She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew) novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3
Isaac shook his head, disappointment clear in his eyes. “Was all that obedient, considerate behavior just a damn act?”
“Absolutely.” Regina scoffed, her expression twisted with disdain. The affection she once had for the girl she called her daughter had long since vanished.
She added, “When Zoe was here two days ago, she couldn’t stop admiring this diamond ring. I was planning to give it to her once she and Andrew got engaged. Who would’ve guessed Ather would swipe it right from under our noses!”
“Maybe you didn’t know, but Zoe and Athena went to school together-from.elementary all the way to high school. Zoe told me Athena was popular with the boys, and they used to shower her with expensive gifts. She never hesitated to accept them
“Let’s not dig into this.” Isaac cut her off, unwilling to tarnish the memory of the girl they had once cherished.
“She’s leaving soon. We raised her; we should just let it go, Isaac said, trying to push past the bitterness.
Tm warning you,” Regina said sternly. “Don’t give her a damn cent. Poor people are like bottomless pits. The moment they get a taste of easy money, they’ll keep coming back for more. We can’t let that happen.”
Isaac nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep it cordial, but she won’t see a dime from me
As the couple schemed to keep Athena away, she stood in her almost empty room, staring at her packed luggage, nearly laughing.
Five suitcases were stacked by the door-two filled with clothes, one with shoes, another with bags, and the last one with skincare products and jewelry, none of it worth more than five figures. All the really expensive stuff was gone, but she didn’t
She grabbed a few clothes and her tablet, packing them into a smaller bag. Scribbling a note, she read it aloud to herself, Tm gone. Don’t worry, and don’t miss mel” She placed the note on her desk and quietly slipped out of the room.
Athena left behind everything the Kennedy family had ever given her. As she made her way through the dark, empty living room, she placed her keys and house card on the cabinet by the door.
Without a second glance, she stepped outside and headed toward her modest black car-the one she bought with her own money, not a penny from the Kennedys.
Once inside the car, Athena pulled out her phone and dialed a number. When the call connected, she said, “As of now, cancel all contracts with the Kennedy Group.
There was a moment of stunned silence before the phone erupted with excited cheers. “Finally! You’re done being their
doormat!”
Athena chuckled softly. I’m sorry for the trouble I caused. But starting today, I’m officially out of that family. They’re no longer our problem.”
Laughter rang out on the other end of the line. “Everyone’s here Come celebrate with us!”
The sound of laughter and cheers poured through the phone, flooding Athena’s ears.
The noise grew louder. “Hell yeah! Congrats on making the right call and cutting ties with the Kennedy Group! First thing tomorrow, I’ll contact them and terminate all their partnerships with Vission Group
“Even if they come begging, we’re not backing down,” they added, their excitement clear,
Athena grimaced at the noise, rubbing her temples. T’m driving, Let’s talk later,” she said, putting the car in gear,
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20:55 Wed, Oct 9
Chapter 3
She had no idea that, across the street from the villa, an SUV was parked under the trees, lying in wait like a predator, silently watching her every move. It was Matthew.
Moments after she drove off, Matthew in the SUV issued a curt order. “Follow that car. Keep out of sight.”
“Yes, sir,” his secretary Louis Connor replied, smoothly tailing Athena’s car from a safe distance, confident she wouldn’t
notice.
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After a while, curiosity got the better of Louis. He glanced into the rearview mirror and asked, “Mr. Graham, you came back home and flew all the way to Kitmore City. I remember your goal is to meet Isaac in person and check out how he snagged Vission Group’s exclusive West End distribution rights,
“But as soon as that girl showed up, you switched your focus to her. Are you interested in her?”
Inwardly, he mused, ‘If Mr. Graham ever showed interest in a woman-hell, whether she’s eighteen or thirty-eight-I’d be so damn grateful. I’d probably sing hallelujahs.
Matthew stayed silent, arms crossed, eyes closed, completely unfazed by the question..
But Louis, persistent as ever, couldn’t let it go. “She used to be the Kennedy family’s golden girl. Now, she’s changed her name to Athena Donovan. Two weeks ago, she took the SAT; last week she found out she wasn’t Isaac’s biological daughter, and today, she’s supposed to meet her real family.
“From what I’ve heard, she’s well-behaved, educated, and pretty low-key. Other than being drop-dead gorgeous and a top student, there’s nothing else that stands out. So, why the sudden interest?”
Matthew remained silent, only fueling Louis’s curiosity.
He said, ‘I don’t mean to be nosy, but the Kennedy Group’s exclusive distribution deal with Vission Group is about to expire.
“If we don’t lock it down now, we’ll have to wait another three years. And we can’t delay Lucy’s treatment any longer. We need to find Dr. Annie through the Kennedys.”
Finally, Matthew spoke, his voice cold. “You’ve been with me for years, and you still don’t see what makes her different?”
-Louis blinked in surprise, taking a moment to realize Matthew was talking about Athena. He replayed her actions in his mind, trying to figure out what might make her stand out. Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t pinpoint anything and had to admit defeat
“Besides her looks, I don’t see anything special. Please, enlighten me,” Louis said, a hint of curiosity creeping into his voice.
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