She Outshines Them All

She Outshines 327

After Advent Sunday wrapped up, final exams loomed on the horizon.

Even Athena had to squeeze in some study time.

By the end of January, when the dust settled from the finals, she had once again aced all her classes, nailing perfect scores across the board.

Once the grades were in, she requested a leave of absence from school, saying she wanted to work under Professor Day, preparing to dive headfirst into research at her physics lab right after the New Year.

Normally, she devoted at least half her year to working at the physics lab and the astronomical observation base her mentor had set up for her.

However, since returning to the Donovan family over the past two years, she had spent less time at the lab because she wanted to be there for her family.

“Oh, family really does affect your career,” she sighed, a touch of sadness in her voice.

Then she clapped her hands together, her mood lifting with a smile. “But having a family you love is such a blessing. That happiness fills you with energy and motivation, sparking creativity, and in the end, it makes everything easier. I just know that when I get back to the lab, I’m going to tackle some tough challenges and make real progress on my mentor’s work.”

During the Christmas celebrations, Penny and the others kept up their tradition of spending the holidays at the Donovan family home. As the saying goes, familiarity breeds comfort; after a few gatherings, everyone felt at ease and there was no trace of awkwardness between them.

This year was a bit different, though. On Christmas Eve, Athena revved up her modified motorcycle for an exhilarating ride, zooming through the night and arriving in Valemont City in just an hour. She showed up in front of Matthew with a big grin, announcing, “You don’t have to go to Kitmore City to see me tonight!”

The two of them held hands and wandered around the chilly night, soaking in each other’s company until they grew tired and decided to catch some sleep in the car.

On Christmas, they went to the cinema together to see a kung fu movie starring Jeremy Bond. This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

Neither of them was a big fan of Jeremy or particularly into that kind of film, but they were curious because Zayn was serving as Jeremy’s stunt double in this one.

The film turned out to be pretty solid, but Jeremy, once the king of martial arts, was nearing sixty, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t quite recapture the magic of his younger days. No amount of special effects could hide the signs of aging on his face.

Thankfully, Zayn stole the show, reminding everyone of Jeremy in his prime. Fans and critics alike praised Zayn, saying he was starting to radiate the aura of a superstar.

Though the movie didn’t break any records, it still did well at the box office, pulling in 40 million dollars on its opening day.

After the film, the two grabbed a bite to eat.

Once they finished, Athena declined Matthew’s offer to drive her back to Kitmore City. Instead, she slipped on her helmet, donned a stylish black leather jacket, and hopped on her motorcycle, taking off like a shot.

Louis, who had come to pick up Matthew, watched her go and exclaimed, “She is something else! When she’s being fierce, she’s even more impressive than most guys!”

Matthew lowered his gaze, his long lashes casting shadows on his naturally defined eyes. His voice took on a softer tone,

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tinged with admiration. “Yeah, she is something special.”

A girl like her, racing through the night on Christmas Eve just to see him—it made his heart race a little.

However, their next encounter wouldn’t be until Athena’s 20th birthday.

After a week spent celebrating the holidays with her family, she set off for her overseas physics research base.

Once she got there, she wouldn’t leave until her research project was wrapped up or the time was up.

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It wasn’t until June 23rd that she finally emerged, sporting dark circles under her eyes, her hair a bit greasy from neglect, and yawning as she climbed aboard the helicopter that had come to pick her up.

The moment she stepped onto the aircraft, she was out like a light.

She hadn’t rested before getting on the helicopter because June 24th was her 20th birthday, and she was determined to celebrate it with her family.

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As the helicopter touched down in the suburbs of Kitmore City, Athena blinked awake, feeling more refreshed and ready to take on the day.

After a quick trip to her apartment for a shower and a change of clothes, she made her way to Mid– Level Mountain Garden. The Donovan family had pulled out all the stops to prepare a lavish birthday feast, eagerly awaiting her arrival. Even her grandmother, Ruby, had made a special trip home from the hospital just to be there for the celebration.

Jaden was back too, bringing along a few pets from the countryside, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Harry, Rufus, Penny, Nickel, and even some of the lab’s quirky scientists—who had shared meals with the Donovans before– were all there.

In total, around thirty to forty people filled the spacious dining area, creating a lively buzz.

As soon as Athena walked through the door, everyone surged forward to greet her, their excitement palpable, as if they were about to burst into applause or set off fireworks in her honor.

“Oh my gosh! You’ve lost so much weight being away for four months! It breaks my heart!” one friend exclaimed.

“Did you not eat well? You look so thin! We’ll make sure you get plenty to eat from now on!” another chimed in. “Athena, I missed you so much! If you hadn’t come back today, I would have been in

tears!” Josie said. “Dinner is ready, so let’s eat first and catch up later!“

The warm welcome continued at the front door of the Donovan family villa, but soon the cheerful energy shifted inside, where laughter and chatter filled the air, shutting out the outside world.

Meanwhile, about 300 feet away, hidden in the shadows of the trees, a plain black ear was parked.

Inside, Matthew quietly observed the Donovans as they welcomed Athena, making no,move until she and her family disappeared from view.

Louis turned to him, a knowing smile on his face. “Congratulations, your Miss Donovan has officially turned 20.”

Matthew crossed his arms, his eyes half–closed, and with a slight smirk replied, “Yes, indeed. A birthday is certainly a cause for celebration.”

09:43 Mon,

Louis adjusted his glasses, his curiosity piqued. “Aren’t you going to join them for the festivities?”

Matthew shook his head. “Not yet. It’s not the right time.”

But soon, he told himself as he prepared to wait a little longer.

“So, do you plan to see Miss Donovan today?” Louis asked, breaking the silence.

Matthew glanced up at the sky, gauging the time. “Let’s wait until tonight.”

“What should we do until then?” Louis inquired, looking for something to pass the time.

Matthew thought for a moment. “Let’s check in on how Brandon’s factory is progressing.”

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He had already invested in Brandon’s company, which was setting up a state–of–the–art production line overseas. Since he had the day free, it was a perfect opportunity to drop by and see how things were moving along.