From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Chapter 513
Anthea bought a few trinkets, then dragged Sherman along to sample some grilled skewers.
The state of the roadside stall was enough to make anyone with the faintest concern for hygiene shudder. Still, Sherman sat
down with a straight face, as if nothing was amiss, and ordered a few vegetarian options.
Anyone who knew him would have been stunned by the sight-Mr. Christensen, usually so aloof and distinguished, squeezed
onto a wobbly stool at a street vendor's table with the crowd? Unthinkable.
The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.
Anthea and Sherman made their way to the airport together.
First class had only eight seats, but as the plane took off, the other six remained empty.
Settling in, Anthea pulled out a phone case she'd bought at the night market last night, planning to swap it onto her phone. As
she opened the packaging, she realized there was a second, identical case included.
She looked over at Sherman. "Our phones are the same model, right?"
Sherman took his out, checking. "Seems like it.”
"Here, you can have this one, then." Anthea handed him the phone case.
Sherman accepted the case and stared down at it, clearly caught off guard. It was pink. Not only that, it was covered in sparkling
rhinestones and pearls—exactly the sort of thing a teenage girl might love.
Do all women really like pink this much?
Anthea grinned. "If you don't want it, you could always give it to Mrs. Christensen.
I remember her phone's the same as mine."
"No, I like it," Sherman said, and without missing a beat, snapped the pink case onto his phone.
Suddenly, his phone looked brand new-albeit a little... dazzling.

Anthea couldn't resist teasing him, "You should change your lock screen to a pink background, too. That way it'd really match."
Sherman didn't reply. He just looked down at his phone, focused and silent.
Just as Anthea started to wonder if he was annoyed, Sherman handed her his phone. "What do you think of this one?"
On the screen was an image that looked as if it belonged on a twelve-year-old's Instagram feed-soft pastel pink, hearts, sparkles.
Anthea's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You actually changed it? I was just kidding!"
Sherman's expression was serious. "I've always liked pink, actually."
"Really?" Anthea gave him a skeptical look.
"Really." Sherman nodded, calm as ever.
He didn't look like he was lying, so Anthea could only nod and mutter, "Well, it does suit the case."
A grown man with a love for pink-no wonder he was drawn to a life of
contemplation. His taste was truly... unique.
Sherman set the picture as his lock screen.
Five hours later, the plane landed at Cloudcrest International.
It was just after three in the afternoon.
As the two of them stepped out of the arrivals gate, Anthea spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.
Alex Peterson?
She glanced at Sherman. "Wait here a second—I just saw someone I know." "Alright." Sherman nodded.
Anthea jogged over. "Alex!"
Alex's eyes widened in surprise. "Anthea? You're here to pick someone up?"
She shook her head. "Just got back from Capital City myself. What about you?"

"Yeah, I'm here to meet someone." Alex nodded.
"My friend's waiting for me, so I won't keep you," Anthea said, smiling.
"Alright." Alex swallowed whatever else he might have said.
Anthea turned to walk back towards Sherman.

Alex glanced up, and his gaze locked with Sherman's.
The air between them instantly cooled.
Something steely and dangerous, both pairs of
silent warning, a threat unsyel
Gontent
A moment later, Sherman looked away and turned to Anthea. "All set?"
Anthea nodded. "Yeah."
"Let's go, then."
She followed him toward the exit.
Alex watched them walk away, eyes narrowing.
A moment later, he turned and headed out of the airport himself.
Picking someone up was just an excuse. The real reason he was here was her. But what Alex hadn't expected was that
someone else would be by her side.
Rebecca had just stepped out of the terminal when she spotted a figure that made her scalp
When she spotted a fiqu
prickle and her knees go weak.

Alex.
Even though it was just his back, she recognized him instantly.
There was no mistaking it. It was him.
Panic seized her. She ducked into a nearby restroom, heart pounding.
He can't see me. He mustn't!
What was Alex doing at the airport? Was he here to intercept her?
But this time around, it shouldn't
have anything to do with her-Anet
swnove
hadn't crossed him.
Unless... unless he was here for Anthea?
.