From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent (Anthea ) novel Chapter 399

Gage shook his head, struggling for words. After a moment, he choked out, "The doctor said Tanya... Tanya might only have three months left."

"What?" Karan's face drained of color, and she stifled a sob with her hand.

Three months.

Only three months left...

Tears welled up in Gage's eyes too. "Hey, come on, don't cry. We don't want Tanya to see us like this. Who knows? With all the miracles in the world, maybe she'll beat this thing with the radiation therapy."

Karan was inconsolable, sliding down against the wall to the floor, wishing it were her instead.

Why?

"Oh, Gage!" Karan embraced him tightly.

Gage was at a loss for words, not knowing how to comfort his wife.

The couple held each other, sobbing for what felt like an eternity.

Their grief went unnoticed.

Where were they?

In a hospital.

A place all too familiar with parting and loss.

Disease is merciless.

Those who see it often grow numb.

Eventually, Karan and Gage managed to compose themselves.

Karan, in pain, said, "Since it's come to this, we can't let Tanya leave this world with regrets. We need to tell her about... that thing."

Gage sighed and nodded, "Yeah. Let's talk it over when Hank and Jane come later."

This was no small matter.

"Alright."

At dusk.

Hank and Jane arrived, bringing some comfort food with them.

Taking advantage of Tanya's nap, Karan and Gage called their children outside.

No one expected Tanya to appear right then.

Yet, Tanya seemed eerily calm, not at all the emotional wreck they'd anticipated. Instead, she offered a serene smile, "Mom, Dad, I heard everything. Don't bother reaching out to them. If they could abandon me once, they mean nothing to me now. You're my real parents."

It turned out Tanya had overheard some whispers long ago but never took them seriously until now.

"Tanya!" Karan rushed to her, enveloping her in a tight hug.

"Mom, I'm okay. Please don't cry," Tanya said, patting Karan's back soothingly.

"Are they Malloy and Bader?" Tanya asked.

Karan nodded.

"That figures," Tanya mused with a chuckle.

She remembered the Davises, who once lived in their neighborhood. Known for valuing sons over daughters, they had four girls and a boy. The youngest, Theodore, was treated like royalty compared to his sisters.

Tanya had never believed parents could abandon their own until now.

"Tanya, Malloy and Bader had their reasons back then. But don't worry, they'll come to see you," Karan tried to reassure her.

"Mom, I don't need them. Really, I don't! And don't you two be too heartbroken. I'm well aware of my condition, and if I do leave, just think of me as a daughter who was never here."