From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

When had Daniel arrived?
He was all she had left in the world.
No!
She couldn't lose Daniel.
She wouldn't-she couldn't!
All sense of dignity abandoned her. Rebecca crawled and stumbled to Daniel's side, clutching him in a desperate embrace. Her
voice trembled as she pleaded, "Daniel, listen to me, let me explain! This isn't what it looks like-Anthea set me up! It was her!
Everything was her fault..."
Daniel stood there like a marionette with its strings cut, eyes empty. "I saw it. I saw everything..."
He'd always believed Rebecca was sweet and innocent.
He'd even gone so far as to turn his back on his own father for her.
And for what?
What did he get in return?
Nothing but endless lies.
He'd thought of Rebecca as a friend, a confidant.
But to Rebecca, what was he?
Just a fool to be played with.
He'd used to resent Sherman and Karen for not seeing the truth.
But now he realized-he was the one who had been blind.
He was the real fool.
An absolute idiot.

"The biggest idiot alive," he muttered to himself.

"Get out!" Daniel shoved Rebecca away with sudden violence. "Get out of my sight, you disgusting liar!"
Rebecca fell hard, pain twisting through her abdomen. Suddenly, as if grasping at a lifeline, she gasped, "Daniel! I'm pregnant!
It's your baby! It's yours-let's get married, Daniel!"
Yes, that was it.
She was pregnant.
Daniel wouldn't abandon her now.
Daniel froze, stumbling backward until his shoulders hit the doorframe. A chill swept through him.
He couldn't believe it-Rebecca, carrying his child?
How was this possible?
Anthea stepped up next to him, resting a hand on his shoulder. "You're just the fall guy, Daniel. Relax-the baby isn't yours."
"What are you talking about, Anthea?"
Anthea glanced down at Rebecca, pulling a folded paper from her coat pocket. "According to this report, you've been pregnant
for a month."
A month ago, Rebecca had started feeling unwell, so she'd gone to the hospital for a checkup.
She hadn't expected to actually be pregnant.
But how had Anthea gotten hold of the report?
Daniel took the paper from Anthea and scanned the printed words. Relief flooded him.
He'd nearly fallen for Rebecca's trap.
Nearly.
At that moment, sirens wailed outside.

Police officers stormed up the stairs moments later.
Cold metal snapped around Rebecca's wrists.
She was officially under arrest.
Downstairs, Daniel watched as the patrol car disappeared into the night. He turned to Anthea and Sherman.

"God... Sherman, I was wrong! I'm so sorry-for everything!" Daniel's voice broke.
He dropped to his knee a guncontrollably.
Memories of the past weighed on him, each one a regret sharper than the last.
He'd misjudged everyone.
He'd been such a fool.
If only he could go back in
do anything, give
, just to punch some
This old self.
But time only moves forward.
Sherman regarded him in silence, clutching a crimson rosary in hand. 'll talk to Mr. Robinson,
reinstating your position. From now on, make better choices."
His words carried more than one meaning.
Daniel understood. If their roles were reversed, he wouldn't forgive himself either.
"Let's go," Sherman said quietly, turning to Anthea.
She nodded and followed at his side.

In moments, the sleek Mercedes slipped into the shadows, swallowed by the
night.
Daniel remained on his knees, sobbing until the darkness concealed him completely.
Inside the car, Sherman's phone rang.
"Can you answer that for me?" he asked, eyes on the road.
Anthea picked up the phone from the console and swiped to answer. "Hello?"
There was a pause on the other end a woman's voice? Had he called the wrong number?
"Sorry, wrong number." The caller hung up quickly.
Anthea set the phone back down. "Just a wrong number."
But a split second later, the phone rang again.
Anthea answered, "Hello?"
This time, the caller hesitated, then asked, “Um-excuse me, is this Mr.
Christensen's phone?"