From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 307

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From Betrayal to Brilliance: Her Rise to a New Life.

Chapter 307: A Name From the Past

After dealing with the immediate issue, Preston delegated the matter to his trusted assistant, Lucas Baron.

Lucas had a reputation for impeccable work, and Preston felt assured that everything was in capable hands. “Don’t worry,” Preston said with a calm confidence. “It’s all taken care of.”

Maya’s face brightened instantly, her smile radiating pure relief and happiness. “Thank you so much, Preston!” she exclaimed, her voice full of gratitude.

Everything seemed perfect.

Meanwhile, Athena was stranded overseas, unable to return in time for their scheduled challenge. If she failed to appear on the day, it would automatically count as a loss.

She had no intention of ever stepping foot in that hospital again—especially not in the operating room.

Just then, Lucas approached from a distance. Preston glanced over at him and then turned back to Maya. “I have to board flight 10W now. We’ll talk later.”

“Got it. Safe travels, Preston,” Maya replied, still smiling as she ended the call.

Preston slipped his phone into his pocket just as Lucas came to a halt before him. “Mr. Rice,” Lucas reported respectfully, “I’ve looked into that woman’s background. Her name is Athena Hall. She’s originally from Vlephia, and she’s working at the same hospital as Ms. Maya.”

Preston’s expression tightened at those last words. Something about the information unsettled him deeply.

“You’re telling me Athena and Maya are at the same hospital?” he asked, disbelief coloring his tone.

“Yes, boss. The woman you asked me to handle a few days ago—that’s her. The one who’s been clashing with Maya.”

A vein throbbed at Preston’s temple as he struggled to find words. The twist felt almost surreal.

The Rice family hadn’t always been doctors. Maya had chosen medicine only because of their grandfather’s illness. Desmond Rice was battling a brain tumor, dangerously close to vital nerves—so delicate that no ordinary surgeon dared to operate.

As his condition worsened with age, the family’s desperation grew. They poured resources into hospitals, recruiting the best surgeons they could find, hoping to discover someone who could save him.

But nothing worked.

It was during that time Preston first heard about a woman named Serena.

He had gone through tremendous effort just to find her. They met briefly at a medical conference—only once—but when he tried to contact her again, she had disappeared without a trace.

Later, rumors spread that Serena had been injured and was forced to retire from surgery. Preston had carried regret ever since.

Now, so many years later, he could hardly believe his luck. He had stumbled upon Serena once more.

Preston didn’t seem fazed. To him, Desmond’s life outweighed any sibling rivalry.

Allowing Athena to return wasn’t an act of kindness—it was a test. He wanted to see if she still possessed the skill to wield a scalpel. If she was as capable as before, he would do whatever it took to have her operate on Desmond.

Preston shot Lucas a sideways glance and said calmly, “She won’t know if you keep quiet. Just tell Maya Athena pulled some strings and managed to get back on her own.”

Lucas broke out in a cold sweat. Had his boss just betrayed his own sister?

Meanwhile, Athena remained unaware that she was already under surveillance.

She sat quietly in the waiting area, settling into an empty chair while Zaden went to sort out the visa issue. Thankfully, they had arrived early to avoid any delays from traffic; otherwise, they might have missed their flight altogether.

Still, Athena hadn’t expected complications to arise at the last moment. She sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness.

But giving up was never in her nature. The more difficult the challenge, the stronger her resolve became. Deep inside, she made a silent vow: no matter what it took, she would defeat Maya.

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