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

the summer vacation, Maria performed poorly on

repeat year, hoping she

summer, her teacher organized the students to volunteer at an orphanage. Maria found the work meaningful and went

was there that

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

and to my surprise, it

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

Oct

Chapter 105

Athena sighed inwardly

world never seem to

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

did not seem to lack money. I cannot

discovered that she had polio and a slight

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

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

me. Although she was not 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

her, I thought of myself when I was younger. I remembered how I pounced on our

this time, shedding more tears than when she

silently, not

child and 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, the child would often hold my hand and ask if she could come home with

answer...

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

She wondered, "Could this have been

crying. "School was about to start, and once it did, I could not visit the orphanage. L.. I fell ill... Her illness was quite severe. She had a fever and was vomiting. She was constantly

barely conscious, she would crawl out of bed, crying and insisting

and had a lengthy discussion