She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew)

Chapter 105

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Maria raised her hand to wipe her tears and smiled at Athena. "That day, I secretly swore that in this life. I would be a member of the Donovan family as long as I lived and a ghost of the Donovan family if I died." Athena nodded gently and used the towel to lightly wipe the tears from Maria's face.

Maria sniffled and said in a low voice, "I didn't intend to talk about my biological parents ever again.

"But you're Mom and Dad's biological daughter. You're their precious child. I don't want you to misunderstand or for anyone to sow discord between us in the future, so I think I should tell you this."

"Well, thank you for telling me this. Athena caressed her head again and said firmly, "Believe me, you're already grown up and can decide your fate."

"No one can control your life anymore. Don't feel hurt because of what happened in the past."

"Athena, you are just as nice as your adoptive parents and brothers." Maria sniffled again and smiled. "I have been thinking that I must live a very happy life to be worthy of the kindness your family has shown me." Athena nodded and looked at her. "Your feet must be numb by now, right? Can you get up?"

However, Maria shook her head. "There is one more thing I think I should tell you."

"Alright, go ahead," Athena said.

Maria glanced at the door and, after confirming it was closed, said in a low voice, Josie... is also adopted."

"I... begged our family to adopt her.

Athena was somewhat surprised, though not entirely caught off guard.

She had already suspected that Josie was not her parents' biological child, but she had not expected that there might be more to the story.

Maria sniffled in embarrassment. "You are so smart. You must have noticed Josie is not Mom and Dad's biological daughter

years ago, during the summer vacation, Maria performed poorly on her SATS, failing

year, hoping she would

volunteer at an orphanage. Maria found the work meaningful and went to help almost

that she

was a windy and rainy morning, but I arrived very early. At a glance, I saw a cardboard box at the entrance of the orphanage. There was an umbrella placed on

ran over, and to my surprise, it was agute

the orphanage?" Maria's eyes grew wet again. "The little girl looked like two or three years old, sleeping soundly. She

Oct

Chapter 105

Athena sighed inwardly

this world never seem

note inside the box It read: Alina, two

fair and clean. The person who raised her did not seem to lack money. I cannot

orphanage, and after a checkup, we discovered that she

the adults asked of her. When no one cared for

singing, but her voice was beautiful, like

talkative and was shy around strangers, every time she saw me, it was as if she had wings. Her eyes would light up, and she smiled like a blooming flower as

I saw her, I thought of myself when I was younger. I remembered how I pounced on our parents when they came to

harder this time, shedding more tears than when she had

silently, not

to the orphanage to see her." "When I was about to leave, the child would often hold my hand and ask

answer...

wanted to bring her home, but... but the family had already adopted me. At that time, something had happened to the family, and everyone was struggling. Il could not bring myselfto

wondered, "Could this have been two

about to start, and once it did, I could not visit the orphanage. L.. I fell ill... Her illness was quite severe. She

would crawl out of bed, crying and insisting on going to the

condition and