly take up gaming?"


    "To keep up with the times." Sherman''s reply was brief.


    Daniel gave him a skeptical look but didn''t probe further.


    And started teaching Sherman gaming.


    Sherman was a quick learner.


    In no time, he became a master of the game.


    An hourter.


    Daniel saw Sherman off.


    Back home.


    Sherman reopened the live stream.


    Unfortunately.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Anthea had already ended her stream.


    Why did she end so soon?


    Sherman frowned slightly, picked up hisptop, and wrote a script, installing it on his phone.


    This way, even if he didn''t add Anthea as a game friend.


    He could still match up with her during games.


    ...


    Anthea scored first in the city.


    The school forum exploded with excitement.


    "OMG! OMG! 749 points! I bow down to the legend!"


    "Full marks on the essay? Are we sure she''s a science student?"


    "Heard she missed a multiple-choice question, or it would have been a perfect score..."


    "Really? I couldn''t believe Anthea would top the city before. I thought people in her ss were delusional, but turns out, we were the ones who were wrong."

 Chapter 383

    Tina0216: "Wasn''t someone supposed to livestream themselves eating their phone? [Screenshot.jpg][Screenshot.jpg]"


    Thement section buzzed as people tagged the individual who had made the bold im.


    Embarrassed and cornered, the person in question decided to ghost and not respond.


    The next day.


    Anthea, Lizzie, and Tanya had nned a day out at the amusement park. However, Tanya had to bailst minute due to some urgent matters.


    Anthea arrived at the spot she and Lizzie had agreed on.


    Lizzie, ever curious, asked, "Annie, did Tanya tell you why she suddenly couldn''t make it?"


    "Something about a stomach ache," Anthea replied.


    Lizzie nodded and then said, "Strange, she was fine yesterday. Oh, Annie! Did you see how well Tanya and I teamed up yesterday? We had those trolls silenced in no time! It was epic!"


    Just then, a sleek ck car pulled up in front of them. The window rolled down, revealing a sharply featured face. The hand on the steering wheel was clutching a rosary.


    Lizzie was starstruck. Who was this guy?! Incredibly handsome. She had never seen a guy rocking a vintage button-up shirt so effortlessly. That aura, that presence. He made the so-called heartthrobs of today look like amateurs.


    "Anthea," the man spoke up softly.


    "Sherman?" Anthea raised her eyebrows in surprise.


    Sherman continued, "Get in, I''ll give you a lift."


    Anthea smiled, "No need, the bus should be here any minute."


    "This area doesn''t allow for parking," Sherman said in his calm tone.


    Not wanting to refuse any further, Anthea and Lizzie got into the car. "We''re headed to the amusement park. Thanks, Sherman."


    "Sure," Sherman replied, as stoic as ever.


    Anthea introduced Lizzie to Sherman, "Sherman, this is my ssmate Lizzie. Lizzie, this is Sherman, just Sherman is fine."


    Lizzie was astonished. Wasn''t Anthea an only child? When did she get a brother? The way Anthea addressed him felt a bit intimate, "Maybe I should just call you Mr. Christensen."


    Before Anthea could correct her, Sherman simply said, "Myst name is Christensen."


    "Christensen?" Lizzie frowned slightly. So, he wasn''t Anthea''s brother? "So, you and Annie are..."


    Sherman, a man of few words, added, "We''re just friends."


    Just friends, huh. Lizzie nodded, her gaze shifting between Anthea and Sherman, sensing there was more than what met the eye.


    The amusement park wasn''t far from the city center. They arrived shortly.


    Anthea thanked Sherman as they got out of the car.


    ¡°No need for formalities with me," Sherman replied with a slight nod.


    "We''ll head in then."


    "Go ahead," Sherman nodded slightly.


    As Sherman watched them walk away, Lizzie sneakily nced back at him, whispering to Anthea, "That Mr. Christensen is quite a looker."


    "Yeah, he''s not bad," Anthea casually remarked.


    Lizzie continued, "Does he like you or what?"


    "You''re overthinking it,¡± Anthea responded lightly.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Why else would he offer us a ride to the amusement park! You have no idea, when he said ''Get in, I''ll give you a lift,'' it was so cool! Like something straight out of a billionaire romance novel!"


    Lizzie reminisced about that


    moment, her eyes practically sparkling. She had read countless romance novels. Never had she¨º encountered anyone in real life who embodied the billionaire CEO trope as much as Sherman. That effortless authority, that naturalmanding presence, itwasn''t something one could imitate or learn.


    Anthea justughed, "He''s a vegetarian and a Buddhist; it''s unlikely he''d fall for anyone. You''re worrying over nothing!"


    Sherman was thirty-one. If he had any romantic interests, surely, he would have acted on them by now. Anthea had done her homework on Sherman; since bing an adult, his circle had never included any significant others. Even his assistants and secretaries were male. To Anthea, Sherman was a man untainted by worldly desires.


    "What if you''re the one to awaken his heart?" Lizzie countered.


    "That''s impossible," Anthea stated, "We''re just friends."


    The idea of a man without worldly desires falling in love? That sounded like a plot from one of Lizzie''s fanciful novels.


    Lizzie squinted, "Based on my years


    I


    of reading novels, there''s more to this. He definitely has feelings for you! Annie, do you know? When someone likes another person, it''s all in the eyes. He''s got that look for you, you know what I mean?"

 Chapter 384

    Anthea raised an eyebrow, "He''s not blind. It''d be weird if he didn''t notice me, right?"


    Lizzie was momentarily speechless. The logic was irrefutable, leaving her without aeback.


    With a sigh, Lizzie shook her head in resignation. "Ah, discussing this with someone perpetually single like you is pointless."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    As the words left her, Lizzie added, "Annie, just imagine, what if he falls for you and makes a heartfelt confession? Would you ept him, marry him even?"


    Anthea''s tone was nonchnt, "Such a scenario between him and me is impossible, Lizzie. You''re worrying about nothing."


    Lizzie pouted, "You never know, what if you two hit it off?"


    "Never gonna happen," Anthea enunciated clearly.


    Lizzie chuckled, "Ever heard of ''never say never"?"


    "It doesn''t apply to me," Anthea stated. Although she found Sherman appealing, it was nothing beyond that. After all, Sherman was practically a monk in his demeanor. How could there be anything between them? Even if by some fluke, it wouldn''t happen.


    Lizzie continued to enlighten Anthea about the concept of ''never say never'' as they walked and talked. Soon, they reached the amusement park''s y area. Being Sunday, the ce was bustling with visitors.


    At the sight of all the fun rides, Lizzie forgot all about their conversation, her excitement palpable. "Annie! Let''s hit the roller coaster first! Then the drop tower, and oh, we must try the Ferris wheel!"


    "Sure," Anthea nodded in agreement.


    In her past life, Anthea had been an orphan, always enviously watching other children being taken to amusement parks by their parents. Now, with the means butcking the desire, this was Anthea''s first ever visit to an amusement park.


    Whether it was the roller coaster, the sky-high drop tower, or any of the thrilling rides, Anthea found them all incredibly exhrating. She loved the adrenaline rush.


    Lizzie, on the other hand, was different. Though she loved the idea of fun, she screamed her head off in fear. Her reactions formed a stark contrast to Anthea''s calm demeanor.


    After enjoying several thrilling rides, they headed to the haunted house. The haunted house had three floors, and they had to queue to enter. Lizzie, who was particrly faint-hearted, barely stepped inside before clutching Anthea''s hand, "Annie! You''ve got to protect me!"


    "No problem."


    The haunted house was eerily dark, with realistic props that had Lizzie screaming non-stop. She clung to Anthea so tightly she might as well have been an octopus, her eyes shut the whole time.


    Three minutester, Anthea led


    Lizzie out of the haunted house, only to discover that besides Lizzie, two other young women she didn''t know had also grabbed her hand in fear. Anthea, with her fairplexion, found her arm pinched red by the three of them.


    The two strangers apologized profusely, "Sorry, miss! We didn''t mean to, we were just too scared inside!"


    "It''s okay," Anthea smiled gently.


    As the women looked up at Anthea, they were stunned by her beauty. It was too dark inside the haunted house to see clearly, and they hadn''t expected Anthea to be so gorgeous! They had thought Anthea was some kind of tomboy, given her bravery. What a turnaround!


    Exiting the haunted house, Anthea and Lizzie moved on to bumper cars...


    Meanwhile, Baldie was dealing with his own drama. His examination results had been dyed, causing him anxiety as he watched his


    ssmates celebrate their hit


    scores, while his own remained elusive. Tossing and turning at night, he was desperate for closure.


    Finally, his results were essible. The next second, his score appeared: 688! Ranked 89th in the city.


    Although getting into Capital University might be a stretch, Apex Ascent College was well within reach. Overjoyed, Baldie rushed downstairs. "Mom! My results are out!"


    It was daytime, and Harriet was cleaning up the barbecue shop, not yet open for business. Hearing Baldie''s news, she eximed with joy, "Baldie, how much did you score?"


    "688!" Baldie confirmed.


    "Really?" Harriet''s face lit up with happiness.


    Baldie nodded, "No mistake."


    Harriet sped her hands together, "Thank the Lord! It''s a miracle!" She recalled her nephew, who had also taken the exams this year, boasting a score of 654.

 Chapter 385

    Baldie just couldn''t believe his ears. Scoring a whopping 688 on the SAT - that was 34 points higher than his cousin!


    Now, 34 points might not sound like much, but in the world of college admissions, it''s like being gxies apart. With his score, Baldie was Ivy League material, aiming for the stars with ces like Apex Ascent College within reach. Meanwhile, his cousin was looking at state schools.


    "Baldie! You''ve really made your mom proud this time!"


    Baldie himself was over the moon. He had lived up to his mother''s expectations and his own. Apex Ascent College! And then there was Anthea. If only she knew about his score, she''d be floored.


    All Baldie wanted was to rush over with his SAT score report, stand in front of Anthea, and share his joy. And, why not confess his feelings for her while he was at it? After all, who wouldn''t want a boyfriend headed to Apex Ascent College? It was a surefire way to impress friends and family alike. Grabbing his phone, Baldie texted Anthea to meet up. It was time to spill his heart out.


    Tanya was having a rough day, feeling a sharp pain in her stomach that even meds couldn''t ease. Reluctantly, she headed to the hospital.


    After a series of tests, the doctor''s expression turned grave. "Are you here alone?" he asked.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Nodding, Tanya mentioned her busy family, brushing off concern with a smile. "Just tell me straight, doctor. I can handle it."


    The pause that followed felt eternal before the doctor softly uttered, "Lung cancer."


    The words hit Tanya like a freight train. How could this be happening? She was only 19.


    Despite the doctor''s attempts at reassurance, citing advancements in medical science, Tanya knew the odds. She''d lost her grandmother to lung cancer. She understood the bleakness of ate-stage diagnosis.


    Holding back tears, Tanya insisted she wouldn''t pursue painful and costly treatments that offered little hope. She wanted to face whatever time she had left with dignity, without the added struggle of fighting a losing battle.


    Stumbling out of the hospital into a day that seemed suddenly colorless, Tanya couldn''t hold back her tears any longer. Sitting on a busy sidewalk, she broke down.


    A kind elderly woman offered her a


    §Ö§ä


    tissue, her words of encouragement a smallfort in Tanya''s world that had juste crashing down. "Life''s full of hurdles, dear. Face them head-on, and you''ll find a way through."


    S

 Chapter 386

    Can she?


    No, not anymore. Her struggles seemed endless.


    Grandma continued, "Think about your parents, think about your loved ones. If they saw you like this, they would be heartbroken..."


    Tanya wiped away her tears, "Thank you, I know what I have to do now."Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She had just asked the doctor. She had only three months left to live.


    She wanted to make the most of these three months, to spend quality time with her family, and then explore the beautifulndscapes of her country. After all, she couldn''t leave this world without making some memories.


    Tanya got home and gathered all the money she had saved over the years, including birthday money and holiday gifts. It totaled up to $5,000.


    With the money in hand, she immediately went shopping. She bought a silk dress for her mother, something she had admired for a long time but never wanted to spend the money on. Her father was a fan of fine whiskey and always mentioned wanting a bottle of Glenfiddich. Tanya bought him a bottle.


    Then there was her brother. He had mentioned wanting a designer suit. Tanya knew his size and went ahead to purchase the suit for him. And then there was her sister-inw. Tanya''s sister-inw was very into beauty and often talked about a certain high-end skincare brand.


    Four gifts in total, costing her $4,800. That left her with $200.


    After shopping, Tanya headed to the grocery store. She nned to cook dinner that evening. Tanya had been cooking since she was young, but since starting high school, she seldom did.


    That evening, when the family, including her parents and her brother and sister-inw, came home to a table full of food, they were astonished. "Mom, did you leave work early today?" her sister-inw, Jane, asked Tanya''s mother, Karen.


    Karen shook her head, "No, dear! I just got home too!"


    With that, Karen turned to Tanya''s father, Gage, "Did you cook?"


    Gage replied in disbelief, "I just walked in with you, didn''t I?"


    "Could it be Hank?" Jane wondered, slightly confused. "But Hank came home with me too!"


    Just then, Tanya walked out of the kitchen with a pot of fish stew, "Mom, Dad, sis, you''re all home! Dinner''s almost ready. Oh, where''s my brother?"


    Everyone was stunned. They


    couldn''t believe Tanya, who was aszy as any young person, preferring sitting over standing and lying over sitting, had prepared dinner. Since Jane had joined the family, she hadn''t seen Tanya step foot in the kitchen. Usually, if Karen couldn''t cook, Tanya would just order takeout.


    "Sis, did you make all this?" Jane asked.


    Tanya nodded, "Yeah. Sis, you haven''t tried my cooking yet, right? Let''s see if you like it."


    Jane was baffled. Gage was filled with pride, "Our littlezy bug has finally grown up!"


    Karen smiled, "Tanya, dear, you just finished your exams. Remember to rest, okay? I can cook when Ie home early from work."


    "Mom, you work hard enough. I''m grown up now; I''ll cook for you every day from now on!"


    Karen was moved to tears. Her daughter''s thoughtfulness touched her deeply.


    Seeing her mother like this, Tanya felt a pang of guilt. She regretted not maturing sooner. With her lifeing to an end, how could she be a good daughter in the little time she had left?


    When Hank parked the car and came in, he too was taken aback.


    After finishing thest dish, the family sat down in the dining room to eat.


    Karen ced a chicken leg on Tanya''s te, "Tanya worked hard today; this chicken leg should go to her."


    "Thanks, Mom." Tanya added, "Mom,


    I made your favorite fish stew, make sure you have some. And Dad, here''s your favorite m dish. And for my brother and Jane, I made your favorite spicy hot pot. Jane, try it and see if it tastes right!"


    Jane felt honored. She hadn''t expected Tanya, who always


    seemed carefree, to remember everyone''s favorite dishes. Tanya''s parents were also overjoyed. Their child had finally grown up. The meal was incredibly joyful.


    After dinner, Tanya brought out the gifts she had bought for her family.


    "Mom, Dad, these are for you. Brother, sister-inw, these are yours. Go ahead, open them and see if you like them."


    Hank and Jane unwrapped their gifts. Seeing what was inside, they were both shocked, "Tanya, why did you get us such expensive gifts?"


    Tanya smiled, "Brother, sister-inw, don''t you like them?"


    "It''s not that we don''t like them, they''re just too expensive! Tanya, where did you get the money?" Hank asked.


    Tanya replied, "I used the money I''ve saved over the years, including my birthday and holiday money."

 Chapter 387

    Christmas presents?


    Tanya was known for being tight-fisted. Getting a dime out of her was like pulling teeth. And now, she''s suddenly generous?


    Hank eyed Tanya skeptically, "Tanya, you gotta be wanting something from me and your sister-inw, right? If you do, just spill it."


    Tanya shook her head, "Nope, bro, you''re reading too much into it."


    When their parents unwrapped their gifts, they were gobsmacked. These items would cost a pretty penny. Why on earth would Tanya splurge like this?


    Karan, always sharp, looked up at Tanya, "Tanya,e clean. Did you get into some trouble?"


    Tanya smiled, "Mom, what are you talking about? I''m neen. Can''t I buy gifts for my family?"


    Gage didn''t overthink it, popping open a bottle of fine Scotch, "This is some good stuff! That''s my girl!"


    Karan shot Gage a look, then continued, "Tanya, these gifts weren''t cheap. Even if you can afford them, it''s wasteful. Your brother and sister-inw''s gifts are one thing, but I can''t keep this dress. Return it tomorrow. Oh, and I signed you up for driving lessons. You start tomorrow. Aim to get your license by summer''s end."


    Hank and Jane quickly added, "Ours too. We should return them."


    Tanya insisted, "The gifts are yours now, no returns. Mom, bro, sis, I''ve never really bought you anything over the years. Please, just ept them." Then, she added, "Mom, I don''t wanna do driving lessons. Get a refund for the tuition."


    She only had three months left to live. What was the point in learning to drive?


    Karan frowned, "Tanya! What''s gotten into you tonight? Return the things that need returning. And you are taking those driving lessons. As for the gifts, you''re returning them tomorrow! We''re a practical family. We don''t need luxury items! Save your money for college. You''ll need it."


    Karan had her reasons. Hank had been married for a while, still living with them, without a ce of their own. It was important to save where they could. This spree must have cost a fortune! It pained her.


    Tanya was taken aback by her


    mother''s firm@stance. She knew her mother meant well. But it still hurt. It was still unfair. After all, it was her way of showing love. She was about to leave this world. All she wanted was to buy her family some gifts in her final months. Was even that too much to ask?


    "I''m not going to driving school! And as for the gifts, if you don''t want them, throw them out!"


    Karan was furious, mming the table, "Tanya! Say that again!"


    Tanya, holding back tears, walked to her room.


    "Little sis!" Jane caught Tanya''s sleeve.


    "Leave her, Jane! Let her go! We''ve spoiled her rotten! Now she doesn''t know her limits!"


    Jane had to let go. Tanya went to her room,ying on her bed, crying softly.


    At the dinner table, Gage turned toThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Leon "She me


    Karan,


    you


    os ven a


    Why be so harsh?


    not


    she did anything bad!"


    "Drink up! That''s all you think about!" Karan was livid, "Do you have any


    idea how much that bottle cost? Six thousand! That''s a month of your sry!"


    Gage was stunned.


    Karan sat down, eyes teary, "If she won''t return them, I will tomorrow."


    Jane said, "I''m off tomorrow, Mom. I''ll go with you."


    Karan nodded.


    Hank was worried, "I''ll go check on Tanya."


    Karan looked up at him, "No one''s to disturb her! She''s getting too bold!"

 Chapter 388

    Karan was seething with anger.


    "Mom, Tanya''s still young andcks worldly experience. She''ll grow out of it. Don''t be mad, I''ll go check on her," Hank said.


    With that, Hank disregarded Karan''s protests and headed towards Tanya''s room.


    Inside, Tanya was in a world of pain.


    She was just 19.


    She hadn''t started college yet, hadn''t confessed her feelings to her crush, hadn''t shown her parents the appreciation they deserved...


    There was so much in life she hadn''t done yet.


    Why?


    Why was fate so cruel to her?


    Thinking about her fate in three months made Tanya bury herself in her nkets, sobbing uncontrobly.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Just then, a knock sounded from the door, "Tanya."


    It was Hank''s voice.


    Tanya got up, stopped crying, wiped her eyes with some tissues, and then went to open the door, "Big bro."


    "Have you been crying, Tanya?"


    "I''m fine." Tanya sniffed, casually closing the door behind her.


    Hank sat on the chair by the desk, looking up at Tanya, "Tanya, mom wasn''t wrong to scold you today. What were you thinking, buying something so expensive with our tight budget?"


    Tanya looked down, silent.


    Hank continued, "Mom''s really upset. You should apologize and then go with her tomorrow to return the stuff."


    "I already said I''m not returning it!" Tanya suddenly couldn''t control her emotions, looking up at Hank, "If you guys don''t like it, just throw it all in the trash!"


    "Tanya!" Hank frowned, "Do you realize that $2,800 is two months of my sry? And you blew it all in one shopping spree."


    Tanya just looked at Hank, trying to keep her voice down, "Money, money, money! Is that all you guys think about? Is money everything? Can money buy time or life? You have no idea what''s truly valuable!"


    By the end, Tanya was in tears again.


    What good was money?


    Could it cure her cancer?


    Hank frowned, "Tanya! Have your studies made you lose your mind? If money isn''t important, what is? Without money, could you live in this nice house, have the chance to splurge at the mall? Stop filling your head with unrealistic philosophies! I think you''ve lost your mind!"


    Hank''s monthly sry was $1,400.


    With monthly expenses at $500.


    Including asional dinners out and treating colleagues to coffee, ! could only save $700 a month.


    W belongs to se


    That''s only $8,400 a year.


    Including his wife Jane''s sry, theirbined annual ie was around $20,000.


    The price for a decent home in Cloudcrest was $3,000 per square foot.


    Buying a three-bedroom house would cost at least $360,000.


    They had scrimped and saved up to $120,000.


    They were nning to take out a mortgage on a house next month.


    A mortgage of $240,000 meant they''d be paying it off for the rest of their lives.


    So, he was always frugal.


    He wore the same work clothes for years.


    Rarely buying new clothes, and never spending more than $20 on an item.


    Tanya buying him a suit that cost over $700 was unthinkable.


    That money could have bought so many clothes.


    Tanya was already unstable emotionally.


    Hearing Hank say her studies had made her crazy only added to her distress.


    If she had known she''d get lung cancer.


    That her life would end at 19.


    Why would she have bothered with school?


    "Right! You''re right! I''m crazy! I must have lost my mind studying to think of buying you gifts!" Tanya cried out, "Don''t worry! I won''t ever buy you anything again!"


    Never again.


    Because she wouldn''t have the chance.


    Tanya wished she could tell her brother.


    But she couldn''t.


    If her parents knew, they wouldn''t be able to handle it.


    In her 19 years, she hadn''t been able to fully express her gratitude.


    In thest three months of her life, she couldn''t bear to cause her parents such pain.


    Hearing this, Hank''s tone softened


    slightly, "Tanya, you''re still young, it''s


    normal not to understand some


    things. When you''re my age, you''ll


    see how hard it is to earn money. We appreciate the thought behind your gifts, but we can''t ept them! Tanya, be a good girl, go apologize to mom, don''t make her upset."


    "I did nothing wrong, I won''t go." Tanya turned away.

 Chapter 389

    Tanya just couldn''t bring herself to face her mother and apologize. She was as stubborn as a mule. Hank, unable to do anything about it, shook his head in resignation and left Tanya''s room.


    Karan was lounging on the living room sofa when Hank emerged, and she couldn''t help but ask, "What did that little rebel say?"


    "Mom, Tanya''s still young. Let''s not be too hard on her," Hank replied. "After all, she did this thinking it was for our benefit. Look, she bought gifts for the whole family but didn''t get anything for herself."Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Karan''s expression soured. "She should know her limits! Does she even consider her status? Can a student afford all those things? Spending like this while living with us-what will happen when she goes off to college in Capital City? She''ll bleed us dry!"


    Hank sighed but didn''t argue further, simply saying, "We can have Jane return those things tomorrow. Let''s not get upset over it. You should get some rest. I''m heading off to bed too."


    Back in his room, Jane was making the bed.


    "You''re back!" she said.


    "Yeah," Hank nodded.


    As she continued with the bed, Jane said, "Do you think your sister got possessed or something today? She''s never been this generous with us before; she even dipped into her savings. I checked online, and unless there''s a quality issue, they won''t ept returns. Looks like we''re stuck with them!"


    Jane had been part of the family for two years now. It was the first time she saw Tanya buying gifts for everyone. Something felt odd about it, but she couldn''t pinpoint what exactly. Was their luck turning?


    "We can''t return them?" Hank was surprised.


    "Exactly," Jane continued. "Go check if you don''t believe me."


    Hank frowned. "No, we have to return them somehow! Mom''s going to be upset for days otherwise. How about this: Jane, you go to the store tomorrow alone; don''t drag Mom into this. If they refuse, we''ll just cover the cost ourselves."


    "Cover the cost ourselves?" Jane''s voice rose instantly. "Are you out of your mind, Hank? Twenty-eight hundred bucks! Why should we foot the bill for your sister''s mistake?"


    Saving up for a house, Jane wouldn''t even splurge on a haircut. Asking her to cough up twenty-eight hundred dors was like asking for her life. "Jane! That''s my sister we''re talking about!"


    Jane was incredulous. "So what? Why should we pay for her mistakes?"


    Hank felt frustrated, feeling Jane didn''t understand him. Tanya was his sister, after all. "What do you mean ''pay for her mistakes''? We might be paying the twenty-eight hundred, but it''s not like we don''t keep the stuff.¡±


    "End of discussion!" Not twenty-eight hundred, Jane wouldn''t want to part with even two hundred eighty.


    Hank tried to soothe Jane. "Come


    on, it''s just twenty-eight hundred. We can afford it. And didn''t you want to buy your mom a nice dress? She and my mom are about the same size. That dress would make her look at least ten years younger!"


    Jane scoffed. "My mom''s a simple woman. She can''t be wearing such an expensive silk dress! It''s over seven hundred dors. She''d have a fit if she knew!"


    "Consider it a gift for your mom!" Hank pressed on. "We''ve been married for nearly eight years, and you haven''t bought her anything pricey."


    "With that seven hundred, I''d rather


    get her gold! At least gold


    appreciates. What''s she going to do with a fancy dress? Tanya''s neen, not nine. She should''ve thought about the consequences. I''m not cleaning up her mess. If you don''t want to argue with me, drop it. I won''t agree to this!"


    To avoid a row with Jane, Hank had no choice but to drop the subject.


    Tanya spent the entire night tossing and turning, waking up early the next morning. Her first order of business was to apologize to Karan.


    "Mom, I''m sorry! I shouldn''t have


    snapped at youst night. That was wrong of me! And I shouldn''t have wasted money on useless things, but since it''s already bought and we can''t return it, if you want to yell at me, go ahead."

 Chapter 390

    Seeing her daughter like this, Karan sighed deeply, her voiceden with a mix of frustration and care, "Tanya, you''re not a kid anymore. You should realize how hard your dad and I work for our money. Since you''ve admitted your mistake, let''s just put this behind us. After we finish dinner, your sister-inw and I will try to return the stuff, and you should head to the driving school."


    Driving school.


    Had this been suggested before, Tanya would have been overjoyed.


    She had made ns with Anthea before their finals to go learn driving together.


    But not anymore.


    Now, all Tanya could feel was bitterness. "Mom, I wasn''t joking yesterday. I really don''t want to learn driving. Please get the tuition refunded."


    "Why?" Karan was baffled. "We agreed, didn''t we? That you''d learn to drive after your exams."


    Tanya just shook her head. "I just lost interest all of a sudden."


    Karan''s barely settled anger red up again. "What''s going on, Tanya? It was you who wanted to learn driving, and now you''re the one who doesn''t want to! I just paid the tuition yesterday, and now you''re asking me to get a refund? Do you think this is some kind of joke?"


    Every day, Karan worked herself to the bone, looking forward to a bit of rest after work. Yet, she found time to go to the driving school to pay Tanya''s tuition.


    And now, Tanya was just giving up.


    Tanya bit her lip. "Mom, I genuinely don''t want to learn. I hope you can understand me. I don''t want to argue, and I don''t want you to be angry. I know I''ve been a handful over the years. I''ll be good from now on, I promise. Just please don''t make me go to driving school, okay?"


    Hearing this, Karan''s heart softened a bit, and she took Tanya''s hand. "Tanya, honey, tell me what''s really going on. Is someone bullying you? Or is there something else that''s bothering you? Just talk to me, and we''ll figure it out together."


    In many ways, Tanya had always been an easy child for her parents, less trouble than most.


    Though not the strongest academically, her efforts had paid off with decent exam results.


    Lately, Karan had been glowing with pride at work.


    Capital City University!


    Not many in her workce had kids who''d done better than Tanya.


    It was baffling to Karan.


    Why had her child suddenly changed like this?


    Tanya shook her head. "No, Mom, I''m fine. Really. Don''t worry about me."


    "Then why don''t you want to learn to drive?"


    "No reason. I just don''t want to," Tanya continued. "And about those items, don''t bother trying to return them. When I bought them, they already told me returns weren''t epted. It''d just be a waste of your time."


    Hearing that the items couldn''t be returned, Karan''s temper spiked. "You bought something


    el.ne


    non-refundable? That was twenty-eight hundred dors Has


    studying scrambled your brains?"


    Tanya managed a bitter smile. "Just think of it as my education messing with my mind, okay?"


    At that, Karan was livid. "Then you''re going to work this summer! You can start earning back that twenty-eight hundred dors, and I''ll consider forgiving you then."


    She wanted Tanya to understand that money didn''te easy.


    Otherwise, Tanya would never learn.


    Tanya looked up. "If working makes you less angry, then I''ll do it."


    Karan said, "The diner downstairs needs a dishwasher. I''m on good terms with the owner. I''ll talk to her, and you can start there."


    "Okay," Tanya nodded.


    During the meal, Karan shared the n with the family.


    Jane was thrilled.


    This way, Hank wouldn''t be upset over the twenty-eight hundred dors.


    Not only would he not be upset, but she''d also get a high-end skincare set for free!


    What a deal.


    "Sweetie, it''s normal for a girl to take on a summer job. It builds character. ''Hard work under the sun, sweat dripping down the soil,'' you''ll never truly appreciate the value of money until you''ve earned it yourself Otherwise, you might think it just falls from the sky!"


    "Right," Tanya nodded understandingly. "You''re right, sis."


    After breakfast, Tanya went off to work at the diner.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    It was her first time doing physicalbor.

 Chapter 391

    Exhausted.


    But Tanya held on.


    Because she knew her parents had been through worse over the years.


    Experiencing a fraction of their hardships before it was toote seemed right.


    Meanwhile.


    Anthea decided today was the day to take her driving test.


    Since she had promised Tanya, she sent her a video call.


    The call connected quickly.


    On the screen, Tanya appeared in a diner uniform, "Annie, what''s up?"


    Anthea said, "Didn''t we agree to take our driving tests together? Which driving school did your mom sign you up for? I''ll meet you there." Tanya smiled, "Annie, I''ve taken up a summer job, so I don''t think I''ll have time to take driving lessons with you. Sorry for bailing on you again." "A summer job?" Anthea raised an eyebrow.


    "Yeah."


    Just then, someone off-screen called for Tanya.


    Tanya quickly responded and then said, "The diner''s getting busy! Annie, gotta go. Let''s catch upter."


    With that, she hung up.


    Without Tanya, Anthea had to go alone.


    She found a local driving school online that seemed decent enough and was nearby.


    The instructor was a middle-aged man in his fifties, named Mr. Wu.


    He seemed stern when he wasn''t smiling.


    With school just out, many students were signing up for driving lessons. Some seemed bright enough, but learning to drive was a different story. Repeating a maneuver hundreds of times and still not getting it right!


    Mr. Wu was getting a headache just thinking about recent graduates.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Seeing a staff member leading Anthea over, Mr. Wu inwardly groaned, "You''re a recent high school graduate too?"


    Anthea nodded.


    Mr. Wu scratched his head, opened the passenger door, and said, "Hop in."


    "Sure." Anthea sat in the back seat.


    Another student was in the driver''s seat.


    Mr. Wu instructed, "Let''s start with the S-curve."


    "Okay," the student nodded.


    The car was quiet at first, but within a minute, Mr. Wu was losing his patience, "What''s with students these days? Can''t understand simple instructions! Did you actually pass your exams?"


    "I said brake, not gas! Are you trying tomit murder?"


    The student''s face turned red, flustered and fumbling everywhere.


    "Full lock! Full lock! Turn the steering wheel all the way!"


    Anthea nced at the front seat, a smile ying on her lips.


    Mr. Wu turned around, annoyed, "And you in the back! What are youughing at? Think you can do better? Put that phone away and pay attention!"


    Anthea replied, "Actually, I''ve practiced driving at home. I''m here to check in with you and schedule the tests for the different stages."


    Mr. Wu was speechless.


    Young people these days, always boasting!


    He''d been an instructor for a long time but had never met anyone so full of it.


    A pretty girl like you should be more grounded!


    "We have rules here. You can


    schedule the next stage 10 days after passing the previous one. You think getting a driver''s license is that


    easy? Like snacking on peanuts!"


    Anthea raised an eyebrow, "So, I need to wait at least thirty days to get my license?"


    Thinking of getting it in thirty days?


    That would take a miracle!


    Hearing this, Mr. Wu was even more


    incredulous, "Dream on! The


    quickest of my students took two months to get theirs! For someone like you, it''ll take at least three or four months!"


    Mr. Wu had seen it all.


    Pretty girls usually don''t do well behind the wheel.


    Otherwise, the term ''woman driver'' wouldn''t have such a bad rap.


    Anthea smiled slightly, "Don''t worry, I won''t fail."


    "Won''t fail?" Mr. Wu frowned, "Alright then, show us what you''ve got! Dinah, you hop out."


    The student, Dinah, quickly exited the car.


    Anthea took the driver''s seat.


    Though the car wasn''t top of the line, it would do.


    Enough to scratch the itch.


    After buckling up, Anthea turned to the instructor, "Ready?"


    "Just drive. I''ll remind you, this is the gas, and this is the brake! Make sure you don''t mix them up!"

 Chapter 392

    Anthea shed a slight, confident smile, "Don''t worry, it''s all under control."


    With those words, she started the engine.


    Vroom-


    Before the instructor could even process what was happening, the car had already shot forward like a bullet out of a gun!


    The speed was incredible.


    And yet, she expertly navigated through every twist and turn of the S-curve without a hitch!


    Whether it was a sharp corner or a gentle bend, she didn''t just maintain her speed; she elerated!


    From a distance, all anyone could see was a blur.


    Drifting!


    Power sliding!


    These thrilling and adrenaline-pumping moves were usually only seen on racetracks.


    The driving skills on disy!


    The other instructors at the scene were left wide-eyed and buzzing with excitement!


    "Amazing! Absolutely amazing! Who knew we had a racing prodigy among us!"


    Someone in the crowd even started whistling.


    Witnessing this spectacle, the other students lost all interest in their own practice and got out of their cars. One of them couldn''t help but express in awe, "That was so cool! When will I ever be able to drive like that?"


    An instructor nearby nced at him, "You? Maybe in another life."


    The student: "....."


    "Holy smokes! She''s heading into a series of bends without slowing down!"


    "Is she going to crash?"


    Normally, even professional racers would hesitate to barrel through a series of bends with such reckless abandon.


    "My God! She''s actually speeding up!"


    "She''s got nerves of steel!"


    Everyone''s hearts raced with anticipation.


    The next second.


    The car smoothly made it through the series of bends without a hitch!


    "Holy cow! That was insane!"


    Themotion attracted the attention of the driving school''s principal, who thought he was seeing things. He took off his sses, pinched the bridge of his nose, and muttered, "Whose car is that?"


    He had no idea his school harbored such talent.


    Someone in the crowd recognized the car, "Isn''t that Keh''s car?"


    "Keh?" The principal put his sses back on, "Since when was Keh that good?"


    Everyone else was equally shocked.


    Who would have thought that Keh, who seemed so ordinary, was actually this skilled? "Keh''s been holding out on us!"


    "I had no idea his driving was this good! Did you see? He''s getting faster and faster!"


    "Good heavens! What got into Keh today? How did he suddenly be so good?" Not just the other instructors.


    Even Keh in the passenger seat was dumbfounded.


    He had never imagined Anthea''s driving skills could be this impressive!


    In less than two minutes.


    Anthea hadpped the S-curve twice.


    Swoosh¨D


    Three minutester, with a sleek drift, the car came to a smooth stop on the road.


    Keh was visibly pale.


    Having been an instructor for many years, he had never encountered a student this skilled.


    "Are you okay, instructor?" Anthea asked.


    Keh tried topose himself, smoothing down his windblown hair, "I''m fine."


    "Keh! You''re incredible!"


    "Holy moly, Keh, you''ve been hiding your skills!"


    As they gathered around the car, the


    instructors'' expressions expressions changed upon seeing Keh in the


    overa


    passenger seat. Content seat.


    Could it be...


    The driver wasn''t Keh?


    But the youngdy in the driver''s seat, could she really be that young and that skilled?


    It seemed impossible.


    As they pondered this, Keh finally spoke up, "It wasn''t me driving."


    "Then who was it?"


    Stunned, the crowd fell silent.


    Was there a third person in the car?


    Keh turned to Anthea, "It was my new student, Anthea."


    No way!


    The area fell silent for a moment.


    Then someone chuckled, "Come on, Keh, you can''t fool us."


    "Yeah, right! That joke''s not even funny!"


    Keh was serious, "I''m not joking. Look do I look like I was the


    one driving?" Indeed, he had thee. quite shaken himself. P


    Taking a closer look at Keh, they noticed his disheveled appearance. His hair was a mess, and his face was devoid of color, clearly not someone who had just been driving.


    In contrast, Anthea lookedpletely unfazed throughout.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Could it be...


    Was Anthea really the one driving?


    That was terrifying!


    How old was she?


    "Littledy, was it really you driving?"


    "Yes," Anthea nodded slightly.


    "Unbelievable!" the person eximed, giving her a thumbs-up, "Truly impressive!"


    Another asked, "What brings you to our driving school?"


    Anthea looked up, "Getting my driver''s license."


    "You don''t have a driver''s license yet?"


    "No."


    The crowd was dumbfounded.


    Could someone without even a driver''s license really drive like that?

 Chapter 393

    "Man, how''s that fair to us licensed drivers?"


    Anthea nced at her instructor. "So, Keh, can you tell me how to schedule the test now?"


    Keh, thoroughly impressed, replied, "Just download the DMV Go app, and you can schedule it from there."


    "Thanks a lot, got it," Anthea unbuckled her seatbelt. "I''ll head off then."


    With that, Anthea opened the car door and stepped out.


    As she exited, the onlookers around the car spontaneously cleared a path for her.


    Little did Anthea know, a video of her racing was already going viral online.


    ...


    After leaving the driving school, Anthea walked past a caf¨¦.


    The heat was zing.


    She decided to go in and order an iced coffee.


    Just after she ced her order, a surprised male voice came from behind her, "Anthea?"


    She turned slightly and saw Baldie with two other guys from school.


    Baldie continued, "You here for a coffee too?"


    "Yeah," Anthea nodded slightly.


    "These are my ssmates, Jeff and Vincent Cash," Baldie added.


    "Nice to meet you," Anthea greeted them with a polite smile.


    "Here''s your lemon iced tea," a voice from behind her announced.


    "Thanks," Anthea turned to take her drink and then said to Baldie, "I should be going now."


    Baldie wanted to say more, but she was already walking out the door.


    As soon as Anthea left, Jeff and Vincent Cash curiously asked, "Baldie, who was that beauty? She''s stunning!" "That''s Anthea."


    "Anthea?" Jeff continued, "Which school''s she from? Introduce us, will you?"


    Baldie nced at Jeff, "She''s about to be my girlfriend, so don''t get any wild ideas."


    Jeff barely passed his SATS.


    How would Anthea ever go for him?


    "You''re going after her?" Jeff inquired.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yes," Baldie nodded.


    Jeff looked outside, "She''s so pretty. You think she''d go for you?"


    Baldie''s eyes sparkled with confidence, "Trust me, she''ll say yes!"


    Vincent Cash couldn''t help butment, "You''re that sure? What if she doesn''t?"


    Anthea was drop-dead gorgeous.


    Baldie, standing next to her, barely stood a chance.


    Unless Anthea was blind, she wouldn''t go for Baldie.


    "She will!"


    Baldie was too sure of himself.


    Someone with a modest background always dreams of being with someone from a prestigious college.


    And now, he''d got into Apex Ascent College.


    Anthea couldn''t possibly say no.


    "Just wait and see! Anthea will be my girlfriend! I''ll even treat you guys to coffee then."


    "And if she doesn''t?" Jeff asked.


    Vincent chimed in, "How about this?


    If Anthea


    will


    a turns you down, Jeff and


    you our dirty socks for a


    month. Deal?"


    "Deal!" Baldie agreed. "And if she says yes, you guys are doing myundry for a month!"


    "Deal! No problem."


    Time flew by.


    Three dayster, Tanya was feeling increasingly worse, as if she was gasping for air.


    Her chest hurt terribly.


    But she managed to keep going.


    After work, she went to the pharmacy for some pain relief.


    Just three more months.


    She had to get through these three months.


    Leaving the pharmacy, she ran into Hank, who was just getting off work.


    "Tanya, are you feeling okay?" Hank asked, puzzled.


    "Just a sore throat, buying some throat lozenges," Tanya smiled.


    "Oh," Hank nodded skeptically.


    That night, as Hank and Jane chatted before bed, Hank brought up Tanya''s recent odd behavior.


    "Jane, have you noticed Tanya''s lost a lot of weight recently? And she looks kinda pale," Hank mentioned.


    Jane, busy with her face mask, casually replied, "Isn''t she on a diet? It''s normal to lose weight."


    Hank frowned, still worried, "But


    dieting shouldn''t make her look that


    sickly, right? And I saw hering out of a pharmacy today! Jane, do you think something''s up with Tanya?"


    Jane, slightly annoyed, responded, "Rx, will you? Your sister''s tough. Nothing''s going to happen to her! And does she look like someone who''d get pushed around?"


    Hank persisted, "Lend me fifty bucks, will you?"

 Chapter 394

    "Why do you need money?" Jane asked, her eyebrows knitting together in suspicion.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    "I''m going to give it to Tanya," Hank replied. "She must be exhausted from worktely. I thought I''d give her some cash so she can treat herself to something nice, maybe a hearty meal or something."


    Jane''s expression soured. "Use your own stash for that! Don''t even think about dipping into my savings!"


    "Why are you being like this? Tanya''s been nothing but nice to you. Can''t you part with just fifty bucks?"


    Jane rolled her eyes. "Thirty, not a penny more! We need to save up for the house!"


    With that, Jane reluctantly took out thirty dors and handed it to Hank.


    Taking the money, Hank hurried off to Tanya''s ce. Just as he got to her door, he heard her coughing from inside.


    "Tanya, can you open the door?"


    Hearing Hank, Tanya quickly tossed the tissue she was holding into the trash and checked herself in the mirror before going to open the door. "Hey, big bro, what brings you here?"


    "I heard you coughing. Are you alright?" Hank asked with concern.


    "It''s nothing, just a scratchy throat," Tanya said with a lightugh, sitting down on her bed.


    Hank was still worried. "Maybe I should take you to the clinic? Sometimes, a cough can be a sign of something more serious."


    "I''m really fine," Tanya insisted, looking as carefree as ever. "What''s up? You didn''te over thiste just to check on me, did you?"


    That''s when Hank remembered his original purpose. He quickly pulled out the fifty dors from his pocket. "Tanya, this is from Jane. She noticed you''ve been pushing yourself too hardtely and thought you should buy yourself something nice to eat, maybe a steak dinner or something." Jane had only given thirty, but Hank had added another twenty from his own savings.


    "Thank her for me, but I don''t need the money. You should take it back." Tanya continued, "Aren''t you guys saving up for a house? You should focus on the down payment. I heard the prices in Cloudcrest are only going to go up."


    Hank shoved the money into Tanya''s hands. "We''re not going to miss this bit for the house. Take it, will you?"


    After insisting, Hank left the room.


    Tanya watched him go, her eyes welling up with tears, but she fought them back.


    The next day, Tanya went to work as usual.


    Jane had the day off.


    She slept in untilte morning, enjoying the rare quiet of an empty house.


    After breakfast, Jane started cleaning the house. It was her turn since everyone else was out working.


    When she got to Tanya''s room, Jane noticed bloodstained tissues in the trash can.


    What was going on?


    Frowning, Jane picked up a tissue and stood up, identally knocking over a bag on the table. Everything spilled out.


    As she was picking things up, Jane found a CT report and medical records.


    Patient: Tanya.


    Lung cancer?


    Jane''s heart sank as she read those words, the report slipping from her hands, leaving her face ashen.


    Tanya had lung cancer.


    And she had been diagnosed on the day she went out to buy gifts for the family.


    It all made sense now - Tanya''s recent changes.


    Tanya was only neen.


    Jane couldn''t imagine how Tanya had been coping alone with this news.


    Forgetting everything else, Jane frantically called Hank and her inws, urging them toe home


    I


    right away. Content bet


    ?wnovel


    to


    Without even changing her shoes, Jane


    Shed out and found?


    a nearby diner, busy waiting tables.


    "Sis."


    "Jane?" Tanya was surprised to see her.


    Jane took the tray from Tanya''s hands. "Stop working. You''reing home with me."


    "What''s going on?" Tanya looked puzzled.


    "Let''s go," Jane said, pulling her away.


    Just then, the diner''s owner came


    out. you


    ya! It''s rush hour. What a


    gchatting here? Get bet


    inside!"  back


    Swnovel


    "Sorry, she''s not working here anymore!"


    Sw


    The owner frowned. "She''s only been here a week. If she leaves now, there''s no final paycheck."


    "We don''t need it! Keep the paycheck!" Jane suddenly burst out, her voice filled with emotion.

 Chapter 395

    ?


    Tanya waspletely taken aback by Jane''s outburst. "Sis, what''s happening? Is something wrong?"


    Jane just stared at Tanya, her voice tense with emotion. "I know everything, Tanya. Everything! Little sis,e home with me. Let''s get you the help you need. Don''t worry, your brother and I have been saving up-we''ve got over a million in the bank! That''ll definitely cover your treatment."


    Tanya was stunned that Jane knew about her condition.


    Even more so, she was surprised to hear Jane say such things.


    Jane was usually so frugal.


    She hardly ever splurged on her hair.


    Rarely bought new clothes.


    Skincare products? Out of the question.


    At just in her thirties, she lived like someone a decade older, all in the name of saving money.


    And yet, they had managed to save over a million...


    But today.


    For her, Jane was willing to use all that money for her treatment.


    Despite their asional indifference, deep down, they had always considered each other family.


    Jane especially felt this way.


    In her heart, Tanya was truly her sister.


    She couldn''t imagine a home without her.


    Trying to keep a brave face, Tanya smiled weakly. "Sis, it''s lung cancer, advanced stage. There''s no hope for treatment. Instead of wasting money, I''d rather spend quality time with you all."


    "We can beat this! You''re still so young, and with the right treatment, there''s always hope!" Jane was now crying. "Don''t worry about the money, your brother and I can save up twenty thousand a year, and we''ve got over a million saved up. That''s definitely enough for your treatment!"


    Tanya shook her head. "Sis, listen to me. It''s terminal. Treatment won''t help. It''ll just drain our finances and add to the pain. Please, don''t tell my brother or our parents."


    "You''re their only daughter, and you''re my only sister. Ethan''s only aunt! If something happens to you, what are we supposed to do? No more talk of giving up. Let''s go home, sis!" Jane pulled Tanya back towards their house.


    "Sis, that money was for you and my brotherExclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    to buy a house! You''ve saved for years. I can''t burden you with this. Not you, not Ethan. Please, don''t tell


    my brother or our parents, okay?" By the end,


    Tanya was on her knees.


    Ethan was Hank Jones and Jane''s


    five-year-old son, currently


    after by Jane''s mothe


    et


    brought home once a


    Tanya couldn''t bear the thought of bringing her family down with her in her final days.


    Lung cancer was a death sentence.


    Not only was it incurable, but the hospital bills would be astronomical.


    Jane also knelt down, pleading. "Little sis, I''m begging you too. Don''t give up on yourself when we haven''t given up on you. We can buy another house, but we can''t rece you We must treat this! Even if it means breaking the bank. We have enough saved up. You shouldn''t worry about these things."


    "Sis!"


    "Come home with me, let''s tackle this together. Let''s get you treated, okay?"


    Tanya was in agony. "It''s no use...my condition is untreatable."


    "Just stand up, I''ll keep your secret."


    "Really?" Tanya looked at Jane in surprise.


    Jane nodded. "Really."


    Tanya stood up. "Sis, thank you."


    Wiping away her tears, Jane said, "Let''s go home."


    When they got home, Karan, Gage, and Hank were already there.


    Hank was confused. "Jane, what''s the matter? Why did you rush to call me and the folks back home?"


    Karan and Gage looked equally puzzled.


    Jane took a deep breath. "I have something to announce."


    "What is it?" Hank asked.


    Realizing what Jane was about to disclose, Tanya quickly tugged at her sleeve.


    "Sis, please don''t! You promised!"


    "I have to say it!" Jane turned to the three in in the room. "Dad, Mom, Hank, Tanya''s sick. It''s advanced lung Camer"  t


    ta

 Chapter 396

    ?


    As soon as the words were spoken, silence fell over the room like a heavy nket.


    Lung cancer? Advanced stage?


    Impossible!


    How could Tanya suddenly have lung cancer?


    Everyone thought they were hearing things.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Gage Jones stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, forcing augh, "Come on, Jane, don''t joke about something like this. It''s not funny at all."


    "Exactly!" Hank chimed in.


    "I''m not joking," Jane choked out, her eyes welling up with tears, "My little sister... she really has lung cancer..."


    Tanya couldn''t hold back her tears any longer.


    Crash-


    Karan Jones was pouring water when he heard the news, and the ss slipped from his hand, shattering on the floor.


    "What... Jane, what are you saying?"


    Jane covered her mouth, sobbing uncontrobly.


    "Tanya Jones? Really?" Karan rushed to Tanya''s side.


    With tears in her eyes, Tanya nodded.


    "Oh, baby! Tell me this isn''t true!" Karan enveloped Tanya in a tight embrace, crying out, "It can''t be true! My child, so young, how could you be sick? It should have been me..."


    She was in her fifties.


    She could handle being the one who was ill.


    But Tanya was only neen, fresh into college.


    Her life was just beginning.


    How could she be sick?


    At that moment, Karan wished she could trade her life for Tanya''s health.


    Realizing how she had treated Tanya these past days, Karan was filled with regret, wishing she could p herself for her negligence.


    It was all her fault.


    She hadn''t been attentive enough to Tanya.


    No wonder Tanya had suddenly spent all her savings on gifts for the family.


    No wonder...


    She had not only neglected Tanya but also made her take up a job.


    Gage seemed to age ten years in a moment, his legs trembling as he approached Tanya, trying to hold back his tears, "Tanya, my child, this will kill your mom and me."


    After saying that, Gage couldn''t control his emotions any longer.


    He buried his face in his hands and wept.


    A man in his fifties, bending like a child under the weight of his sorrow.


    The atmosphere in the living room was suffocating.


    Hank pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep his emotions in check. With both parents and his wife in disarray, he knew he had to stand strong; otherwise, their family would crumble.


    "Mom, Dad, Jane, please stop crying.


    Tears won''t solve anything. The most important thing right now is to get to the hospital. Don''t worry about the money; Jane and I have saved up a bit over a million. With how advanced medical science is, Tanya can definitely get better!"


    "Yes! Yes!" Karan clung to that hope like a lifeline, "To the hospital! Let''s go now. Your dad and I have also saved up a bit, we''ll surely be able to cure Tanya!"


    Tanya shook her head, "It''s no use, Mom, Dad, bro, sis-inw, please don''t waste your money. Instead of enduring all that pain in the hospital, I''d rather spend myst days with you all, making good memories."


    "We can beat this! We definitely can!" Jane insisted, "My colleague had breast cancer, and she''s been living a healthy life for five years now. As long as you keep a positive attitude and follow the treatment, there''s always hope. Money is nothingpared to a life. Please don''t give up on yourself!"


    Karan and Gage looked at Jane, moved by her words.


    It was surprising; Jane, usually so calcting, showed such generosity and understanding in this critical moment.


    "It''s pointless! I''m telling you, it''s


    pointless!" Tanya said through tears, "Lung cancer has one of the highest mortality rates. It''s incurable! Mom, Dad, bro, sis-inw, please, don''t waste resources on me. Everyone dies eventually, I''m just going a bit sooner. Don''t be sad, think of it as me going on a trip."


    "No, Tanya, don''t talk like that! You''re not going to die. I won''t let you. Let''s go to the hospital! We''re going now!"


    "I won''t go!" Tanya''s resolve was firm.


    She couldn''t go.


    With her condition, going to the hospital meant burning through money for nothing.


    "Tanya, stop being stubborn! Let''s go to the hospital right now!" Hank grabbed the car keys and tried to lead Tanya outside.


    Tanya cried out, "Big brother, I won''t go! It''s incurable. You and my sister-inw have saved for years just for a down payment on a house. I can''t be that selfish!"


    "Tanya!"


    "I won''t go, big brother! Please, don''t push me. Let me spend thesest three months happily with you all, can you do that?"

 Chapter 397

    ?


    Isn''t death just part of life? Everyone''s got their time.


    Nothing to be scared of.


    Hank, who had been holding back his tears, finally let them flow freely, turning his head away to wipe his face.


    "Tanya! Honey! Mom is begging you! I''m on my knees, please?" Karan knelt down in front of Tanya, "Will you go to the hospital, please? Let''s listen to the doctors, let''s give treatment a chance!"


    "Mom!" Tanya sobbed, kneeling down too.


    "If your mom kneeling down isn''t enough for you, then your dad is kneeling too! Kiddo! You''re so young, your life''s just beginning, you can''t give up now! As long as there''s a glimmer of hope, we can''t let it go!"


    At this critical moment, Gage couldn''t care less about appearances, kneeling down as well.


    As parents, they couldn''t just watch their daughter head towards death.


    Cure or no cure.


    Even knowing the eventual oue, they couldn''t let Tanya give up.


    They just couldn''t!


    "Dad! Please, don''t do this. I''m begging you, stand up! We all know this illness is incurable, so why waste time, why waste money? In the end, if I''m gone, and the money''s gone, what''s the point?"


    Hank, pulling Jane to kneel with him, said, "Tanya, your mom and I are old, can you bear to see us like this? Your brother and sister-inw are begging you too, please, give treatment a chance!"


    The whole family, kneeling together.


    Tears pooled in Tanya''s eyes, her heart heavy with sorrow.


    Why did this illness choose her?


    If she died, so be it.


    But now, her family was dragged into this sadness too.


    "I promise! I promise you all! Dad, Mom, big brother, sister-inw, please stand up!"


    "Really?" Karan cried with joy.


    Tanya nodded.


    "Oh, thank goodness!" Karan, wiping away tears of joy, helped Tanya up, "Don''t worry, Tanya, we''ll beat this thing! We just have to!"


    "You''re right, Mom! Little sis, you''re going to get through this."


    Finally agreeing to seek hospital treatment brought immense relief to everyone.


    Karan busied herself packing clothes.


    Tanya''s condition surely meant a hospital stay.


    Once packed, the family headed to Cloudcrest''s finest hospital.


    After a series of tests, Karan and Jane stayed by Tanya''s side.


    Gage and Hank talked with the doctor inside.


    ¡°Doctor, is there any hope for my daughter?"


    The doctor, looking over the test results with a grave expression, said, "The patient''s cancer has spread, and there''s a serious infection in the lungs..." Hank quickly asked, "Can surgery still be an option?"


    "Let''s proceed with hospitalization and start radiation therapy. Prepare yourselves mentally, though. The lungs are critical for breathing, and lung cancer has a high mortality rate from what we''re seeing, she might have three months at most."


    Radiation therapy was more about seekingfort than cure.


    They couldn''t just do nothing, watching a loved one die.


    That''s why many, despite the grim prognosis of cancer, still drain their resources seeking treatment.


    Hearing the doctor''s verdict, Gage and Hank broke down crying.


    Gage, grasping the doctor''s hand and kneeling, pleaded, "Doctor, I''m begging you save my daughter! She''s only neen, just started


    college! Her life''s just beginning


    What if.. what if you take my lungs and give them to her? I''m fifty-five; it''s okay if I''m gone, but she can''t die! Please, I''m begging you, save her! Whatever you ask, I''ll do it!"


    Gage had once dreamed of winning the lottery.


    Maybe hitting a jackpot of fifty million.


    But now, all he wished for was his daughter''s health.


    He''d pay any price for her well-being.


    Only now did he realize, the greatest wealth in life is health.


    The doctor quickly helped Gage up, "Please, stand up. Our duty as doctors is to heal, rest assured, we''ll do everything we can! But you know, modern medicine hasn''t yet found a cure for cancer. Once it''s diagnosed, we do our best, and the rest is in fate''s hands."


    Do your best, and leave the rest to fate.


    As a doctor, he didn''t want to see such a young girl taken by cancer.


    But there was only so much he could do.


    Not just in Luxphinia, but even in the medically advanced Country Pellonia, curing cancer was still beyond reach.


    Gage stood up, his face etched with sorrow.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

 Chapter 398

    ?


    It took a moment before the father and son emerged from the doctor''s office.


    Karan was on his feet in an instant, "Dad, what did the doctor say?"


    Gage smiled, "Nothing to worry about, the doc said Tanya''s doing pretty okay, all things considered. With the right treatment, she''ll be back on her feet in no time!"


    Karan''s eyes lit up, "Really?"


    Gage gave him a look, "Do you really think I''d joke about something like this?"


    With that, Gage turned to Tanya, "No more doom and gloom, okay? Just stick with the treatment n and you''ll be just fine."


    Tanya knew her condition better than anyone, but to keep her parents from worrying, she nodded in agreement.


    Hank spoke up, "I''ll go get the hospital admission sorted."


    "Go ahead," Gage nodded in agreement.


    Jane decided to apany him, "I''lle with you."


    "Let''s go," Hank took her hand, and they headed towards the ground floor.


    As soon as they were out of sight, Hank''s smile faded.


    Jane, concerned, whispered, "Is Tanya''s condition worse than they said?"


    Hank squeezed her hand tighter.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Jane sighed and held his hand back, "Don''t worry, Tanya''s a fighter. She''ll get through this."


    Exiting the elevator, Hank took a deep breath, his voice nearly breaking, "The doctor said... Tanya might only have three months left."


    Jane was taken aback despite knowing the severity of cancer.


    "Three months? I can''t imagine... not having Tanya around."


    "But Dad said she wasn''t that bad off, right?"


    Hank shook his head, "We''re going to try radiation therapy."


    "It''ll be okay! We''ll make sure of it!" Jane reassured, "We''ll get the best treatment, whatever it takes. She has to get better."


    Hank hugged Jane tightly, "Thank you, Jane."


    He was grateful to have such a supportive wife.


    "What are you thanking me for? Tanya''s my sister too, isn''t she?" Jane hade to see Tanya as her own sister after all these years. Once the admission was settled, Tanya was moved into a ward with other cancer patients, being the youngest among them. Seeing Tanya in her hospital gown, the other patients were visibly surprised.


    After settling in, Karan said, "Hank, Jane, why don''t you guys head back? Dad and I have got it covered here."


    Tanya nodded, "Yeah, big bro, sis-inw, it''s okay. You don''t all have to stay. There aren''t even enough chairs, head on home."


    Jane agreed, "Alright, we''ll head back and bring you some foodter."


    Hank initially didn''t want to leave, but decided to follow his wife''s suggestion.


    After they left, the woman in the bed next to Tanya asked curiously, "Is that your son and his wife?"


    Karan nodded, "Yeah."


    "And she''s your daughter?"


    "Yes," Karan replied.


    The woman looked at Tanya with a mix of pity and surprise. She thought her own diagnosis at fifty-five was bad enough, but Tanya was so young.


    "Don''t worry, dear. Cancer is tough, but with today''s medical advances, there''s always hope for recovery!" the woman said encouragingly.


    swnov


    "Definitely," Karan nodded with a forced optimism.


    Gage turned to Tanya, "Is there anything special you want to eat? I can go get it for you."


    Tanya shook her head.


    "How about I grab your favorite, some berries?" Gage suggested.


    "I''lle with," Karan stood up quickly.


    Gage agreed, and they left the room.


    Outside, Karan finally voiced his concern, Dad, please, tell me the truth about Tanya''s condition." Gage''s previous exnation felt too light-hearted, and Karan was sensing something was off

 Chapter 399

    ?


    Gage shook his head, struggling for words. After a moment, he choked out, "The doctor said Tanya... Tanya might only have three months left." "What?" Karan''s face drained of color, and she stifled a sob with her hand.


    Three months.


    Only three months left...


    Tears welled up in Gage''s eyes too. "Hey,e on, don''t cry. We don''t want Tanya to see us like this. Who knows? With all the miracles in the world, maybe she''ll beat this thing with the radiation therapy."


    Karan was inconsble, sliding down against the wall to the floor, wishing it were her instead.


    Why?


    "Oh, Gage!" Karan embraced him tightly.


    Gage was at a loss for words, not knowing how tofort his wife.


    The couple held each other, sobbing for what felt like an eternity.


    Their grief went unnoticed.


    Where were they?


    In a hospital.


    A ce all too familiar with parting and loss.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Disease is merciless.


    Those who see it often grow numb.


    Eventually, Karan and Gage managed topose themselves.


    Karan, in pain, said, "Since it''se to this, we can''t let Tanya leave this world with regrets. We need to tell her about... that thing."


    Gage sighed and nodded, "Yeah. Let''s talk it over when Hank and Janeeter."


    This was no small matter.


    "Alright."


    At dusk.


    Hank and Jane arrived, bringing somefort food with them.


    Taking advantage of Tanya''s nap, Karan and Gage called their children outside.


    "Mom, Dad, you wanted to talk to us about something?"


    Gage nodded, "It''s about Tanya. You know her condition. The doctor advised us to prepare for the worst. Your mom and I think... we can''t let her leave with any regrets."


    Jane sensed the gravity behind his words, her brow furrowing, "Dad, are you saying... we should tell Tanya about her real parents?"


    Tanya wasn''t Karan and Gage''s biological daughter.


    She was abandoned at birth.


    And it was Karan and Gage who, longing for a daughter, had adopted her.


    They''d always treated her as their own.


    "Yeah," Gage confirmed.


    "I n to invite Tanya''s birth parents to see her. It''s only right they know, and she knows the whole truth."


    Hank voiced his concern, "But will they evene?"


    "People have hearts," Karan sighed. "Facing this, as parents, they ought toe."


    "Little sis?!"


    Suddenly, Jane gasped.


    No one expected Tanya to appear right then.


    ???


    Yet, Tanya seemed eerily calm, not at all the emotional wreck they''d anticipated. Instead, she offered a serene smile, "Mom, Dad, I heard everything. Don''t bother reaching out to them. If they could abandon me once, they mean nothing to me now. You''re my real parents."


    It turned out Tanya had overheard some whispers long ago but never took them seriously until now.


    "Tanya!" Karan rushed to her, enveloping her in a tight hug.


    "Mom, I''m okay. Please don''t cry," Tanya said, patting Karan''s back soothingly.


    "Are they Malloy and Bader?" Tanya asked.


    Karan nodded.


    "That figures," Tanya mused with a chuckle.


    She remembered the Davises, who once lived in their neighborhood. Known for valuing sons over daughters, they had four girls and a boy. The youngest, Theodore, was treated like royaltypared to his sisters.


    §à§á


    Tanya had never believed parents could abandon their own until now.


    "Tanya, Malloy and Bader had their reasons back then. But don''t worry, they''lle to see you," Karan tried to reassure her.


    "Mom, I don''t need them. Really, I


    don''t! And don''t you two be too heartbroken. I''m well aware of my condition, and if I do leave, just think of me as a daughter who was never here."

 Chapter 400

    ?


    Hearing such words, Karan''s heart ached terribly, and with a stern face, he said, "What are you talking about, kiddo? You''re going to be just fine! You have to believe that! Listen to mom, keep taking your meds and cooperate with the treatment, okay?"


    Tanya smiled and nodded, "Yeah! I''ll be good, I promise."


    The family then escorted Tanya back to her hospital room.


    Even though Tanya had made it clear she didn''t want to see her biological parents, Karan and Gage were not ready to give up on the idea of getting Malloy and Bader to visit her at the hospital.


    Tanya''s life might being to an end in just three months.


    As parents, they feltpelled to find a way to mend her broken heart and not let her leave this world with regrets.


    Meanwhile, at the Davis household.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Malloy and Bader were sitting in the living room, enjoying their dinner.


    Suddenly, Bader said, "Hey, did you hear? The SAT scores are out. I heard our Tanya scored over 580!"


    "Really?" Malloy asked, surprised.


    Bader nodded, "Absolutely. Heard it straight from Lea! Isn''t she working at the same ce as Old Joe''s wife?"


    Malloy put down his fork, "Well, that''s our Tanya for you! Over 580, huh? She could get into any top college with that score!"


    "Yeah, heard she''s applied to Capital City Liberal Arts College!"


    "Capital City, huh?" Malloy''s eyes sparkled with excitement, "That''s the big league! Imagine if Tanya ends up dating some hotshot from Capital City. She''d be set for life!"


    People from Capital City were known to be affluent.


    There''s an old saying, "One family member makes it big, and the whole n rises."


    Hearing this, Bader''s eyes lit up too.


    "No way we''re letting the Joneses get all the glory! We''re Tanya''s flesh and blood. We need to im her back! Then she could even find Theodore a catch from Capital City. Imagine that, Theodore bing one of the Capital City folks!"


    Malloy nodded in agreement, "You''re spot on! With Theodore''s looks and smarts, he''s bound tond a wealthy heiress from Capital City!" Unaware of how spoiled Theodore had be, they didn''t see the trouble brewing just yet.


    Bader frowned slightly, then said, "But what if Tanya refuses to acknowledge us?"


    After all, she was taken away right after birth, leaving no emotional bond between them.


    Malloy said confidently, "No way!


    Tanya''s our blood, after all. Kids are


    easy to sway. We''ll just pour our hearts out, and if needed, get down on our knees and apologize. She''s bound to forgive us!"


    Bader smiled, "Right you are! So, it''s settled then! Howe our kids turned out so brilliant? Theodore scored 410, and Tanya''s over 500!" "Our genes, what else?" Malloy boasted.


    They were deep in discussion when suddenly, there was a knock at the door.


    "Who is it?"


    Bader went to open the door and was greeted by Karan and Gage.


    Bader immediately put on a wide smile, "Well, if it isn''t Uncle Karan and Aunt Gage! What a pleasant surprise! Come in,e in! Have you had dinner? You must join us; we''ve just started."


    Karan responded, "You''re too kind, but we''ve already eaten."


    "Then please,e in and have a seat."


    Bader, keen on reiming Tanya, was especially hospitable, offering drinks and making tea.


    Karan epted a cup of tea from Bader, then said, "Blythe, no need for formalities. Actually, we''re here to talk about Tanya." Bader smiled, "Heard our Tanya aced her SATs with over 580 points. Is that true?"


    "It is," Karan nodded.


    Bader continued, "Our Tanya sure is bright! Our Theodore did pretty well too, scored 410! Just goes to show, our kids are all smart."


    It hurt Karan to hear someone else refer to Tanya as their own, given all the years he and Gage had raised her.


    But this wasn''t the time for grievances.


    met


    Forcing a smile, Karan said, "Blythe, Tanya''s been having some health issuestely and is currently hospitalized. We were hoping you and Mr Davis could spare some time to visit her and perhaps exin things about the past."


    Malloy, surprised, asked, "Tanya''s sick? How serious is it?"


    Karan sighed, "You''ll see when you get there."


    Without hesitation, Malloy stood up, "No time to waste, let''s go right now!" They say a person is most in need of their family when they''re ill.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!