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

"Sorry, I left my phone at home," Anthea said, her voice polite yet firm.

Upon hearing this, Palmer knew his chances were gone. His footsteps slowed in resignation.

As soon as Anthea stepped out of the school gates, she spotted Nanson and Carole among the crowd of parents. She hurried towards them, "Mom, Uncle, didn't I tell you not to wait for me? Why haven't you gone back?"

The June sun was merciless, baking everything under its gaze. Nanson and Carole were sweating profusely, their skin sunburned.

Seeing Anthea, both Carole and Nanson's faces lit up, temporarily forgetting the scorching heat. "Annie, how did it go?"

Anthea nodded, "Pretty good, the questions were straightforward."

Just then, a microphone was thrust towards her. "Hello there, I'm a reporter from Cloudcrest TV. Which high school are you from, and how did you find the exam? Was it tough?"

Anthea offered a polite smile, "Sorry, I'd rather not be on camera. Maybe you could interview someone else?"

"We can blur your face," the reporter suggested.

Nanson stepped in front of Anthea, pushing the microphone away. "My niece prefers not to be on camera. You can ask me any questions you have."

The reporter, sensing Nanson's firm stance, apologized and moved on to find other interviewees.

Afterwards, Nanson decided to treat them to lunch, but with the area being crowded, he drove them to a more upscale restaurant.

They finished lunch by half-past twelve, with the math exam not starting until three.

So, Nanson booked a couple of rooms in a nearby hotel for them to rest.

"Mom, Uncle, you really don't have to wait for me. Please, go back. It's such a waste of your time," Anthea implored.

Both Nanson's courier service and Carole's diner needed their attention.

Nanson replied earnestly, "Annie, this is a milestone in your life. It's essential to have family by your side. Look around; every student here has someone waiting for them. Even if we went back, we'd be too worried to focus on anything."

Carole nodded in agreement, "He's right. No matter how busy we are, we need to be here for you."

Anthea felt a wave of emotion, remembering her loneliness during her exams in her past life. This time, she felt the warmth of family she never had before.

"Mom, Uncle," she said, wrapping them in a hug, "Thank you."

Caught off guard, Nanson and Carole chuckled, "Silly girl."

The math exam in the afternoon went as scheduled, with Nanson and Carole waiting outside.

The weather turned muggy, and Nanson, checking his phone, saw a forecast for rain. He dashed to a nearby convenience store for umbrellas and water.

While he was away, a lady struck up a conversation with Carole, "Hey there, does your kid have exams today too?"

Carole nodded, "Yes, my daughter."

The lady was astonished to learn Carole only had one daughter, wondering silently about the family lineage's continuation but chose to express her surprise differently, "You're so young; surely you'll want more kids, right?"

Carole smiled politely, "No, we're happy with just one."

The lady continued, "But won't you regret it later? It's tough when you get older with just one child to rely on."

Carole remained firm, "Our daughter is very caring. We won't regret it."

The lady, undeterred, shared her own story, emphasizing the importance of having sons. But Carole's gentle dismissal highlighted a shift in perspectives, valuing quality relationships over traditional expectations of family size.