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

Pausing for a moment, Delia added, "Mrs. Lindsay, I mean no disrespect, but it's just that Miss Edna... well, she's had it tough. I wouldn't want you to miss out on such a kind woman. If I'm out of line here, please don't hold it against me."

With those words, Delia let out a sigh. "Truth be told, I'm just a servant, and it's really not my place to say this, but I just can't help feeling for Miss Edna. If it breaks my heart, I can only imagine how she must feel..."

Janet sighed in response, "Delia, how do you think I feel? I'd love nothing more than for Edna to officially join our family. But you know how Jonah is..."

Delia's eyes flickered with a spark of determination as she looked towards the grand manor entrance. "Mrs. Lindsay, Jonah always holds Gerry in high regard. If Gerry asks for Miss Edna's hand, Jonah will surely agree. Besides, after all these years, Miss Edna's practically raised Gerry as if he were her own."

Janet's face lit up at the idea. "That might just be the ticket."

The plan then was to work on Gerry.

Once he recognized Edna as his mother, Jonah would have no choice but to marry her.

At that moment, Edna entered, carrying a thermos. "Janet, what's got you and Delia in such high spirits?"

Janet replied with a smile, "Oh, just talking about happy things."

"I've made you some nutritious soup; let's go inside and have it while it's hot."

Janet had a persistent cough that no doctor seemed able to cure.

When Edna found out, she was frantic and managed to obtain a special health-boosting recipe from a renowned healer.

Oddly enough, after drinking Edna's soup, Janet's condition improved significantly.

For years, it was Edna's nurturing soups that kept Janet going.

Without them, she feared she might have been long gone.

That's why Janet saw Edna as her good luck charm, a blessing to the Lindsay family.

And this was a significant reason for Janet's fondness for Edna.

Janet patted Edna's hand and said, "Out of all the people, no one compares to you!"

Laughing, Edna replied, "Oh, you flatter me! It's only right that I look after you. And besides, Sherman and the rest of the family are also very attentive."

"Their attentiveness is just lip service," Janet said with a hint of discontent flashing in her eyes.

She had five sons in total. Apart from Jonah, who lived with her, the others barely visited once a year, and their wives were no different—hardly present.

Edna stayed at the Lindsay estate until the evening before she left.

Delia walked her out.

Stepping beyond the estate's boundaries, Edna stopped, "Delia, this is far enough. You should head back."

Delia glanced around, then whispered, "I mentioned the marriage to Mrs. Lindsay today. She's quite taken with you. Don't worry, the position of matriarch in the Lindsay family will be yours sooner or

later."

"Let's hope your words worked," Edna said, pulling out a small box from her bag and handing it to Delia. "I heard it's your grandson's birthday today – just a little something from me."

Delia hesitated to take it. "It's not easy for you, raising Darleen Fletcher on your own."

The Fletcher family was notorious for their ruthlessness.

The glamour of Edna and her daughter's lives was just a facade; the true hardships were known only to them. This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

"Please, take it," Edna insisted, pressing the box into Delia's hands. "It's nothing expensive."