She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew)

Chapter 491

Athena's lips curved into a knowing, icy smile. "You're wondering how I know, aren't you?"

Athena's gaze didn't waver. "Zilvia and I are twins. Same face, same intelligence. All I had to do was put myself in her shoes and think about what you'd do. Zilvia was glued to your side, day and night. She even shared your bed. Your influence was absolute. "And she didn't just listen-she believed you. That's why she started looking down on her classmates. To her, they were just silly little kids. Her eyes were already on the horizon, dreaming of the grand, glittering world you promised her."

Every word struck Catherine like a slap. She opened her mouth to argue, to deny it, but nothing came out. Athena's accusations had boxed her in, leaving her defenseless.

"And let's talk about seventeen years ago, December 31st," Athena said, her tone relentless. "That's when Nellie visited Rose Kindergarten. You were there to pick up Zilvia and attend the Advent Sunday evening party. And you saw her, didn't you? Nellie Rose-the epitome of wealth and power. You couldn't take your eyes off her."-

Athena's words grew harsher, cutting to the bone. "I know you, Catherine. You knew you'd never be someone like Nellie. But you could make a dream for Zilvia, couldn't you? You probably told her, "That's how a woman should live-with elegance and status, just like Nellie. Maybe you even went further, spinning tales about the Rose family, making them sound like royalty, until Zilvia was completely mesmerized."

"And here's the kicker," Athena continued with her voice like ice. You didn't know that Nellie had just lost a daughter. She was desperate to fill that void. But Zilvia heard everything-overheard Nellie talking to her aides. She learned the secret. And that's when she made her decision. It wasn't just a coincidence. It was inevitable. Zilvia decided she'd become Nellie's daughter. She was going to join the Rose family."

Athena leaned closer, her gaze unrelenting. "After that holiday, Zilvia started scouting the department stores where Nellie liked to shop. She planned every detail. And on Christmas Day, she made her move. And you know what's sad, Catherine? She didn't just leave you. She abandoned you."

Catherine's face went ashen as she sank into the chair, her body trembling. For a long moment, she couldn't find the words to respond, only managing to weakly stammer, "N-no, it's not like that..."

Athena's lips curled into a cold sneer. "What you've done to the Donovan family goes far beyond just one mistake." Catherine's lips trembled as she tried to defend herself. "I left the Donovan family almost twenty years ago. What could I have possibly done to hurt them? And Zilvia's situation... it was just an accident, nothing more..."

Athena's eyes narrowed, sharp as knives. "And what about the fire at Angel's Kiss Private Hospital twenty-two years ago? Are you going to tell me you had nothing to do with that?"

Catherine's eyes went wide with terror as she stared at Athena, her voice faltering. "W-what are you saying? Do you think I started that fire? The police ruled it an accident! How dare you accuse me of something so ridiculous?"

Athena's voice turned icy. "The night my mother gave birth, my father stayed by her side, while you were supposed to be caring for the two newborns. When the fire broke out, you were in the nursery. So how did one of the babies end up being taken by the hospital and handed over to the Kennedy family?"

Catherine stammered, her words tripping over each other. "Y-you two were born close to midnight. The fire didn't start until two or three in the morning. I was so exhausted, I went to the restroom..."

Athena cut her off, voice dripping with disdain. "You're lying again. No matter how tired you were, a fire that big would have woken you up. And don't tell me two newborns were too much for you to handle."

"... ..." Catherine buried her face in her hands, clearly in pain. "There weren't many nurses, doctors, or security on duty that night, but the patients were all asleep. When the fire broke out, everything went into chaos... I can't remember everything that happened. But I tried my best to save people..."

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08:18 Mon, Dec 22. Chapter 491

Athena let out a bitter laugh "Even if you went to the restroom, wouldn't have taken long. But I believe you left the nursery for a significant amount of time. That's when the hospital director took me, handed me over to a nurse, and claimed I was from the Kennedy family. So tell me, Catherine, why did you leave the nursery for so long at two or three in the morning?"

Catherine struggled to keep her composure, her voice shaking. W-what are you trying to say?"

For the first time, Athena reached for the bottle of water on the table, unscrewed the cap, and took a slow sip. She set the bottle down, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "Before we get into the truth about the fire and how I ended up with the Kennedys, let's start with a question that's been on my mind."

Catherine's heart pounded in her chest, her eyelids fluttering with unease. "W-what question?"

Athena's gaze was sharp, as though she could see right through her. "You've always been desperate to change your fate. But instead of studying or working hard, you chose to rely on wealthy men, hoping they'd lift you out of poverty and give you a better life.

"So when man after man either abandoned you or failed to meet your expectations, did your gaze eventually turn to my father?"

If anyone from the Donovan family had been there to hear this, they probably would have had a meltdown. The suggestion was not only shocking-it was downright terrifying.

"That's a lie!" Catherine jumped out of her chair, her voice shaking with outrage. "My sister and her husband are deeply in love. If I had even thought about something like that, they would have hated me! They would have never let me stay with the Donovan family for so long!"

"They didn't throw you out because my father and mother's bond was too strong for you to tear apart." Athena's voice was as cold as ice. "Back then, my father wasn't some huge tycoon, but he gave my mother and us a good life. More importantly, he was well-respected- a university graduate and a senior executive at a major company.

"You, on the other hand, had been out in the world for years, getting hurt over and over by men who used you, left you behind, and threw you away. By the time you came back home, you were practically at rock bottom. Seeing how well my mother was living-how could you not feel envy? How could you not think to yourself, 'If only I could find a man like him?

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