From Sneers to Cheers Anthea's Ascent novel Chapter 92

Hancock never really saw Felton and Gemma as family.

If he were just an ordinary Joe with no claim to fame, Felton and Gemma probably wouldn't give him the time of day.

But in their world, everyone had an angle.

"Ann, meet your uncle!" Carole chirped, introducing Anthea to Hancock.

Anthea, phone in hand, stood up to greet him with a casual, "Hello, uncle."

To Hancock, Anthea was just a kid, barely worth a second glance. He nodded absentmindedly in her direction.

Anthea, unfazed, returned to her scrolling.

Soon enough, Saul showed up with his wife and kids in tow.

Saul and his wife Vanessa were the intellectual types, modest, and not much for small talk. But when they spoke, it was all dripped with flattery.

As for the rest, they might as well have been invisible.

Elaine, ever the hostess, chimed in, "Looks like everyone's here. Shall we start the dinner?"

"Just a minute," said Hancock, glancing at Elaine. "Irvin's not here yet."

Elaine caught on immediately, "Oh, right! How could I forget? We've got one more VIP guest on the way!"

About ten minutes later, the so-called VIP arrived.

He was a middle-aged man, maybe 50, short and stout, tipping the scales at around 300 pounds. His neck seemed swallowed up by his shoulders, and he wore a chunky gold chain that looked almost comical.

At the dinner table, Hancock made the introductions, "This is Irvin, a patient and a good friend of mine. Irvin, meet the family. We're all pretty laid back here, grab a seat anywhere!"

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