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

Maria performed poorly on her

for a repeat year, hoping she would work

teacher organized the students to volunteer at an orphanage.

that she

windy and rainy morning, but I arrived very early. At a glance, I saw a cardboard box at the entrance

and to my

pupils dilated, and her fingertips began to tremble slightly. She thought, "Could the little girl in the cardboard box be Josie? Was someone heartless enough to abandon such a young, adorable child at the orphanage?" Maria's eyes grew wet again. "The little girl looked like two or three years old, sleeping soundly. She was covered with a small blanket, holding a Hello Kitty doll in her arms, unaware

Oct 12

Chapter 105

Athena sighed inwardly

tragedies of this world never seem

voice, "There was a note inside the box It read: Alina, two years and eight months old, born

did not seem to lack money. I cannot understand why someone with means would

a checkup, we discovered that she had

did not cry after realizing that she had been abandoned. She did everything the adults asked of her. When no one cared for or played with her, she would carry her Hello Kitty doll and hide in a corner,

could not understand what she was singing, but her voice was

was as if she had wings. Her eyes would light up, and she smiled like a

I thought of myself when I was younger. I remembered how I

shedding more tears than when she had talked about

listened silently, not interrupting

missed her. Every day before dawn, I would bring the snacks I made at home and run to the orphanage to see her." "When I was about to leave,

answer...

wanted to bring her home, but... but the family had already adopted me. At that time, something had happened to the family, and

"Could this have been two years ago! Had my family fallen on hard

emotions and prevent herself from crying. "School was about to start, and once

Despite being barely conscious, she would crawl out

noticed her condition and