She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew)

Chapter 340

What should have been a pinnacle moment during the award ceremony felt rushed and lackluster, completely out of sync. with the show's high standards and massive popularity.

The main reason was that Lorelai had a meltdown backstage, crying and throwing things wildly, causing chaos behind the

scenes.

The production team couldn't risk having her come up on stage to accept the award. Even if they let her, she surely wouldn't comply.

So, they had no choice but to ask the Pittman family to take her away. The host then announced that Lorelai was too tired and had fallen asleep, asking Paityn to accept the award on her behalf. Athena, wanting to shield Josie from excessive attention due to her recent fame, had Maria take the sleepy Josie back to the hotel. Athena herself, wearing a mask, went up to accept Josie's award.

With neither the champion nor runner-up present, the audience's enthusiasm dwindled. The hosts, abandoning their pre- prepared questions, quickly wrapped up the formalities and declared the talent show officially over. Despite this, the ratings for the episode broke records. The entire internet was buzzing about the competition between the two young talents and their connection to Paityn.

But Paityn didn't care about any of that.

Alina wasn't there, and her mind was elsewhere. After presenting the awards, Paityn hurriedly muttered, "I need to check on the children." Then she quickly left the stage.

She rushed back to the hotel. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Damon waiting.

Damon, also masked, nodded at her.

Paityn, with a cold expression, opened the door silently for him to enter, then closed it behind them. She took off her sunglasses and mask, twisted open a bottle of water, and asked icily, "What do you really want?"

Damon removed his mask, his eyes filled with the passion she hadn't seen in years. "I watched Josie's performance tonight. She's more talented than I ever imagined. Her image, stage presence, psychological composure, and ability to handle the moment were all incredible. There's no way I'll let such a genius go to waste.

"No matter what you decide, I'm going to Kitmore City tomorrow morning to inform the Donovan family about Josie's true identity. I'll ask them to let me take Josie under my wing for her development."

"You must be dreaming." Paityn cut him off, sneering. "The Donovan family cherishes Alina like a treasure. They won't let you get close to Josie, much less allow you to claim her."

"Why wouldn't they?" Damon retorted. "I'm not trying to take Josie away or sever her ties with the Donovan family. I just want to mentor her, to turn her into a superstar. It's beneficial for Josie, and it's beneficial for the Donovan family. Why would they say no?" Paityn didn't even know how to respond. "All of that is just your wishful thinking. What gives you the right to force your will on Alina and the Donovan family?"

"You're right," Damon replied calmly. "That's why I'm going to discuss it with them."

Paityn was speechless.

in her thirties, well past the naïve, love-struck girl she once was, Paityn still felt like an

find a comeback. "And if they

do?"

about Josie, they'll agree," Damon replied. "If they don't, I'll consider taking legal action to gain

you insane?" Paityn stared at him in shock. "You've never raised Alina for even a single day. She doesn't even know who you are, and you think you can just

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Chapter 840

it? Damon said calmly. "You can't leave the Pittman family and raise Josie yourself.

Paityn couldn't find a

I meet with the Donovan family. You have just one night to decide if

"Does your wife even know about Josie? If she finds out Josie is your child, will she let

my

staying out of both business and the company, Besides, our son is already a failure and will be relying on the family for the rest of his life. Now that I finally have a child

43

her head and said, "You're still so selfish, always thinking only of

"Josie is your child too. You should focus on how you'll handle your

added before pulling on his mask and

her head with one hand as she felt a splitting headache coming

as Damon was, he

go alone? And if I met them, what should I say? What if the Donovan family refused our proposal? What would I do then? Would Alina

lost in thought, the bedroom door opened, and someone

she asked in alarm, "Who?

cold voice. "I heard everything between you and Damon." Paityn thought, 'Why is Saanvi

of immense fear and

thought, "This is

said in a calm yet imposing voice, "Josie is

she's your biological daughter?" Saanvi asked, her tone

and pictures and videos of me with