She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew) novel Chapter 430

A lot happened on Athena's archaeological expedition to Karnakale, and it yielded remarkable discoveries.

True to form, Joy found a way to discreetly copy the codes of prehistoric civilizations in Franco's possession. Athena knew exactly what Joy was up to, but she played along, letting Joy leave with the information.

With the dig wrapped up, Christmas was approaching fast. Athena made it back just in time for Christmas Eve, where the Donovan family and the Vission Group team were waiting for her arrival. Her presence ignited the holiday spirit, and everyone enjoyed dinner together, chatting and catching up.

In the months Athena had been away, the Donovan family's businesses had taken impressive strides forward.

The new mansion, built and managed by Harry, was now completed and ready for move-in.

Normally, a new house would need to air out to remove any lingering formaldehyde, but with Vission Group's advanced technology, there was no chance of using materials containing harmful chemicals. Even if there were traces in some materials or new furniture, Vission Group had methods to remove them quickly. Therefore, the mansion's air quality met all health standards.

Harry shared a video tour of the mansion, and everyone admired it. He noted, "The flowers and plants we planted a few months back are thriving. By spring, they'll be in full bloom, creating a stunning view."

Everyone watched in awe. The younger kids gaped in disbelief, the older ones felt as if they were dreaming, and the adults were astonished at how quickly life had changed. In just a few years, they'd gone from squeezing into a 750-square-foot home to owning a mansion on its own hillside.

Jaden turned to Athena. "When do you plan to move in?"

Athena replied, "I've grown attached to this place after three years. But if we don't move, we won't even have enough parking space for all our cars. And with fans and influencers always dropping by, especially with Zayn's new movie coming out, it's only going to get more crowded. If everyone's good with it, how about we move in a few days?"

As the weather cooled, the number of fans and photographers showing up at the Donovan villa dwindled, but the ones who did come were the most dedicated, making it hard for the family to feel at ease.

Everyone agreed moving sooner was best. Wesley added, "We've all got time with the Christmas break—it's the perfect chance to move. And if there's anything you want to buy, go ahead and get it over the next few days; no need to worry about the money."

Perhaps because last Christmas had been a snowstorm-filled ordeal, depleting the bad weather for the year ahead, this Christmas brought exceptionally pleasant weather—almost every day was sunny, with gentle, warm sunlight. Everyone in town flocked outdoors to enjoy it. The Donovan family was no exception.

However, Athena didn't see Matthew until after the Christmas holiday had ended.

Matthew had driven to Kitmore City by himself to meet her. They had lunch together, then went to watch "The Last Blood", a film that Zayn co-wrote, directed, and starred in.

This film didn't have a premiere. It was released directly on Christmas Day. And then, it exploded.

Most of the audience rated the movie five stars or a solid 9 out of 10, eagerly recommending it to everyone they knew.

Audience reviews included comments like: [The action was amazing and nonstop! There were no dull moments. The villain was so detestable you couldn't help but grind your teeth, and when Zayn took him on, it was pure satisfaction!]

[The tanks are real, and Zayn driving one is real; the fighter jets are real, and so is the lead actress flying one. The aircraft carrier scenes and the entire battle sequence were authentic. Missing out on a blockbuster like this would be a huge regret!]

[From start to finish, it was a non-stop action thrill ride with just the right amount of drama—no over-the-top emotions, no forced sentiment, and no preachiness.]

[When Zayn and his comrades swore allegiance to the flag, pledging to shed their last drop of blood for their country, the whole theater was in tears.]

[To defend the country as a soldier, to protect your family at home—what a powerful message.]

The media and critics echoed the praise: [Although it's a military action-packed blockbuster, the film is incredibly well-made, avoiding the usual pitfalls of local films that can't even tell a story without lecturing.]