From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Karen added, “When the butler returns, have him take the medicine to the kitchen. I’ll take it when I get back this evening. I have something to handle now.” Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Adah frowned slightly. “Karen, are you sure that medicine works? What if someone’s pulling the wool over your eyes?”

Karen glanced back at Adah. “Don’t worry, my dear. My daughter–in–law wouldn’t deceive me.”

“People can be quite the actors, you know. How can you be sure she’s not just putting on a show?”

“Trust me,” Karen patted Adah’s hand reassuringly. “I handpicked my future daughter–in–law. I can tell a genuine person from a charlatan.” She wasn’t born yesterday, after all.

Adah continued, “Where are you headed? I can have the chauffeur drive you.”

Karen waved the offer away. “No need, darling. I feel like taking a stroll.” Karen had developed a habit of disguising herself whenever she stepped out.

It wasn’t long before the butler returned with the medicine in hand.

Adah took the medicine, still feeling uneasy, and said, “Larkin, would you mind calling Dr. Lyons to take a look at this?”

“Of course,” the butler nodded.

Hancock Lyons arrived promptly.

Adah handed the medicine to Hancock, saying, “Dr. Lyons, could you please check if there’s anything wrong with this?”

Hancock examined the packaging and sniffed the contents carefully.

After a moment, he replied, “There’s nothing harmful in this medicine, but it won’t do anything for Lady Karen’s migraines either.”

After hearing that, Adah’s frown deepened. She had suspected that Karen had been sweet–talked into nonsense.

Is there such a perfect person in this world?

Was there a girl who was beautiful and skilled in medicine? It sounded like a fairy tale, but Karen seemed utterly convinced.

“Thank you. Dr. Lyons. I appreciate you coming out here,” Adah said with a nod.

“No trouble at all,” Hancock replied. “I’ve been treating Lady Karen’s condition, which is a cold syndrome. It requires gradual care. We can’t rush it. Don’t discontinue the prescriptions I’ve given. There can be harm in unnecessary medicine, and we don’t want to risk complicating her condition.*

11:26

Hancock was a renowned physician in Cloudcrest and was confident in his ability to treat Karen. Above all, he valued the Christensen family’s trust.

After all, how could an unknown upstart compare to his expertise?

“Understood,” said Adah, nodding again.

“If there’s nothing else, I should be going,” Hancock suggested, ready to leave.

Adah stood up and instructed the butler to see Hancock out.

Over at the rotisserie, the door had barely opened at half–past six when customers began to trickle in.

The business was as usual.

Harriet finally felt a weight lift off her chest. She had always known that the business picked up due to the new recipes, not because of Anthea!

What was Anthea in the grand scheme of things?

Relieved, Harriet returned to her room to have a rest. The worry about today’s business had

kept her awake most of the night.

When Harriet returned after her nap, she was in for a shock.

It was as if she was seeing things.

“Lauren! Lauren!” she called out loudly for her partner.

“What’s up?” Lauren asked, startled by the urgency in Harriet’s voice.

Harriet demanded, “What’s going on tonight? Why are there so few customers? Just last night,

we had a line out the door, and now, look, half the place is empty!”

Lauren looked hesitant before replying. “I think… it might be because of Anthea.”

“Because of Anthea?” Harriet’s brow furrowed in confusion.

Lauren nodded. “Many regulars left when they didn’t see Anthea. Some even said that they wouldn’t come again if Anthea quit.”