From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent (Anthea )

Edna shimmered with a glint of defiance, fleeting yet unmistakable, "Janet, you shouldn't joke with me like that."

"I'm dead serious, Edna. No joke," Janet 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, commanded 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 Janet. Would you care for some?"

"No thanks," Jonah replied curtly, striding past her.

He was always like this with her.

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?

Janet 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, "Janet, 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, Janet 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. All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Janet 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 classes flocking to see the spectacle during breaks.

Since it was her first day in the new class, Anthea hadn't touched her phone, instead paying close attention to the lessons.

After school, she fired up her computer to tackle some coding tasks.

The OS System was now two-thirds complete.

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 her computer to help out in the family diner.

Meanwhile, Daniel closed his laptop 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, Sherman lazily 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 best comfort food. You’ve got to try their specials! Let's hit it up tonight! They've also got a vegetarian salad that's to die for. I bet you'll be hooked after one taste!"

On the other side.

Upon learning of Daniel's whereabouts, Rebecca 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 Rebecca.

Rebecca never went anywhere without Alicia and Mae.

Once they arrived, Rebecca was surprised to find Anthea working as a waitress again, despite the place 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 Rebecca'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, commanding 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, Rebecca 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.

Rebecca asked, "Could you recommend some of the house specials?"

Anthea mentioned, "The roasted rabbit is quite popular. You might enjoy that."

If her memory served right, Mr. Christensen was a vegetarian.

Rebecca 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?"