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

Anthea firmly held Wilma's hand, stating, "Madam, you're jumping the gun!"

Wilma looked at Anthea, puzzled.

Anthea continued, "We don't have any proof right now. If she denies everything, we might just end up alerting her."

Baily nodded in agreement. "Ms. Yeager is right, Wilma, you're acting on impulse."

As the words settled, Baily gave Anthea a bow. "Thank you for your guidance, Ms. Yeager. I know what to do now."

After all, Baily was a businessman. There's no substitute for experience. Handling someone like Luna shouldn't be too difficult.

"As long as you've got a plan."

When they returned to the living room, both Wilma and Baily had regained their composure, showing no sign of the turmoil that had just taken place.

Luna approached them anxiously. "Auntie, is Tammie okay?"

Wilma smiled and shook her head. "It's nothing serious, Luna. You don't need to worry."

"I'm so relieved. You had me scared to death just now," Luna said, patting her chest.

Wilma looked up at her niece, feeling a stranger's chill.

All these years, she had been nurturing a venomous snake in her bosom. Thankfully, they had caught on in time.

There was still time to set things right.

Classroom 606 of Northbridge High School.

Today marked the beginning of the school year, and everyone had arrived early.

Anthea's seat was the only one still empty, and the buzz of speculation grew among the students.

"Where could Anthea be?"

"She’s just a fake princess. She should take a good look at herself!" Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

"Our school's beauty, Rebecca, is a hundred times prettier than her. Anthea can't even hold a candle to Rebecca. I'd be too embarrassed to show up if I were her."

"Anthea is so shameless, pretending to be Ms. Morris. Disgusting!"

Lizzie, sitting at her desk, was fuming with anger upon hearing these words. Unable to contain herself any longer, she slammed her hands on the desk and stood up. "Stop it! It's not Ann's fault she was switched at birth. She was just a baby. What could she have done about it?"

"Lizzie, who do you think you are? Anthea is disgusting and shameless! She must have done it on purpose! Otherwise, why wouldn't she dare to come to school?"

"Yeah, exactly!"

Just then, the squeak of the door cut through the chatter.

"Sorry to disappoint, but here I am," a voice declared.

The classroom, once abuzz, fell silent. All eyes turned towards the door.

There, a slender figure walked in gracefully.

Anthea was dressed in a pristine white uniform, her black skirt emphasizing her long, straight legs. Her face, untouched by makeup, was pure and spotless.

Her silky hair was tied up into a neat bun, revealing her graceful and swan-like neck. She had an air of quiet elegance with an undercurrent of playful charm, outshining even the celebrated Rebecca.

Wow! She was stunning, even prettier than the school's beauty, Rebecca.

Was she a new transfer student?

The students' gazes followed Anthea as she walked over to her seat.

As Anthea sat down nonchalantly in what used to be her chair, a collective gasp filled the air.

Was that Anthea? No way.

"I think you might be in the wrong seat," Lizzie finally managed to say tentatively after a long pause.