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

and that person would be

grunted

He answered, listened, and his

ended the

it?" Anthea asked,

then said, "Daniel's going to marry

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

"Can't fix stupid."

fishy about Sandra's death. Maybe... it has something to do with

chess piece, his interest piqued. "What

“After Sandra died, didn't Rebecca get Daniel totell your family that her mom had passed her dad's still in prison and she hoped you'd help her out, for old times'

back. "Yeah, she

why

leaned in. "When I went to the fun went to

eralhome found

-

Sandra had taken sleeping pills before she died. But Sandra

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

el.not

Daly and Sandra for

were quiet but unshakable,

piece between his fingers,

to find out if Rebecca really

nodded. "You

replied smoothly. "Bring Daniel