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

Anthea noticed that the Browns didn't seem to take Sarah very seriously. NôvelDrama.Org holds © this.

It was the first time they were meeting to discuss the marriage, and traditionally, as the groom's side, they should have brought significant gifts.

But the Browns didn't even bother to bring anything.

Moreover, when Debra was speaking with her, she didn't show much regard for Sarah. If anything, there was an underlying tone suggesting that Sarah was punching above her weight.

As her best friend and confidante, Anthea felt it was time to have a heart-to-heart with Sarah.

Love can blind even the sharpest minds.

Anthea didn't want to stand by and watch her first close friend in this strange new world fall into a pit of despair. Better to address the issues now than to endure a messy divorce later on.

Sarah was in the kitchen helping Latonia with the vegetables when Anthea called her, "Hold on, Ann, let me just finish up here."

Anthea walked over with a smile and started helping Sarah with the veggies. "Why don't you get your fiancé to help you out?"

Sarah scratched her head and replied, "I think he's busy playing on his phone."

Anthea frowned slightly. Playing on his phone? On his first visit to meet the family, Lacy wasn't only failing to make a good impression on his future in-laws but was off playing games instead.

They weren't even married yet!

If this was his behavior now, wouldn't it be worse after the wedding?

It might seem trivial, but these little things reflect a person's character and upbringing.

The devil is in the details.

Anthea teased, "Sarah, you really are the model spouse, aren't you? Fiancé's playing games while you're slaving away in the kitchen. Looks like he'll be running the show at home!"

"Just you wait, you love to tease me," Sarah laughed back, then added, "His family's pretty conservative. The men don't cook; they say 'a gentleman stays away from the kitchen.'"

"That's such an outdated way of thinking! It's the 21st century, for crying out loud. Anyway," Anthea continued, "when you visit his place, who usually cooks?"

"Me," Sarah answered.

"You?" Anthea was surprised. "You're a guest and his girlfriend. They shouldn't be having you cook."

It wasn't that cooking was difficult. It was just improper. As a guest and Lacy's girlfriend, it would only be right for his family to not expect her to cook.

"Yeah," Sarah seemed oblivious to the concern, "His parents really like my cooking."

Seeing Sarah's happy smile made Anthea subtly frown.

She never understood the saying 'love makes you dumb' until now.

Sarah was usually so smart, but now she was caught in the love trap, unable to see clearly.

Anthea chuckled, "You haven't even moved in yet and you're already taking care of all their cooking. Once you're married, you'll probably end up doing all the household chores!"

Sarah looked at Anthea, puzzled, "Ann, how did you know I did their laundry?"

Anthea was speechless...

"You actually did their laundry?" It was a rhetorical question, but it turned out Sarah really had.

"Yeah," Sarah nodded, "Lacy’s mother said the washing machine doesn't clean well, so I hand-wash their clothes every time I visit."

This was going too far. Anthea was genuinely shocked! Her face must have been a picture of disbelief.

"Sarah, are you planning to hand-wash their clothes and cook for them every day after you're married?" she asked.

Sarah paused, clearly having never considered this.

Anthea pressed on, "There's a saying 'old habits die hard.' You've set a precedent with your visits, and they've gotten used to your efforts. Once you're married, all these chores will naturally become your responsibility."

"It's just laundry, I don't think it's a big deal..." Sarah failed to see the issue.

Anthea asked, "Have you ever hand-washed clothes for your own family at home?"

Sarah shook her head, "No."

"So, Sarah, even your own family doesn't expect that of you, yet you're doing it for someone else's. Don't you think there's something wrong with that?"

Sarah was a treasure in her parents' eyes, but to the Browns, she clearly seemed to be taken for granted.

If the Browns had any respect for Sarah, they would never have let her do their laundry.