From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Chapter 527
Rebecca tightened her arms around herself. "Daniel, thank you."
With Daniel, that fool, by her side, she didn't have anything to worry about.
He was head over heels for her he'd pull every string and chase every lead to save Daly, to save the Morris Group.
Hector arrived at the Christensen Corporation.
Sherman was still locked away in a meeting, so Hector had no choice but to wait in his office. Nearly an hour slipped by before
Sherman finally emerged from the conference room.
"Sherman!" Hector shot up from his chair the moment he caught sight of him.
Sherman rolled the silver cross in his hand. "Did you watch the video?"
"I did! My idol is unbelievable! Sherman, thank you. If it weren't for you, I would have fallen right into Rebecca's trap." Hector was
profoundly grateful that he'd come to Sherman yesterday and told him everything. Otherwise, he would've been played for a fool
by Rebecca and Daniel.
He and Daniel had been close friends for years. If Sherman hadn't shown him the surveillance footage in time, he never would
have believed Daniel could lie to him. He never would have imagined Daniel could be so thoroughly manipulated by a
woman.
"Where's that idiot now?" Sherman asked.
Hector blinked, needing a second to realize who Sherman meant. "Daniel's still with Rebecca. He refuses to believe she's

deceiving him."
Sherman's brow furrowed slightly.
Hector pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to Sherman. "I got these specially from overseas. Try one-see what you
think?"
Sherman waved him off. "I quit."

"You quit?" Hector stared at him in disbelief. Sherman had been smoking for a decade-how could he just stop like that?
Sherman nodded.
"But... why?" Hector couldn't hide his shock.
"Smoking's bad for your lungs," Sherman replied simply.
That's it? Hector was skeptical. Karen Christensen had nagged Sherman about his smoking for years, always telling him it was
bad for his health. He'd never listened before. And now, out of nowhere, he just quits?
Something's off here. No way this is that simple—there had to be more to the story.
With Sherman not smoking, Hector put away his own pack and let it go. "So, Sherman, when do I finally get to meet my idol?"
"I'll ask her." Sherman pulled out his phone.
For a second, Hector thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. The phone case was bright pink, rimmed with blinding
rhinestones. In the centera little pink cartoon pig
grinned up at him exactlyel.ne
the
kinde
of phone case a teenage girl might

use.
"W-wait... Sherman, did you grab the wrong phone?" Hector stammered, unable
to keep the surprise off his face.
"Nope." Sherman was cool as ever, typing out a message.
"Um... your phone case..."
"Don't like it?" Sherman arched an eyebrow.

Hector caught a fleeting chill in Sherman's eyes and immediately nodded practically bobbing his head off. No, no, it's great!
Really stylish. You have amazing taste, Sherman!"
To prove his sincerity, Hector even gave a double thumbs-up.
A faint smirk played at the corners of Sherman's lips. Of course he had good taste.
Hector swallowed. For a moment there, had Sherman... actually smiled? What was that about?
A moment later, Sherman set his phone down. "I just asked-she's free tomorrow."
"Really? That's fantastic!" Hector's eyes lit up.
Sherman nodded. "Tomorrow at ten thirty, up on Ridgeview Drive. She wants to race you."
Race? Hector's blood was pounding in his veins.
"For real? I get to race with my idol?"
"That's right." Sherman twirled the cross in his fingers, the deep red tassel curling
around his knuckles with a flash of devilish charm.
"This is incredible! Thank you, Sherman!" Hector was nearly bouncing with
excitement. "So what time do we leave tomorrow?"
"Be at my office by nine thirty."
"Got it!"
...
At the Christensen estate, Karen was in the garden, running vocal exercises She flicked her pink chiffon sleeves