From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent (Anthea )

Gerry clasped his phone tightly, Healy's words echoing in his mind.

His expression was unreadable, a mix of sorrow and joy.

When Healy didn't hear a response, he asked with a hint of confusion, “Hey? Gerry, you there?”

Still, there was no reply.

“Gerry?”

Just when Healy thought there might be something wrong with his phone, Gerry finally spoke, “You sure it's from Cloudcrest?”

Gerry himself probably didn’t expect his voice to tremble as he spoke.

Eighteen years, and this was the first time he had heard anything about his birth mother.

For Gerry, there couldn’t be a better Christmas' gift.

“Yes, Gerry,” Healy continued, “Zack traced the factory address, it's definitely from Cloudcrest.”

“Healy.” Belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

“What?”

Gerry looked up at the sky, a slow smile spreading across his face, “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Gerry,” Healy replied. “Are you coming out for the fireworks at midnight?”

“Yeah.”

After hanging up, Gerry walked into the dining room.

Janet looked up at Gerry, “Who was that on the phone?”

“A friend,” Gerry answered.

“That George guy?”

Gerry didn’t respond.

Taking his silence as an affirmation, Janet said, “How many times have I told you, you and George aren’t cut from the same cloth! Why won’t you listen?”

“Mom, Gerry’s got his own friends. Let it be,” Jonah interjected calmly.

“Oh really?” Janet shot Jonah a glance, “Am I now deprived of the right to even care for my own grandson?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Jonah said smoothly. “It’s just that Gerry’s grown up now. He knows who he should and shouldn’t hang out with.”

“If I don’t step in, should he take after you?” Janet contained her anger, “It’s Christmas Eve, and I don’t want to argue.”

With that, Janet turned to Gerry, “How about we invite Edna over for the Christmas Eve dinner? What do you say?”

There were three people in their family.

As long as Gerry agreed to have Edna over, Jonah had no say.

“Grandma, I don’t like Edna,” Gerry sat down, “I don’t want her to be my mom, and I don’t want her coming over for Christmas.”

For the first time, Gerry voiced his thoughts in front of Jonah, directly to Janet.

Janet slammed her hand down, her bottled-up fury erupting, “You and your father, you’re both trying to drive me insane!” Christmas Eve was supposed to be a time of joy, and Janet had not wanted to lose her temper.

But she couldn’t hold it back any longer.

Edna was so wonderful, a thousand, no, ten thousand times better than that wretch Carole. How could she not be good enough for Jonah?

In her anger, Janet began to cough violently, clutching her chest.

“Mrs. Lindsay, are you alright?” Delia rushed over to soothe Janet.

“Jonah, young master, Mrs. Lindsay is already in frail health. Why must you upset her on Christmas Eve?” Delia sighed, then continued, “Even though I'm just a servant, I feel compelled to voice my thoughts. Miss Edna has done so much for this family, for Mrs. Lindsay. If it weren’t for her bringing nourishing soups to Mrs. Lindsay day after day, how would she be now? Even her own children don’t show such care, yet Miss Edna does! Even the coldest stone can be warmed with enough time, let alone a human heart.”

The implication was clear: Jonah and Gerry, father and son, were being accused of heartlessness.