She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew) novel Chapter 227

Chapter 227
On Christmas Eve, just as Anabel stepped through her front door after a long day of socializing, her phone buzzed with at call from Juliet.
“Mr. Graham made an appearance this afternoon, Juliet said, her tone steady. “He had dinner with Nicolas and then went back to his apartment. So far, he hasn’t left again.”
Anabel felt her curiosity spike. “Did you find out where he went after leaving the Graham estate last night?”
She had been keeping a close watch on Matthew in Kitmore City.
But with his quick wit and cunning nature, her team had been too wary to get too close. They were playing it safe, observing from a distance and piecing together what they could.
Last night, they saw Matthew leave the Graham family home, but instead of heading back to his place, he drove around town aimlessly before disappearing.
They suspected he might have gone to see Lucy, though they had no idea where she lived.
Anabel couldn’t shake the feeling that Matthew was off to meet another woman on Christmas Eve and that nagging worry sat heavily in her gut.
Juliet continued, “We don’t have much, but we do have a lead.”
Anabel leaned closer, excitement sparking. “What is it?”
“After Mr. Graham left Nicolas’s place tonight, he stopped at a gas station to fill up his SUV. I had someone check how much gas he bought Juliet explained.
Anabel felt a flicker of hope. “Do you think we can figure out where he went based on that?”
“Exactly, Juliet replied confidently. He filled up with 70 liters of premium gas, and the last time he filled up was three delle
ago when he topped off the tank.”
She added, “In those three days, he mostly stayed in Valemont City, moving between just a few spots. He likely only used about 20 liters of gas.”
Quick on the uptake, Anabel started connecting the dots. “So you’re saying that Matthew drove quite a distance last night and burned around 50 liters for a round trip?”
“Right, Juliet confirmed. That’s enough fuel for Mr. Graham’s SUV to cover four to five hundred kilometers. From what I can gather, he got on the highway from Kitmore City, exited somewhere along the way, and then I lost track of him. He didn’t get back to Valemont City until around three this afternoon.”
Anabel gasped, “So he went to Kitmore City overnight and just returned?”
Juliet nodded. “That’s what I suspect.”
A rush of shock and anger surged through Anabel. “So he went to Kitmore City to meet his secret lover on Christmas Eve?”
As her frustration bubbled over, she couldn’t help but admire Juliet’s sharp instincts.
Juliet had risen from the bottom, getting into Dichester University and landing a spot in Dichester, standing out among hundreds. The way she noticed those little details and pieced together Matthew’s seemingly foolproof plans was impressive.
While Matthew might be clever, he wasn’t the only sharp mind the room.
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Chapter 227
After a brief pause, Juliet added, “It’s definitely a possibility.”
Anabel slammed her hand on the table, her frustration spilling over. “He just got caught up in rumors with Madalyn and Jaylin, and now he sneaks off to Kitmore City to meet another woman on Christmas Eve? How did I not see this? How can he be that kind of guy?”
Her mind raced with indignation. “If he is that type of man, then why isn’t he interested in me? When it comes to looks, body, and charm, what do I lack compared to other women? He hasn’t even given me a chance to show what I can do!”
Juliet listened patiently, then responded with a calm, logical tone. “Miss Powell, I’ve analyzed Mr. Graham’s actions over the past few months, and the more I look at them, the more they seem inconsistent with his usual behavior. I suspect he doesn’t truly care about Madalyn and Jaylin; those rumors could just be a cover to protect the woman he cares about.”
Anabel was utterly blindsided by what she had just heard.
She sank into her chair, her eyes wide with disbelief and her mind racing. “If that’s true, then he must care about that woman. He’s gone through so much trouble–setting up elaborate schemes, disguising himself, playing the part. He–he
must be serious about her…”
Usually, Anabel was the embodiment of pride and reason, never one to let emotions cloud her judgment. Yet, at this moment, she didn’t even notice the tremor in her voice.
Juliet stayed quiet, listening with rapt attention.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Anabel snapped back to reality. “Do you think the woman he’s protecting is Joy?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
I can’t say for sure,” Juliet replied, choosing her words carefully. But it’s definitely a possibility.”
Anabel let out a sharp, cynical laugh. “Matthew wouldn’t be interested in some naive little girl, nor would he go for a woman who’s too pushy or unreasonable. Joy isn’t the type he’d completely dismiss.”
Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper. “And the fact that he has to protect her so carefully? That suggests she doesn’t come from a wealthy background; her status is worlds apart from his.
After a moment’s silence, she added. “Maybe I should take some decisive action against Joy?”
In a different scenario, she might have hesitated, but with the power and connections of the Powell family behind her, Anabel felt confident that making Joy disappear–one way or another–would be easy.
Juliet interjected, “I think we should hold off on that until we know more about Joy’s background. Plus, we can’t be certain that Mr. Graham’s interest is really in Joy. What if it’s someone else?”
Anabel cut her off, her impatience bubbling over. “So, what do you suggest?”
After a few seconds of thoughtful silence, Juliet replied, “I think it’s important for Mr. Graham to see what you have to offer and understand that you’re the best choice for him. It’s all about making him realize that
“You should consider moving to Valemont City. It’ll give you more opportunities to be around Mr. Graham–focus on work, not personal matters. Over time, he might change his mind about you.
“And bring in Valemont City will also help us figure out who Joy really is and who Mr. Graham actually cares about.”
Anabel held the phone rightly, pacing her room, a smile breaking across her face. “That’s a fantastic idea! Once I get started, you can count on a big reward for your help.
Juliet’s voice sparkled with excitement. “Thank you, Miss Powell
After hanging up, Anabel swiftly dialed another number. “I want to be transferred to the Valemont City branch as the general
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manager. Make it happen quickly.”