From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

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?

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.

now, Malcolm had betrayed her.

Lizzie not witnessed it firsthand, she would never have thought her dad could be so cold–hearted.

expert replied again

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

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

message, her emotions a tangled mess.

expert

couldn’t handle the truth and did something

lose Gina. She couldn’t become an

didn’t remember falling asleep, but

unable to cope wightmare jolted her

1/2

revelation, had jumped from a building. The graphic images of

10:24

brain matter haunted her.

woke up screaming,

she sat up, the terrible images lingering, making her heart

The alarm’s chime pulled her back to reality.

and got ready

Lizzie,” Gina greeted as

to the table.

her mouth, asked, “Where’s dad?”