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

In a cozy living room, three figures stood.

An excited Sarah gripped the hand of a young man, guiding him to Anthea. "Ann, this is my fiancé, Lacy Brown. Lacy, this is Anthea."

Sarah was clearly head over heels for Lacy; she was barely 20 and already eager to marry Lacy. Anthea had expected Lacy to be a real catch, especially since Sarah, a stunning girl herself, wouldn't settle for just anyone.

But to Anthea's surprise, Lacy turned out to be decidedly average. He was the kind of average that could disappear into a crowd, slightly overweight, with a budding beer belly and a receding hairline that added years to his appearance.

He looked to be in his late thirties, at least...

The Browns were business folks, always well-kept and youthful looking. Next to his parents, Lacy looked less like their son and more like a younger brother...

Could it be true that love is blind? In Sarah's case, it certainly seemed so.

She didn't care for looks or charm; she valued Lacy's honesty and the special way he treated her.

She feared that a too-handsome man would only be trouble, the kind to have affairs and flings. She couldn't risk falling for a playboy.

Anthea raised an eyebrow subtly, her smile warm as she greeted, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Brown."

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Yeager," Lacy stuttered, taken aback by Anthea's beauty, which seemed to eclipse even Sarah's.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

Sarah playfully swatted him, "What's with the formality? Too distant! Ann is my best friend; just call her by her name."

"Sarah's right," Anthea chimed in, "Just Anthea is fine."

Meanwhile, Latonia was introducing Carole to Lacy's parents.

Lacy's father, Bob, wasn't much of a talker, giving Carole a nod as a form of greeting.

Lacy's mother, Debra, on the other hand, was a social butterfly, "Carole, dear, I've heard so much about you from my in-law. Own a diner, do you?"

"Yes, I do," Carole nodded in confirmation.

"How's business?" Debra inquired.

Carole replied with a smile, "It's doing quite well, thank you."

"And where's this diner of yours?" Debra continued.

"It's at 612 Arcadia Avenue. Feel free to come by anytime. We'll give you a special discount."

612 Arcadia Avenue?

Debra frowned slightly. If memory served her right, the foot traffic here was notoriously poor, with many diners closing shop.

Carole couldn't be serious about her business booming, could she?

Surely she was bluffing. She must be afraid of being the butt of a joke.

After all, who boasts about a diner on the brink of closure?

Debra didn't call her out, but a hint of scorn flashed across her eyes, thinking to herself how the company one keeps speaks volumes.

From the get-go, she had been opposed to Lacy's and Sarah's relationship.

Their family was well-off, running a successful remodeling business bringing in millions a year. Why settle for Sarah?

But Lacy was stubborn, set on Sarah and Sarah alone. So Debra proposed a quick wedding, hoping Sarah's family would balk at an early marriage.

To her dismay, they agreed.

It was obvious to her; they were after the Brown fortune.

Despite Debra's attempts to make Sarah uncomfortable during visits, Sarah never wavered.

The nerve! For money, it seemed, some people had no shame.

If it weren't for Lacy being her only son, she would never have given her blessing.

But her son loves this girl. She had to swallow her pride and welcome a stranger into the family.

Anthea approached Carole, and Debra's eyes brightened, "And who might this young lady be?"

Carole introduced her, "This is my daughter, Anthea. Ann, this is Sarah's future mother-in-law, Debra. Say hello."

"Nice to meet you, Debra," Anthea greeted politely.

Debra assessed Anthea, "How old are you, dear?"

"Eighteen."

"Do you have a boyfriend yet?"

"No, Debra, I'm still focusing on school," Anthea replied.