She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew) novel Chapter 73

Chapter 73
The nurse said. “Of course you can. I’ll go clean the bones now.”
Matthew replied, “No need, just leave them as they are.”
He carefully wrapped the bone fragments with a handkerchief and put them in his pocket.
The nurse reminded him. “Mr. Graham, even though the surgery was successful, your sister is still in critical condition. Whether she can wake up and survive the danger depends on her time in the ICU
Matthew nodded and said, “I understand, thank you.”
Then, the nurse left.
After ten minutes, Athena and her team walked out.
Freya stepped forward and said, “Mr. Graham, you can go see your sister outside the ICU now.”
Matthew wanted to say more to express his deepest gratitude to them, but with his sister on his mind, he could only manage a quick “Thank you all before hurrying away.
Standing outside the glass doors of the ICU, he saw Lucy lying there quietly. Aside from the fresh bandages on her head. nothing seemed different.
His eyes reddened slightly, but not a single tear fell.
At their mother’s funeral, he had sworn to her that he would never cry again in his life. If there were any tears, they would only be shed by his enemies.
After an unknown time, he heard the footsteps of Freya and the others passing through the hallway. He quickly gathered his thoughts and prepared to meet Dr. Annie and her team.
Just then, Louis quickly walked over and said gravely, “The board of directors and the family council are pressuring your grandfather, demanding that Lucy return to the country immediately and hold a press conference to clear up the rumors. Mr. Neil Graham couldn’t handle the pressure anymore, or perhaps he didn’t want to, so he called me. He gives you an ultimatum, saying that if you don’t hand over Lucy, the board will convene an emergency meeting to discuss impeaching
you.
Matthew was silent for a few seconds before responding. Tm heading back to Valemont City now. You stay here and take care of Dr. Annie and her team. Also, inform the media in Valemont City that Ill be holding a press conference at three o’clock in the afternoon in the hall of the Graham Hotel to clarify the rumors about my sister.”
Then, he drove out of the villa and headed to the private airport
On the way, he made a call on his private phone. “It’s time. Follow the plan we discussed earlier at 3 pm
“Understood The voice on the other end was calm.
Without saying another word, Matthew hung up and slammed as foot on the gas.
At 3 pm, the hall on the third floor of the Graham Hotel was packed with journalists from various media outlets.
Other than the reporters, the directors and the key figures of the Graham family had shown up. There were more than 20 people in total.
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Chapter 73
They sat in a row on either side of the podium, each with their own seat. All of them had serious expressions on their faces, looking like a jury scrutinizing the defendant in court.
Matthew was unreachable. Even Louis’s phone was constantly by, and no one could get through.
Everyone was suspecting that it was just another smokescreen from Matthew.
However, at three o’clock sharp, Matthew appeared at the entrance. He walked through the crowd calmly and stepped onto the podium.
The reporters immediately started asking questions. Each question was trickier than the last
Matthew ignored them and said into the microphone, “Yes, my sister is sick, but she’s not in critical condition. I’m confident shell outlive everyone here, so don’t worry!
The crowd burst into laughter.
The Graham family members murmured among themselves, clearly skeptical.
A reporter said loudly, “It’s been five years. Ms. Graham has never appeared in public. All we’ve seen are videos, but those can easily be faked. We’d like to know, if Ms. Graham is really fine, why doesn’t she show herself?
Another reported echoed, “That’s right. She didn’t show up for her father’s 60th birthday, her mother’s death anniversary, or even when Mr. Neil Graham fell ill. How do you explain that?”
Matthew replied, “I’ll video call my sister now.”
After saying that, he took out his phone and pointed the screen at the audience, sending a video call request.
The call was quickly answered, and Lucy’s face appeared on the screen.
“Cough, cough cough…” She lay in a hospital bed, wearing a patient’s gown. Her bald head was wrapped in bandages. Between coughs, she weakly asked, “Why are there so many people on your side? What’s going on?”
There was a commotion at the scene.
One man exclaimed, “It’s really Lucy Graham! She’s in a foreign VIP hospital room, it doesn’t look fake.”
“Oh my God, she’s so thin! Could she be terminally ill?” a woman asked.
“My sister is not terminally ill, Matthew said into the microphone. “She was in a car accident three years ago, suffered facial injuries, and a head injury. She has been undergoing treatment, which is why she couldn’t return home or appear in public.
Then, he said into the phone, “Lucy, the media here is spreading rumors that you’re critically ill and need Dr. Annie’s help to survive. No matter how I explain it, they won’t believe me. So, I have no choice but to hold this press conference for you to clear things up yourself.”
“I see,” Lucy said, standing up from her bed and walking around the room so that the curious spectators could see both her ward and her condition for themselves.
“Everyone, I’ve been seriously ill, but I’m not in any life-threatening danger. While recovering, I didn’t want anyone to see my scars, which is why I didn’t return home. I hope you can understand,” explained Lucy.
At this, Matthew said to her, “Lucy, have a good rest.” Then, he hung up the video call and scanned the audience.
“Tve proven to you that my sister is alive and well. Please stop spreading rumors, or the next time we meet, it will be in count, Matthew said
The reporters murmured among themselves and quickly released the news, but none dared to press further,
Chapter 73
“I still don’t believe it!” Asterp-faced old man with an imposing presence stood up, leaning on his cane, and shouted, “I suspect that the person you just spoke to isn’t Lucy! I demand to see her in person. If necessary, we should conduct a DNA test. Otherwise, I’ll continue to suspect she’s either critically ill or already dead.”
Having fought Lucy for years, Richard knew her too well. The person in the video looked just like Lucy, but something felt
off.
It’s like comparing a lion to a house cat. No matter how much they resemble each other, their presence and inherent nature are completely different.
Moreover, Lucy went through a deadly car accident five years ago. Richard didn’t believe she could recover so easily.
His words landed like a bomb, sending shockwaves through the room.
A reporter said, “Could it be that the Lucy who just video-called with Matthew is a fake?”
A man cried out, “Oh my god, that would be insane!”
“Who would dare impersonate Lucy? And who would let them? another man said.
A woman asked, “Mr. Graham wouldn’t do something this crazy, would he?*
A man remarked, “If he does this, it will destroy him!”
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