From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Rebecca watched Daniel make the phone call. "Daniel, maybe we should just let it go. You can't turn your back on your own father for me."

Daniel slipped his arm around her. "Don't worry, Rebecca. My dad's a reasonable man. I'm sure once he meets you, he'll like you just as much as I do."

Who could possibly dislike a kind girl like Rebecca?

"Really?" Rebecca blushed, a little shy.

"Really!"

***

Meanwhile, in the Christensen family's game room, Anthea and Sherman were locked in a tense chess match.

Neither gave an inch, each move calculated, the pieces clicking softly on the board.

Anthea raised her brow. "I've never met anyone who could actually challenge me before. You're only the second." Most games, she barely had to think.

But with Sherman—and that infuriating stranger from online-it was different.

Both of them were masters, the kind who demanded your full attention. The tiniest distraction, and you'd be left with a board in ruins.

Sherman paused, rolling a chess piece between his fingers. "So who was the first?"

Anthea set a piece on the board, her fingertips lingering. "Someone you wouldn't know."

Why couldn't he ever know these people?

That strange sense of familiarity crept over him again. It was uncomfortable-like

pressure trapped in his

continued, "I think you and that person would be

grunted in

phone buzzed. He answered, listened, and his

a moment, he ended

is it?" Anthea asked, curiosity

then said, "Daniel's going

short laugh. "Looks like your brother's been properly fooled by Rebecca.

"Can't fix stupid."

"I think there's something fishy about Sandra's

up a chess piece, his interest piqued. "What

his gaze. “After Sandra died, didn't Rebecca get Daniel totell your family that her mom had passed her dad's still in prison and she

nodded, thinking back.

That's why I'm

Anthea leaned in. "When I went to

eralhome found

-

pills before she died. But Sandra

When Rebecca found out your family wasn't bankrupt, she got a nasty fight with Sandra. With

el.not

and Sandra for calling

quiet but unshakable, sinking deep into his

piece between his

find out if

nodded. "You have

replied smoothly. "Bring Daniel tonight.