She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew)

Chapter

45

Someone quickly passed the microphone to Athena.

She took it but remained seated, responding in a calm, detachedtone, "I won't accept your gratitude because your achievements are the result of your own effort and have nothing to do with me." The crowd was taken aback, thinking. Zoe is genuinely expressing her thanks-why is Athena being so cold? Is she secretly jealous of Zoe?

"How could it have nothing to do with you?" Zor asked sincerely. "For the past seven years, we've been the best rivals, always pushing each other to improve...

You think you're qualified to be my rival?" Athena cut her off abruptly, a mocking smile on her lips. "Who gave you the audacity to even think you could compare yourself to me?"

The lively atmosphere froze instantly,

Everyone was stunned, hardly believing their cars, thinking. Did Athena really just humiliate Zoe like that, tearing her dow in front of everyone?

Zoe's!

flawless smile stiffened ned completely, like a dried leaf barely hanging on.

"Zoe, if y

if you want to be my rival, thaybe try again in your next life." Athena's face remained indifferent as she handed the microphone back to the server. "Don't embarrass yourself like this again." The crowd finally snapped out of their shock, murmuring in disbelief. She's herself f for a a fall."

Such arrogance at such a young aged her out when they found out she wasn't their real daughter. That kind of arrogance is unbelievable! "No wonder the Kennedy family kicked her

"What a horrible attitude! No manners, no class. If it weren't for Zoe's kindness, she wouldn't have even been invited to this party..."

Andrew's glare could have burned a hole through Athena. "Athena, what kind of nonserise is that? Zoe treated you with nothing but sincerity, and you repay her with this kind of cold-heartedness?"

beloved Zoe is humble, hardworking, and kind-so much better than you in every way! And yet,

stating the truth. If Zoe can't handle reality, she's free

completely unfazed, casually sipping her drink Meanwhile, the Donovan family looked at her with near-worshipful admiration, practically ready to give their respect. -Jarred spoke

see if the

But I

before

45

43

escalate, Zoe regained her sweet smile and raised her voice, "Everyone, please quiet down and let me say a

died down as everyone turned to

The

The

"Athena is indeed incredibile, and she has every right to look down on me. I'll work twice as hard from now on to hopefully become someone she night one day

crowd thought, How gracious, humble, and kind-hearted she is! They couldn't help but

full of sympathy as she said. "Everyone, my daughter speaks modestly, but the truth is, the effort she put in during high school far exceeds what most people can imagine. "To

she took lessons in dance, musical instruments, painting. tennis, swimming, and more-over a dozen different skills. She barely had any time for fun, even during holidays. "Especially in the final stretch of high school, she studied late into the night, often until midnight. Weekends and holidays. were

dedication and hard work so everyone can see for themselves. We hope they inspire more students to keep

As

she finished speaking, the

gasped in shock as they took in tcreen behind the stage dimmed and then lit up, displaying a series of

these

my

the images

that cramped living

with with so many cabinets, and the walls are covered with

where she's been living since the Kennedy family kicked her out? This is awful. "Oh my gosh, that's supposed to be a bedroom? It's more crowded than the shelves in a corner store. You'd have to climb up and down just to sleep, and there's no room to change clothes

If I had to live in a place like that,