From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Chapter 539

Back in the day, Sherman was a legend behind the wheel-a real king of the track.

No one expected Anthea to actually beat him.

Anthea sipped her dessert soup, her tone light. "Honestly, it was just luck. I barely edged him out by thirty seconds."

Hector swallowed hard, looking between the two of them.

How could they talk about something so terrifying as if it were just another ordinary day?

...

Daniel took Rebecca for a drive in the countryside, hoping the fresh air would lift her spirits. It was late afternoon by the time he brought her home.

At the curb, Rebecca turned to him. "Daniel, would you mind coming upstairs for a cup of tea? I really have to thank you. You've helped me so much today I feel a lot better."

He smiled warmly. "It's nothing. I promised I'd be your friend for life, didn't I?"

Together, they made their way to the Morris family's apartment.

The Morrises were renting the top floor.

out and knocked, but no one answered, even after

you bring your

through her purse.

for a while before finally pulling

a sharp

She

followed on

hurried to open every window and door, then rushed to the kitchen and

over, spilling soup across the burners. It wasn't hard to figure out what happened: the soup had boiled over, extinguished the flame, and left

turned off the

life. "Mom! Mom!" Rebecca's panic was unmistakable as she dropped to her knees, her voice shaking with tears. "Mom, are you alright? Please say

phone and dialed emergency services. The paramedics arrived within

their examination, one of them shook his

No vital signs.

out a

time—not too early, not too late. The last thing she

her knees. "No! Please, this can't be! Doctor,

very sorry. If there were anything we could do, we'd do

accept it, desperate and wild-eyed. "Doctor, I'll do anything! If you bring her back, I'll spend the rest of my life repaying you! Please,

only shook