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

Chapter 169

Gerard had just stepped out the front door when he bumped into Jonah, returning from the office, "Hey, Gerry."

"Dad." Gerard halted in his tracks.

"Where are you off to? Need a lift?" Jonah's demeanor was as genteel as ever, his eyes smiling gently.

"No, I'm good," Gerard said, looking at Jonah as if he had a world to tell him. But when the words reached his lips, all that came out was a single, "Dad..."

"What's up, son?" Jonah could tell there was something bothering his son.

Gerard's gaze fell on Jonah, and smiled, "It's nothing. I'm going to head off now."

Jonah was still worried. "If something's up, you gotta talk to me."

Gerard nodded.

The midday sun was blazing, but Gerard didn't feel the heat. Instead, a chill ran through him.

Half an hour later, a motorcycle tore along the winding mountain road at breakneck speed.

Taking the hairpin bends with a graceful drift, the friction between the tires and the asphalt kicked up plumes of blue smoke.

"Holy smokes! Gerry's lost it!" Healy cursed as his cigarette dropped out of his mouth, his eyes wide at the sight.

"What's gotten into Gerard?" a heavyset boy next to him wondered aloud.

Another skinny kid slapped the heavier one's back, "He's gotta be missing his mom again! Kearney, Healy, watch your words when we talk to him, alright?"

"Got it," Kearney and Healy nodded.

With a screech, a sleek motorcycle pulled up before them.

The matching helmet came off, revealing a young, vibrant face with sharp features.

It was Gerard.

"Catch this," Healy said, tossing a cigarette to Gerard.

With a slight turn of his head, Gerard caught the cigarette between his lips.

He just held it there, unlit, and proposed to the trio, "Up for a ride?" Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

"Let's do it!"

The three nodded, donned their helmets, and mounted their bikes.

The ride was fast and furious, adrenaline pumping through their veins as they chased each other down.

An hour later, four motorcycles were parked on a grassy roadside.

The four young men lay on the grass, hands behind their heads, silently staring up at the clear blue sky.

After a while, Gerard broke the silence, "guys, what do you guys make of my grandma?"

The three exchanged glances, each seeing confusion in the others' eyes.

Kearney said, "She's alright, pretty warm and welcoming!"

"How to put it," George started, hesitantly, "maybe it's just me, but I feel like your grandma doesn't really like us hanging out."

George came from the most modest background in the group. Every time they visited, he felt Janet's gaze was off, as if she thought he was a bad influence on Gerard.

Over time, George grew reluctant to visit the Lindsay family.

Healy agreed, "I get the same vibe."

After a pause, he added, "And I heard from my grandma that your grandma was really headstrong back in her day, always needed to be in control of everything..."

Listening to Healy and George, Gerard sank into thought.

He wondered if his mother's humble origins were why Janet might have disapproved, causing...

Suddenly, Gerard sat upright, "I've got to get to the bottom of this!"

"Get to the bottom of what?" Healy, Kearney, and George jumped at his sudden intensity.

Gerard continued, "Healy, any progress on that thing we were looking into?"

Healy shook his head, "Zack's still coming up empty. Apparently, those candies were produced in many places back in the day. Just a few wrappers don’t give much away about their origin. But we can be sure of one thing: due to transportation limits back then, those candies were only popular around the places they were made."

Gerard pondered for a moment, then pressed on, "So, have we found out where they were produced?"