From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

In the far corner of the grand hall, two men were seated.

The man sitting in the higher position wore a black fedora that cast a shadow over his features. obscuring them further behind curls of cigarette smoke. His long, delicate fingers, elegant even while holding the cigarette, stood in stark contrast to the dark beads of a rosary he twirled in his other hand, which only accentuated the pallor of his skin.

He was in a plain, a neatly buttoned suit that spoke of a disciplined elegance but with an air of austerity that made him imposing. His face was hard to discern, but the authority in him was impossible to ignore..

With a handsome and carefree face, the other man fixed his eyes on Anthea. “I wouldn’t have believed such shameless people like Anthea existed if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes,” he said. “She’s a cuckoo in the nest, a jackal in sheep’s clothing. Sherman, your fiancée’s behavior is despicable.”

To a bystander, Anthea’s actions were indeed shameless. As an imposter, she dared to interfere even in a family reunion for the true heiress!

At this point, the speaker, Daniel Robinson, a prominent figure in Capital City, paused and then. added, “Wait! The one engaged to you is the true Morris heiress. This counterfeit has nothing. to do with you!”

Such low–quality goods weren’t even worthy of tying Sherman’s shoes.

Despite the Morris family’s diminished status in Cloudcrest, they wouldn’t usually have the clout to summon someone of his standing.

But how could he refuse when Sherman was engaged to the Morris family’s true heir?

Daniel was merely accompanying Sherman for the visit.

The man across from him, named Sherman Christensen, sat with crossed legs, his noble bearing exuding a chilling aloofness, an aura of frost about him.

With a sigh, Daniel said, “Poor Rebecca, to have her identity usurped for so many years, and now she’s forced to acknowledge this impostor as her sister.”

It was a situation no one would envy.

Looking up at Sherman, he commented, “But honestly, Sherman, I have never expected your unseen fiancée to be so attractive! I didn’t think a small place like Cloudcrest could have such beauties.”

After all, Rebecca was of Morris‘ blood and naturally beautiful. How else could she be the campus belle?

Besides the heavily made–up Anthea, Rebecca’s beauty stood out even more strikingly.

Sherman finally looked up, his eyes deep and mysterious, with a red mole above the corner of his eye, adding a touch of morbidity to his otherwise fierce and untamed appearance.

He was not an easy man to serve.

“Shut up. You’re talking too much, Sherman said in a voice that was cold and resonant, the kind of tone that could take one’s breath away.

Daniel flinched but mustered the courage to ask, “Sherman, you’re still engaged to the true Morris heiress, and the Christensen and Morris families have been close for years. What if Adah and Karen insist you marry the Morris heiress?”

“Do you have someone else in mind? A crush in your heart?” Daniel prodded further.

“A crush?” Sherman’s handsome brow furrowed slightly.

Daniel explained, “Yeah, I mean someone you’re in love with, someone you adore so much that you can’t imagine marrying anyone else.”

Sherman shook his head slightly. “There’s no one now, and there won’t be in the future.”

Daniel didn’t doubt Sherman’s words.

Daniel had known Sherman for over ten years, but he had never seen Sherman close to any

woman.

Not only had he not seen it, but Sherman also led a life of asceticism, spending his days in the office or seeking inner peace in nearby chapels, immersed in churching and spiritual teachings.

If Sherman ever decided to take holy orders, Daniel wouldn’t find it surprising.

Rebecca continued her pressure, playing the pitiful victim, swaying public opinion toward her side.

Just on the matter of the true and false heiress, Rebecca had already won.

Anthea knew her place and said to Rebecca. “Ms. Morris, I’m sorry for taking over your life for eighteen years. I’ll leave immediately and return to where I belong. From now on, the title of Ms. Morris returns to its rightful owner, and I shall go by Anthea Yeager.“.

It had never been Anthea Yeager’s home or Anthea Morris, the original host’s home. Therefore, she had no intention of overstaying her welcome.

Rebecca was stunned. She hadn’t expected Anthea to volunteer to leave, a departure from the past she knew.

In the previous life, Anthea had clung to the Morris family, only to be despised and eventually eliminated by them. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Rebecca had planned to discredit this shameless woman thoroughly, but Anthea’s sudden decision to leave thwarted her.

Was the woman retreating as a tactic, feigning helplessness to gain sympathy?

With that thought, a trace of disdain flickered in Rebecca’s eyes.

“Could a simpleton like Anthea play mind games with me? Dream on!” she thought, “I’m the phoenix soaring in the heavens. And Anthea? She wasn’t even worthy of being called a sparrow!”

With a light laugh and a mocking curve to her lips, Rebecca said, “Anthea, you’ve stolen my life for eighteen years, living in luxury, and now, you think a simple apology is enough for forgiveness?”

Anthea’s expression was as calm as a still pond. “Let me set the record straight. The person responsible for the mix–up that swapped our lives for the last eighteen years isn’t me, you, or our parents. It’s human nature to harbor resentment, and it’s reasonable for you to be angry with me, but the one you should truly blame is the hospital. Were it not for their negligence, our lives would never have been entangled this way! Ms. Morris, we were babes in arms back then. Neither of us wronged the other, and the question of forgiveness doesn’t even come into play.”

Despite the original Anthea’s reputation being somewhat less than stellar, she had never done anything to harm Rebecca.

Still, Rebecca’s bitterness toward her was understandable. After all, anyone in such a situation would struggle to cope.

But Rebecca had no right to be so aggressive, especially when Anthea was ready to step back!

The original Anthea had been nothing more than an infant, a baby without a choice in her fate.

Rebecca let out a scornful laugh, her eyes filled with disdain. “Do you think a hospital, a place of supposed sanctity and precision, could make a mistake as grave as switching babies?”