From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent (Anthea ) novel Chapter 515

Carole was sitting on the floor, her blouse rumpled and askew. She hugged her arms tightly to her chest, inching backwards, voice trembling. “Don’t come any closer! Stay away from me!”

One of the thugs sneered, his tone oily and mocking. “Relax, sweetheart. We’re gonna take real good care of you.”

In that instant, Anthea didn’t hesitate. She charged across the room, moving with a speed and ferocity that stunned everyone. Within seconds, the air was filled with the sound of agonized screams.

It didn’t take long—one brutal moment later, the thugs were curled up on the ground, whimpering and clutching their broken limbs. Nanson, wild-eyed with rage, grabbed a metal pipe from nearby and began swinging it down, again and again. “Bastards! You filthy bastards! How dare you lay a hand on my mom! I’ll make you pay for touching her!”

“Mom, are you okay?” he called, voice shaking.

“Annie!” Carole sobbed, collapsing into Anthea’s arms, relief and terror mingling in her tears.

Thank God. Thank God Anthea had come in time. Any later, and Carole shuddered to think what could have happened.

“It’s over, Mom. You’re safe. I’ve got you,” Anthea murmured, gently rubbing her mother’s back.

Carole clung to her, still trembling, haunted by what she’d just endured.

“Stop! Please, no more! You’re gonna kill us!” One of the battered thugs knelt, tears and snot streaming down his swollen face. “We were just hired muscle, we swear! It wasn’t personal! Please, let us go, I’m begging you!”

Every one of them was a mess—bruised, bloodied, barely able to speak.

Anthea’s eyes narrowed. “Who sent you?”

The room fell silent. No one dared answer. Even in their world, there were certain rules.

“Speak!” Nanson barked, bringing the metal pipe crashing down again.

Another chorus of screams echoed. At last, one thug, hands trembling, fumbled out his phone. “It—it was the woman in this photo,” he stammered.

Anthea snatched the phone. She didn’t recognize the woman, but it was clear she was just another pawn.

She sent the photo to her own phone, then pulled a small bottle from her pocket and tossed it onto the ground in front of the thugs. “Take the pills in that bottle. All of you.”

They exchanged panicked glances, fear written across their faces. What if it was poison?

Suddenly, one of them bolted for the door, desperate to escape. But Anthea, without missing a beat, grabbed a metal pipe and hurled it with terrifying precision.

Crack!