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

“Is my mom really gone?” Gerard asked.

At his words, Janet paused, taken aback. She hadn't expected Gerard to ask this question.

In her memory, ever since Gerard became aware of the world around him, he had never once inquired about his mother.

Turns out, what Janet always thought as his nonchalance was actually a deep wound hidden in his heart.

Poor kid.

"Your mom's really dead," Janet sighed.

"How did she die?" Gerard pressed on.

Janet frowned slightly, memories of Carole filled with disdain, "All you need to know is that she's gone. The dead can't come back. Why do you need to dig up all these details?"

"But why isn't there a memorial for my mom in the family chapel? Why haven't you ever taken me to visit her grave?"

Faced with Gerard's probing, Janet felt a pang of discomfort.

Was she, as his grandmother, not even comparable to a faithless woman?

When Gerard was just a tiny thing, not even nine pounds, it was Janet who bore the immense pain and raised him bit by bit.

Had Carole ever fulfilled even a small part of her maternal duty?All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

And now, Gerard was still clinging to her memory. It was chilling to the bone.

"Grandma, tell me where my mom is."

Janet looked up at Gerard, her face etched with pain, "That woman, right after she gave birth to you, abandoned your father and the newborn you to run off with another man. Unfortunately, they had a car accident on the way, and both died! Do you think a woman with such a shameful past could be honored in the Lindsay family chapel? Does a woman of such loose morals deserve for me to take you to pay respects?"

Carole had indeed been a faithless woman, and she left behind a child unwanted by anyone.

Janet wasn't wrong in saying that.

Janet hadn't wanted to bring up Carole to Gerard voluntarily.

But since Gerard had brought it up, there was no need to hide anything.

Gerard was growing wiser by the day. What if he suddenly encountered Carole and was swayed by her? Janet would never allow Gerard to recognize a woman like Carole as his mother!

Rather than let Gerard dwell on this, it was better to completely shatter the little hope he held in his heart.

Hearing about his birth mother for the first time from Janet, and in such a disgraceful light, Gerard couldn't accept it, "No! You're lying! My mom isn't like that!"

Absolutely not! The mother in his dreams was kind and affectionate, a very good and beautiful person. She couldn't be what Janet described.

Gerard was still a child at heart, unable to bear such a blow, and he nearly broke down crying.

Janet sighed deeply, "I'm your grandmother. Do you think I would lie to you?"

Gerard just stared at Janet, silent.

"Ms. Fletcher knows all about it. If you don't believe me, you can ask her," Janet continued, "Go ask her if that woman didn't have an affair behind your father's back and give birth to a daughter out of wedlock!"

After speaking, Janet sighed deeply, her words filled with solemnity, "Ms. Fletcher is infinitely better than that woman! She was the one engaged to your father; it was that shameless woman who stole him away and played him for a fool! Now that Ms. Fletcher is back with your dad, it's only right. Gerry, I hope you understand your grandmother's good intentions."

Now that she had laid it all out, there was no point in saving any face for Carole.

She didn't deserve it!

After Janet's revelation, it took Gerard a long while to find his voice again, "...Where is my mom buried?"