She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew)

Chapter 136 49%

Athena's eyes flickered as her mind raced.

Jaden was right. It was normal that Children didn't like certain things but ended up wanting them influenced by

their surroundings. However, the fact that something so strange happened right before Zilvin's incident made

Athena feel that things weren't that simple.. She asked, "Did Zilvia ever talk about her dreams or goals? Or, did

she mention anything she wanted to do or places she wanted to go?

Jaden paused for a moment before saying, "Although she didn't say it explicitly, during the school survey, she

mentioned that her goal is to pursue boundless ideals and a bright future. Athena paused mid-scoop of her

dessert, looking up in surprise.

Noticing her reaction, Jaden smiled. "What's wrong?"

Athena replied. That was my too. When | was in kindergarten, | gave a speech on that thand won first

place."

Jaden, equally surprised, studied her for a few seconds before chuckling. "If you had gone missing when you

were five, | might have suspected you were Zilvia”

Athena tapped her head lightly and said, "Although Zilvia and | have many similarities, we probably have more

differences." Jaden looked at her deeply but didn't continue discussing the resemblance between them. "After

just one year in kindergarten, Zilvia said it was boring and that the kids were too childish. She wanted to start

primary school. The family planned to let her take the entrance exam for the middle school at Kitmore City

School after another six months." e again.

Athena was taken aback once

She had attended both middle and high school at Kitmore City School.

If Zilvia hadn't had that unfortunate accident, they would likely have met there.

Jaden then seemed to recall something. "By the way, all of Zilvia's things are still at home, kept in a few boxes

under the bed in the old house at Viento Court. No one has dared to touch them all these years. If you want, you

can go and take a look." Athena nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go over in the next couple of days."

She paused briefly before broaching a topic she had long planned to ask, "What kind of person is Catherine?

Jaden hadn't expected this question, and after a moment of contemplation, he replied, "When Mom was

pregnant with you guys, she was older and had to take care of many children, so the family decided to hire a

nanny to take care of her. Catherine volunteered for the job as soon as she found out. Since she had experience

with childbirth, the family accepted

her.

"She has a high emotional intelligence and took great care of Mom. She also got along well with the whole family.

We've always considered her one of us."

Jaden paused for a few seconds before continuing, "However, her reputation back in Mom's hometown and

Maria's hometown was terrible. Personally, | don't like her much."

He gazed at Athena. "Do you think I'm being biased against Catherine?"

Athena smiled, "As long as what you're saying is the truth, it's not biased."

Chapter 136

Jaden nodded. "In our family, I'm the only one who doesn't like her, and Maria is scared of her. To avoid being

subjective, it's better if you ask and | answer." "Alright." Athena's eyes sharpened. "Why don't you like Catherine

Jaden pondered for a moment and said. "I can't pinpoint anything specific. It's just she always feels a bit

hypocritical to me. | can't tell if she's being sincere or just putting on an act."

Athena nodded thoughtfully. "Did she get paid for working as a nanny in our family?"

"Yes" Jaden said. "She lived in our house, sharing a room with Zilvia, and the family paid her about half the going

rate.

"It wasn't that the family didn't want to pay her market price. She refused to take it, saying that her sister was

her most important family member, and she couldn't accept wages from family, or it would feel too impersonal.

"She only accepted half so she could send money hand support her daughter."

Athena asked. "Did she only have Maria as a daughter?"

Jaden replied. "That's what she said. I've never seen her have contact with any other children."

Athena picked up on a clue and asked quickly. "She's only two years younger than Mom, right? Why did she have

a child so late! And you mentioned she's emotionally intelligent. Why does she have such a bad reputation in her

hometown and with her in-laws? "What was her

appearance.

nality,

education, popularity, and talent like!"

This time, Jaden was silent for a long time.

Athena observed his expression. He seemed to be recalling and carefully considering how to respond.

a few minutes, Jaden finally said, "People from Mom's hometown said she had trouble conceiving because of too

many abortions and excessive medication."

After a few

Athena was genuinely surprised now.

Catherine's background was far from simple.

With every question Athena asked and every detail Jaden shared, Athena started to form a clearer picture of

Catherine.

The Stevens family had three children, with the eldest being a boy.

Both Claire and Catherine were beautiful and famous in the mountains.

Girls from the mountains typically only went to elementary school, learning to write and do basic math was

considered enough.

When Claire graduated from elementary school, her family didn't want her to continue studying, but she

convinced them. saying. "Girls need more education to marry well. If | marry well, | can help the family.

Otherwise, you'll have to support

me

Her family was persuaded and allowed her to attend middle school in town.

As a result, Catherine got the chance to attend middle school.

There were rumors that during her tin middle school, Catherine dated the son of the richest man in town and

often stayed at his house. He provided everything for her, including food, clothing, and tuition fees. By that time,

Claire had already moved to the county to attend high school and couldn't keep an eye on Catherine,

who

who

13:17 Sun, Oct

Chapter 136

| up not even going hfor New Year, focused solely on getting married. Her grades plummeted, and she failed

to get into high school

After graduating from middle school, Catherine continued to live at the boy's house for a year or two, reportedly

having had several abortions for him.

Later, his family arranged a more educated woman for him and wanted to kick Catherine out.

She caused a scene, demanded money from him, and eventually left for the city to work.

For several years, Catherine had little contact with her family, and no one knew how she was doing. She was

hard to reach.

After two or three years, Cat Catherine started ted sending money and photos back hoccasionally. In the

photos, she was stylishly dressed, with modern high-rises in the background. Later, she sent a sum of money

and more photos, claiming she had married.

In the photos, her husband looked old enough to be her father, but he was dressed like a wealthy man

ong ] ' q

Initially, Catherine's family was happy

for her, but a couple of years later,

she returned to the mountains, mn

saying X health had Eeriworn out

by Work: and she needed to

recuperate there Rumors began to to

swirl | that her husband had | been

imprisoned for a crime, and creditors

were chasing after her, leaving her

with no choice but to hide at home.

At that point, she was nearly thirty,

with no husband and no children. The

locals treated her like an outcast, and

the Stevens family was $0- om

AIEEE ERE 1 bredsired her to

marty or leave. Around that time, a

from a nearby village, reportedly

well-off, sent a matchmaker to

propose, offering a generous dowry

by local standards to marry

. 3 . 1

Catherine. After inspecting the man's

family and finding it acceptable,

Catherine agreed to the marriage.

aman

q f a 2

However, Catherine's relationship

with her in-laws soured quickly. They

complained that she was lazy,

pampered, and digopedient Aol

importantly she struggled to

conceive, and her in-laws started to

regret the marriage. After trying

various methods, she finally gave

birth to a daughter, but her in-laws

were deeply disappointed and treated

both her and her daughter poorly.

When Maria was nearly two years old, Catherine went to town to buy a birthday gift for her and never returned.

In reality, she had cto Kitmore City and sought out her pregnant sister, Claire, offering to be her sanny. That

was how she ended up living with the Donovan family.

She sent money to her in-laws every month, and they were content to let her be, happy to have one less person

to feed.

When Maria was five, and Zilvia started kindergarten, Catherine brought Maria to live with the Donovan family.

After Zilvia's accident, the Donovan family fell into financial hardship and turmoil, constantly beset by illness and

unrest. Catherine, not wanting to burden the family, took Maria back to her in-laws. Not long after returning, ©

Catherine ran