From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

"Sherman, let's go! Don't waste your breath on people like her," Karen snapped, grabbing Sherman by the arm.

Sherman gave a small nod and followed her, leaving Rebecca scrambling after them.

"No! Grandma, please, don't go! I'm begging you, please forgive me!" Rebecca pleaded, chasing at their heels.

But Karen didn't even look back.

Smack.

She slammed the car door in Rebecca's face.

The driver started the engine, and all Rebecca could do was stand there as a cloud of dust settled around her.

"Ah!"

A guttural cry tore from her throat. Rebecca collapsed, sobbing in utter despair.

In the car, Karen glanced at Sherman, worry creasing her brow. "Listen to me, you stubborn boy! Don't let that manipulative girl Rebecca fool you. I only accept Ann as my granddaughter-in-law, got it?"

She'd seen enough schemers in her day, and she wasn't about to let Sherman get tangled up with one. Truth be told, her nerves had been especially on edge ever since she'd read that romance novel last week-the one where the male lead was completely duped by a conniving vixen.

book to turn the hero against the real heroine, and the poor girl suffered endlessly-betrayed, heartbroken, humiliated. And the worst part? In the end, the heroine actually forgave the idiot

right into the pages to knock some sense into the heroine and give

own parents under the bus if it meant marrying into the Christensen family. Karen's biggest fear was that Sherman would end up like Daniel from that book: blind to the truth

not allow

"If you ever so much as misunderstand Ann, or treat her badly, I swear-I'll knock some sense into that thick skull of yours, break both your legs, and cut you off for good! You'll be out of this family, and I'll never

eyebrow.

punctuating her words with a sharp smack

fingered the cross around his neck. "I heard

a second. Had she heard that right? My God. For once he hadn't

That never getting married.

mean one thing: Sherman was truly

a laugh behind her hand-wouldn't do to jinx things if her future granddaughter-in-law heard her

way, what's going on with that Robinson boy?

"What did he

recounting how he'd come by just

expression darkened, a dangerous glint flickering

pressed on. "You need to stand up for Ann. She's a wonderful girl, and I won't sit by while some two-faced

cross. "Don't worry.

nodded in satisfaction. "Good. I'm counting