She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew) novel Chapter 141

c Chapter 141
Tears streamed down Linda’s face as she lamented, “Unfortunately, something happened at my family. My parents forcibly took me away on our wedding day and locked me up, forbidding me from seeing Jaden.”
Her words were extremely moving, punctuated by tears and sobs, as she clutched her chest, her voice hoarse.
Athena didn’t know whether anyone else would be touched, but she felt nothing at all.
The more Linda spoke, the more agitated Athena became Linda repeated the same tales of how she and Jaden fell in love during college, making grand promises to each other.
She emphasized, “Back then, the Donovan family was very poor. Jaden was incredibly filial. He would return to the countryside to care for his grandparents on weekends and holidays, leaving us little time to date, but I never complained.
“Whenever I had free time, I would accompany him to the countryside, helping him care for his grandparents and do
chores.
“We dug that up together that beautiful path in front of the house. That’s a testament to our love! You have no idea how much I sacrificed for him!
“When his grandparents fell ill and were hospitalized, I took leave to care for them, taking the daytime shifts while he stayed with them at night.
“My family isn’t well-off either. We have many mouths to feed and expenses are high, but I still saved money to secretly buy supplements for his grandparents.
“Throughout my four years of college, almost all my free time was spent on the Donovan family.
“After graduating, I didn’t look for a job but stayed in the countryside with Jaden, helping him grow vegetables and feed livestock. Everyone in the Donovan family and the whole village knows this.”
Linda went on and on, focusing on her sacrifices for Jaden and the Donovan family.
Athena said nothing, leisurely sipping her fruit tea while occasionally glancing up at Linda.
To be honest, she was growing impatient and found Linda quite annoying.
The reason Athena endured the conversation instead of walking away was to better understand Jaden and to figure out what was going on with Linda so she could strike effectively.
Athena was surprised to discover Jaden had such a past, yet the Donovan family had never mentioned a word about it.
After an hour, Linda finally seemed tired and her voice was hoarse from crying, so she paused to sip her fruit tea and soothe
her throat.
Athena finally looked up, calmly meeting her gaze, and cut straight to the point. “What’s the deal with the 100 thousand dollars loan? Where have you been these last three years?”
A mocking expression crossed her face as Athena continued, “You seem to be doing quite well now, dressed in designer clothes, enjoying a lavish lifestyle, looking well-fed. I don’t see how you’re troubled by love or struggling in life.”
Linda’s face flushed, her gaze evasive, unable to meet Athena’s eyes. With a hint of guilt, she stammered, “I… I was forcibly taken to another city, far away from Valemont City.
“My father has uremia and needs a kidney transplant, along with long-term care. I… I had to borrow 100 thousand dollars from Jaden, but it wasn’t enough.”
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Linda lowered her head, covered her face with her hand, and began to sob again. “My family has borrowed a lot of money from others and can’t pay it back, so they forced me to marry someone else. L… I had no choice…
Athena scoffed, “So you’re saying you’re a married woman now, yet you will want to flirt with other men?
No, it’s not like that?” Linda looked up, her eyes filled with tears My my husband passed away two months ago, so I’m single now.
“Oh, your husband just died, and you’re already eager to find another man?” Athena elongated her voice. A woman like you deserves Jaden?”
“I was forced” Linda defended herself. Tm a victim too. I’ve missed Jaden every single day for the past three years. We once shared so much together. He’s so kind, and he’ll understand me
Athena scoffed, pulling out her phone and dialing a number on speaker.
On the other end, Jaden’s voice came through. “Athena, how’s everything going?”
“Very smoothly! I’m getting ready to go home, Athena replied sweetly, her voice playful “Tonight, I want to eat your chicken pot pie, casserole, and fennel carrot soup. And I’m so tired. Could you give my shoulders a massage when I get back
Jaden’s voice was filled with fondness. “Sure, I’ll go buy the ingredients.”
“Thanks! See you at home” Athena ended the call, stood up, and said triumphantly, Jaden and I are already a family. We’ve been living together for a while now, and our parents fully support us. You don’t stand a chance?
Before Linda could say something, Athena made a face at her. “Oh, and I’m quite wealthy. Your loan doesn’t affect Jaden at all. Listen, if you dare harass Jaden, you’ll regret it.”
With that, Athena left. Her steps were light and quick.
Linda watched Athena’s retreating figure, her swelling anger, jealousy, and pain contorting her features.
She grabbed her cup of fruit tea and smashed it onto the ground
The cup shattered with a loud “bang” and red liquid splattered everywhere.
She paid to compensate for the store’s losses and climbed into her BMW, frantically thinking about how she could contact Jaden.
Linda thought that given Jaden’s personality, as long as she admitted her mistakes, pleaded, and made amends, reminiscing about the good times they had, he would surely forgive her.
But it was best to meet Jaden in private. She couldn’t let anyone from the Donovan family find out about her, or they might
interfere.
So, Linda couldn’t go to the Donovan family or look for people in Mid-Level Mountain Garden.
She was wondering what to do.
Then her gaze landed on a bank by the roadside, and she suddenly had an idea.
Linda thought, Jaden came out of Trustcorp Bank when I saw him the day before yesterday. He was holding a bank file bag He must have gone to apply for a loan.
He used to say that his dream was to develop the barren hills and lands in the countryside, letting free-range chickens roam the fields, and covering the hills with fruits and flowers, just like the paradise described in stories.
He also mentioned that if he couldn’t raise enough capital, he’d apply for a loan from the bank
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With this thought. Linda smiled smugly and said to herself, “Trustcorp Bank is just a small bank. if I deposit hundreds of thousands of dollars there, the bank will treat me with respect.
“Then I’ll ask them for Jaden’s/number, and they wouldn’t dare refuse if I asked them not to lend him money.
“Then I can fund Jaden’s dream, and he’ll surely be touched, just like back then.”
Linda stepped on the gas, racing toward that bank.
Meanwhile, Athena didn’t head back to the villa but went to a restaurant not far from there.
The old house was under renovation, filled with the sounds of hammering and chaos, and there was so much dust everywhere.
Athena didn’t go in but stood at the entrance, calling for Arthur to come out.
Arthur, wearing a hard hat, mask, and gloves, jogged out. Upon seeing her, he quickly removed his mask and exclaimed happily, “Athena? What brings you here?”
Athena looked at him seriously and said, “Arthur, I need to ask you something about Jaden.”
“About Jaden?” Arthur touched his hard hat and said, “Go ahead. I’ll tell you whatever I know.”
Athena continued, “I met a woman named Linda, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, quite pretty. She claims to be Jaden’s first love and said she was forcibly taken away by her family on their wedding day.”
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“Bullshit!” The usually gentle and smiling Arthur was angry, unable to hold back his expletives, “She’s lying! She’s greedy and shameless! She’s the worst woman I’ve ever seen in my life! If I see her, I won’t hit her, but I’ll definitely curse her out!”
Athena was taken aback by his reaction. “Arthur, calm down. She…”
“I can’t calm down!” Arthur was so furious that he was pacing back and forth, continuously pounding his fist against his hard hat, feeling like he might explode.
Athena asked, “Do you know what she did to Jaden?”
Arthur said, “She stood him up on their wedding day! Then she made off with the 100 thousand dollars and disappeared without a trace, leaving not a penny behind!”
Arthur’s eyes turned red with anger, and he was nearly crying, “That’s money our whole family saved for two years, meant for renovating the new house. She just swindled it away!”
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