She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew)

Chapter

40

Zoe watched Wesley closely and said earnestly, "Mr. Donovan, all the other students have brought their parents. Do you really want Athena to be the only one here without hers?" Her words made Wesley clench his teeth. "Alright then. Zoe, please lead the way."

Zoe guided Wesley and his family into the hall, across the red carpet, and over to the main table near the stage.

Then, she addressed the people already seated, "Attention please allow me to introduce you. This is Athena's father, mother, brother, and sister."

The people at the main table were all influential figures. They had never encountered someone as unremarkable as Wesley.

They cast a brief, indifferent glance at the Donovan family, nodded slightly, and then turned away to resume their

conversations.

The Donovan family felt the disdain in the air. They didn't greet anyone, instead scanning the room, trying to spot Athena.

"Mr. and Mrs. Donovan, please have a seat," Zoe said with a smile. "Athena will be here soon."

"Thank you." Wesley replied, barely maintaining his composure as he guided Claire to a seat.

There were just enough chairs to seat all I four of them at the table

Zoe, still smiling, said. "Make yourselves comfortable. I have some things to take care of

As soon as she left, the people she had planted began mocking the Donovan family.

"Is Athena too embarrassed by her own family to even show up?

"How did they end at end up

the main table? Do they really think they belong here?"

"These country bumpkins have no idea what they're doing. They think they're someone important just because they're here for the first time. Arthur was boiling with anger, ready to slam the table in outrage,

But Wesley grabbed his shoulder and whispered, "Calm down. I'll call Athena and see where she is."

He had no idea that as soon as he pulled out his phone, a student would shout in excitement, "Hey, look at this! What kind of phone is that? I've never seen anything like it before."

Zoe's group jumped at chance to join in.

at the

phone like that when I was a kid. It was all the rage ten years ago.

Athena's real dad hasn't changed his in ten years. That's dedication! You don't see that kind of thriftiness much these

started taking pictures of Wesley, shouting excitedly. "I'm posting this on Twitter and Facebook. Everyone's got to see what a phone

he had been through, even Wesley couldn't help but

stood up and shouted, "It's just

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Chapter 40

real

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it around, and then threw it straight into the boiling

at him in shock, thinking. Has he lost his

stirred the broth before fishing

everyone's astonishment, the phone was completely intact, not even greasy, with just a few drops of water clinging to it Arthur wiped I the phone off with a napkin

my way, I'll be there soon. Is everything okay? Nothing

kind of phone is that? It was in the broth for so

phone looks amazing, like a

you get that phone, bro? How

a photo of the phone in the broth? If you did,

as he spoke into the phone, 'Athena, no need to rush. Take your time. I will handle things

then hung up, set the phone on the table, grabbed a steak knife, and suddenly

stunned silence, thinking, 'What

phone.

to you? Why are you

someone noticed something

my God, the phone isn't even scratched-not

phone really isn't damaged-this is

down the knife, picked up the phone, and opened the camera app. "Let me show you

a picture, and showed it to

yards away, and it's so clear,

as good as a

who had mocked Wesley's phone earlier quickly slunk back into the crowd, too

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Chapter 40

was about to keep showing off, a loud voice boomed from the entrance,