From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent (Anthea ) novel Chapter 375

Darleen was the apple of her mother's eye. From the tender age of three, she had been enrolled in every class imaginable—ballet, music, chess, and painting—all in an effort to mold her into a universally acknowledged prodigy. But, oh, the disappointment Darleen turned out to be! Despite the fortune spent on her education, Darleen managed to be nothing more than an ordinary girl, especially when compared to Gerard, who had topped the college entrance exams. Darleen's third-place finish was a slap in the face!

“Do you realize where you went wrong?” After a long silence, Edna finally looked down at Darleen.

“I didn’t study hard enough! I shouldn’t have lost to Gerard...” Losing to anyone but Gerard might have been acceptable. From a young age, Edna set the bar: be better than Gerard. And Darleen was competitive, quick to learn. She won awards in piano and was a chess champion. Her calligraphy and paintings had won second place in competitions. To say she was a jack of all trades wasn't an exaggeration. And her academic performance? Top-notch. She consistently ranked first in her class. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have secured the third rank in the whole city, a noteworthy achievement considering Capital City had over sixty thousand students taking the exams that year.

When Edna learned Darleen ranked third, she was initially overjoyed. But Gerard's first-place finish made third place seem like a consolation prize. Her daughter was supposed to be the best! Why was she being outshone by someone of lesser stature? Edna had been bested by Carole in the past. She couldn’t bear the thought of her daughter losing to Carole’s child.

“Why! Why can’t you just make me proud!” Edna shook Darleen by the shoulders.

“Mom, I'm sorry...” Darleen sobbed. “I tried my best! I really did!”

“Shut up!” Edna cut her off, “You did not try your best! If you had, you wouldn’t be losing to Gerard, that nobody! My daughter, losing to him?!”

Terrified, Darleen didn’t dare speak or even cry. She couldn’t risk angering her mother further. The air was thick with tension. Finally, Edna collapsed to her knees, embracing Darleen. “I’m sorry, Darleen! I didn’t mean to be so harsh! I just can’t stand losing to Carole, and you can’t afford to lose to Gerard! Remember, you must always be better than him, no matter what!”

Darleen nodded, “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll make sure to win Janet over. Someday, I’ll make the Lindsay name proud!”

Hearing this, Edna's lips curled into a smile. “That’s my good girl!” It was as if she saw a glimmer of hope. “The Lindsays have no daughters. Once I marry into the family, you’ll be the only granddaughter. We'll show Gerard then!”

Darleen looked up, “Mom! So what if I didn’t become the valedictorian? None of the girls in our circle can compare to me. Even without that title, I can still marry into the Christensens! One day, when you’re Mrs. Christensen’s mother-in-law, they’ll all have to respect you!”

“And Mom, don’t worry. I’ll make sure to prepare those health soups for Janet. I believe someday, she’ll see our true worth!”

At the mention of “health soups,” Edna’s resolve hardened. With those soups, Janet wouldn’t be able to resist. Once Darleen marries into the Lindsays and becomes the lady of the house, Capital City would be theirs for the taking. With that thought, Edna’s eyes narrowed.

...

Jonah had been going through a rough patch, spending his days in a rehabilitation center. Upon hearing the news of Gerard's success, Jonah ripped off his IV and, against medical advice, returned to the Lindsay estate.

“Mom!”

Hearing Jonah’s voice, Janet was overjoyed, rushing out to greet him. “Jonah’s back!”