She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew) novel Chapter 226

Chapter 226
After wandering by the lake for a while. Athena didn’t want to head home just yet.
Instead, they found themselves drifting into the comfort of Matthew’s car, where they could escape the cold.
Matthew’s luxurious Miracle, worth a fortune, was spacious and beautifully designed. Leaning back against the plush leather seats felt as inviting as a five-star hotel
Athena drifted into a deep sleep, comforted by Matthew’s presence, which filled her with both happiness and security.
But morning came too soon, signaling it was time for Mathew to head back.
“Aww. Athena sighed, leaning against the car door with a pout. I don’t know when we’ll see each other again.”
With his sunglasses on and the car window half-open, Matthew flashed her a gentle smile. “Whenever Miss An wants to see me, I’ll make it happen, as long as I can get away”
Her cheeks flushed as she bit her lip. “Okay, okay. You should get going. If I want to see you, I could always sneak over to find
You
Matthew didn’t say anything more. He buckled his seatbelt and gave her another smile. “Goodbye.”
Athena waved back at him, a swirl of emotions churning inside her. “Goodbye.”
At Kitmore City International Airport, Joy stood at the security checkpoint, hugging her mother, Nellie. “Mom, you really should head back. David is still so young, and you can’t leave him alone for too long.”
Nellie sighed, her expression filled with regret. I wanted to spend Christmas’s with you, but now you’re leaving. I feel terrible for not being there with you.”
Joy smiled reassuringly. “Mom, I have so much schoolwork piling up. I barely have any free time, so you don’t need to worry about me being lonely.”
Hearing this only made Nellie feel guiltier. “I know you’re under a lot of pressure, but you’re still young. Make sure to have some fun and take breaks. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
During her time in Kitmore City, Joy had spent every day exploring the area with her mother, hardly finding time to study
at all.
Meanwhile, Riley had been digging into the Donovan family background and learned that Athena had an older sister and a younger sister–her older sister was two years ahead of her, and the younger one had just turned five. Aside from that, the Donovan family had no other children.
Upon hearing this, Joy breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as Joy wasn’t connected to the Donovan family, everything would be fine.
Otherwise, she would have to take the risk of severing all ties between Joy and them.
“Mom, you know me too well,” Joy said, a grin spreading across her face. “Pressure just lights a fire under me, and I genuinely thrive on those challenges
Nellie studied her daughter, a mixture of pride and concern flickering in her eyes. She gently brushed her hand along Joy’s arm and let out a soft sight. “You work so hard, sweetie. It seems like your entire life revolves around school and work. I can’t help but wonder if that’s a good thing or a bad thing
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Joy straightened, confidence radiating from her. “It’s definitely a good thing”
The intercom crackled again, announcing that it was time for passengers to board the flight.
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With a reluctant smile. Nellie said, “I need to get going now, but remember, if you ever need anything, just call me. Don’t keep everything bottled up inside, okay?”
Joy smiled and waved, “Goodbye, Mom.”
As she watched Nellie walk away through the boarding gate, the smile faded, and a shadow of worry crossed her face.
In secret, she had put Riley under hypnosis, making him believe he had thoroughly investigated the Donovan family when in reality, he hadn’t looked into it at all
Using her hacking skills, financial resources, and connections, she had scrubbed the internet of every image and report related to Zilvia, all to cover her tracks.
She hoped and prayed that Nellie or anyone else from her family wouldn’t return to Kitmore City.
If they spotted Athena, it could stir up unwanted memories, and she’d be left to clean up another mess.
The Donovan family was still reveling in the holiday spirit, Josie and the elder were the only ones who woke up on time; rest of the family slept in, with the younger ones not stirring until well into the afternoon.
the
After they all shared lunch, the members of the Vission Group stayed in the villa, playing cards and video games, while Arthur and Alaric entertained them. The rest of the family pushed the three elderly members in wheelchairs to the lakeside to soak in the views.
The neighborhood was blissfully quiet.
Outside, there were hardly any people around.
The atmosphere was serene, punctuated only by the occasional firecracker that broke the stillness of the city.
The Donovan family’s outing felt refreshingly uncrowded and utterly delightful.
Athena eagerly took charge of pushing her grandmother’s wheelchair, making sure she could see all the beautiful sights. Both of them were in high spirits, temporarily forgetting that Isaac’s family also lived in Mid-Level Mountain Garden.
However, the Donovan family was situated in the older western part of the neighborhood, while the Kennedy family had moved to the newer northern section. Because they didn’t share the same entrance and lived quite a distance apart, their paths rarely crossed.
As Athena scanned the area, her eyes caught sight of a familiar car approaching.
‘Is that Isaac’s sleek black Maybach? What if Isaac notices my grandmother? Would he stop and get involved? Should I step in and send him away, or would it be better to ask Zayn to handle it? she thought..
But those worries faded away quickly.
The black Maybach sped past them without so much as a glance in their direction
She sighed inwardly.
Not too long ago. Isaac had been calling her non-stop, insisting He wanted to see her grandmother. Now, with Christmas on the horizon, the Kennedy family had gone completely silent.
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Fortunately, her grandmother’s poor eyesight kept her from recognizing Isaac’s car; otherwise, it would have surely caused. her more pain.
Lost in thought, she turned to Brandon, who was ready to help with the wheelchair, and asked softly, “Brandon, do you think we should visit any relatives for Christmas?
“No need,” Brandon replied, shaking his head. “Mom already has plenty of relatives around here. Those relatives used to treat us like we were their ticket to an easy life, always being friendly, popping by, asking for help, borrowing money, seeking jobs, and wanting favors,” he said, a wry smile crossing his lips.
“But as soon as we hit hard times, they vanished completely, even blocking our family number. So, it’s been over a decade since we’ve had any contact with the Stevens family or anyone from their village,” he added.
Athena nodded, her expression resolute. “Good riddance to relatives like that.”
“Exactly.” Brandon chuckled, a flash of anger igniting his eyes. “The Stevens family still owes us a ton of money, but even if don’t chase after it, I remember every penny. When we finally get our lives back on track, if they dare to come crawling back pretending to be family, I’ll make sure they regret it.”
Athena raised a thumb. “Well said!”
Brandon’s attitude reminded her so much of herself.
She appreciated that about him.
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