From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Rebecca watched with a malicious gaze as Anthea disappeared into the distance.

“In this life, I’m destined for greatness. I’m the homecoming queen! I’m the heiress to the Morris family! What right did Anthea, that lowly pauper, have to challenge me? Even if Anthea managed to break away from the Morris family, she could never escape her fate as a stepping stone for me.” That was what Rebecca thought.

Rebirth had honed Rebecca’s acting skills to perfection. Onlookers might even believe she was distraught over Anthea’s departure.

Sandra was beside herself with pity.

In her eyes, Rebecca was such a good child, too kind–hearted.

Anthea had stolen everything from her, yet Rebecca couldn’t bear to see that waste of space go, even suggesting to treat Anthea like a sister.

“My sweet girl, I know you have a heart of gold and can’t stand to see her leave, but she’s not worth your kindness. Anthea is nothing but an ungrateful wolf in sheep’s clothing!” Sandra lamented and added, “By the way, Rebecca, how has your foster mother treated you all these years?”

“I almost dropped out of high school in my first year because my foster mother wouldn’t pay my tuition. I was only saved because the principal waived the school fees due to my outstanding grades. When I was in elementary school, everyone called me an unwanted bastard…” By the end, Rebecca was sobbing uncontrollably.

But the fact was that her foster mother had been nothing but kind, never letting Rebecca want for anything, cherishing her as if she were her darling girl.

Even knowing Rebecca wasn’t her birth child, she worried that returning to the Morris family would bring Rebecca scorn and bullying, so she gave Rebecca all her savings to help her stand

tall.

Rebecca dared to twist the truth brazenly because she knew no one there was ‘privy to the reality.

After all, evil exists to highlight the good in the world.

Without the green leaves, the red flowers wouldn’t stand out.

The lesser folks were born only to serve as a backdrop to her brilliance.

< SF SE

When Rebecca finished her tale, the crowd looked on with righteous anger.

From Rebecca’s story, it wasn’t hard to deduce that the foster mother had orchestrated the baby– switching.

It was one heck of a well–thought–out pauper prince plot! Otherwise, why would the foster

mother refuse to pay for Rebecca’s education?

She wanted Rebecca to grow up uneducated and worthless.

That was utterly despicable!

Sandra hugged Rebecca, crying. “My poor child, how could she treat you like this? That bitch…” Rebecca patted Sandra’s shoulder, her tone laced with sorrow, “It’s all right. I’ve grown accustomed to

it over the years. I’m not her daughter, after all…”

“My dear, you’ve suffered so much…” Sandra clutched Rebecca with guilt and sympathy.

In the corner, hidden from everyone’s sight, Rebecca’s lips curled into a smug smile.

Her plan had worked. Everything in this life was under her control.

She bet that enigmatic tycoon was watching her from the shadows.

Following the memories of the original host, Anthea went to the place of her birth mother, Carole.

Carole lived in the cheapest basement apartment in Cloudcrest.

It was a den of filth and darkness, damp and musty, where daylight never ventured.

It was dinner time, and families were eating by their doorways, plates in hand. They looked up curiously as Anthea approached.

The slum had never seen anyone like Anthea before.

The original Anthea had worn thick makeup that only amplified her brooding and paranoid aura, overshadowing her natural radiance.

But Anthea was unlike her predecessor. She was a formidable tech mogul who commanded. respect, someone even the world leaders would treat with deference. Despite the heavy makeup, she exuded an aura of superiority that others couldn’t replicate.

Under the watchful gaze of the residents, Anthea knocked on the tightly shut door.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

After a long wait, the door finally creaked open.

Anthea saw a pale, sickly middle–aged woman radiating a pathetic yet endearing air.

“You… you’re Anthea?” Carole gasped in astonishment as she beheld Anthea. She stood frozen with her eyes filled with disbelief.