From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Chapter 513

Anthea bought a few trinkets, then dragged Sherman along to sample some grilled skewers.

The state of the roadside stall was enough to make anyone with the faintest concern for hygiene shudder. Still, Sherman sat down with a straight face, as if nothing was amiss, and ordered a few vegetarian options.

Anyone who knew him would have been stunned by the sight-Mr. Christensen, usually so aloof and distinguished, squeezed onto a wobbly stool at a street vendor's table with the crowd? Unthinkable.

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.

Anthea and Sherman made their way to the airport together.

First class had only eight seats, but as the plane took off, the other six remained empty.

Settling in, Anthea pulled out a phone case she'd bought at the night market last night, planning to swap it onto her phone. As she opened the packaging, she realized there was a second, identical case included.

She looked over at Sherman. "Our phones are the same model, right?"

Sherman took his out, checking. "Seems like it.”

"Here, you can have this one, then." Anthea handed him the phone case.

Sherman accepted the case and stared down at it, clearly caught off guard. It was pink. Not only that, it was covered in sparkling rhinestones and pearls—exactly the sort of thing a teenage girl might love.

Do all women really like pink this much?

Anthea grinned. "If you don't want it, you could always give it to Mrs. Christensen.

I remember her phone's the same as mine."

"No, I like it," Sherman said, and without missing a beat, snapped the pink case onto his phone.

Suddenly, his phone looked brand new-albeit a little... dazzling.

Anthea couldn't resist teasing him, "You should change your lock screen to a pink background, too. That way it'd really match."

down at his phone,

wonder if he was annoyed, Sherman handed her his phone. "What do you think

that looked as if it belonged on a twelve-year-old's

surprise. "You actually changed it? I was

expression was serious. "I've always

him a skeptical

Sherman nodded,

look like he was lying, so Anthea could only nod and mutter,

love for pink-no wonder

taste

the picture as his lock

later, the plane landed at Cloudcrest

was just after three in

of the arrivals gate, Anthea spotted a familiar figure in

Alex Peterson?

second—I just saw someone I know." "Alright."

Anthea jogged over. "Alex!"

"Anthea? You're here

back from Capital City

I'm here to meet someone." Alex

so I won't keep

Alex swallowed whatever else he might

turned to walk back towards

glanced up, and his gaze locked with

air between them instantly

and dangerous,

warning, a threat

Gontent

away and turned to

Anthea nodded. "Yeah."