She Outshines Them All

She Outshines 19

Chapter 19 At 11:00 AM, Athena texted Wesley: Hey Dad, I’m free today and planning to drop by Vlento Court around noon. Does that work for you?] Wesley replied almost instantly with a bunch of big smiley emojis: [Of course it works! You’re always welcome here! I’ll have your mom pick up some extra groceries. Is there anything special you want to eat? Athena thought for a moment before responding: [It’s pretty hot today, so I’d love something light and homey.] The drive to Vlento Court would take about an hour, which she figured was just enough time to keep her mom from going too crazy in the kitchen. After a brief pause, Wesley messaged back: [Sounds great! Your mom suggested making some light and tasty dishes. If there’s anything you don’t like, we can always throw together something else.] Athena replied: [Thanks, Dad! On my way now!] Meanwhile, the Donovan household was buzzing with excitement-and a touch of panic. Arthur was pacing back and forth, running his hands through his hair. “Oh shit, Athena’s coming! What the hell do I do?” “Maria, Josie, do I look okay today?” he asked, glancing at his sisters. “Is my hair decent? Do I have any stubble? Maria was too busy to give him much attention. She dashed into her room, pulling out a few nicer outfits and holding them up to herself. “Arthur, Josie, which one of these looks better on me?” Arthur grinned, trying to reassure her. “You’d look great in anything!” Maria rolled her eyes. “You’re no help She then turned to Josie with a sweet smile. Josie, which outfit do you think looks best on me?” Josie, clutching her Hello Kitty doll, pointed excitedly at the pink dress. “The pink one!” Maria chuckled. ‘Of course, little girls love pink, no matter who is wearing it, she thought. But with her darker complexion, pink wasn’t the most flattering choice. ‘How could I gently decline without

hurting Josie’s feelings?” After a moment of thought; Maria smiled and said, “The pink one is really pretty! I’ll save it for Christmas. Today, I think I’ll go with this lovely orange dress instead.” Josie raised her little hand eagerly. “I want to wear a new dress too!” Maria laughed, “Alright, let’s get you changed. Taking Josie’s hand, she led her into the room. Arthur sniffed his shirt and muttered to himself, “I was out running errands this morning and got all sweaty. I need a shower.” Claire, busy in the kitchen, poked her head out. “Make sure to clean up your rooms! If Athena wants to see them, it’d be embarrassing if they’re a mess.” The last time Athena visited, the family had hurriedly stashed away clutter in the bedrooms, closing the doors to hide the chaos from her. But with the prospect of a new house on the horizon, they felt less pressure about her seeing the current state of their home. Maria dashed out of her room, clothes in hand, exclaiming, Arthur’s cleaning up the room. I’m jumping in the shower real quick!” 1/3 20:57 Wed, Oct Chapter 19 Even though she didn’t really smell, Maria felt the need to freshen up. After all, Athena was stunningly beautiful, and she wanted to make sure she looked and smelled her best around her Claire, overhearing the commotion, added, “I smell like cooking oil from the kitchen. You go first; I’ll freshen up afterward.” At exactly noon, Athena arrived at Block 6 of Viento Court. As she stepped into the building, she was greeted by Wesley and four others. They were all dressed to impress, with three of them wearing brand-new outfits, adding a touch of formality to the occasion. When Arthur saw Athena for the first time, his heart nearly jumped out of his chest. His eyes sparkled with admiration, and a warm flush crept across his cheeks. He nervously scratched the

back of his head, one hand half-raised in a hesitant wave, unsure if he should speak first. Maria’s cheeks were burning crimson as she gripped the hem of her shirt, caught between wanting to greet Athena and fearing she might trip over her words. The tension in the dir was thick, and sweat began to bead on her forehead as she tried to pull herself together. Josie, timid as ever, hid behind Maria, clutching her Hello Kitty doll with one hand while gripping Maria’s shirt with the other. She peeked out from behind Maria, her wide eyes filled with curiosity as she secretly studied Athena. Athena’s gare swept over Arthur and Maria before settling on the shy little girl. She flashed Josie a warm, inviting smile. causing her to blush furiously and quickly bury her face against Maria’s side. “Athena, let me introduce you,” Wesley said, giving Arthur a gentle pat on the shoulder. This is your fourth brother, Arthur. He’s 22 and helps your mom and me with the barbecue stand. He’s a sharp kid and works hard, even though he can be a bit of a handful sometimes.” Arthur’s face flushed even more at the introduction. He stammered slightly, “Athena, you’re… you’re amazing in every way. I promise I’ll be a good brother to you. If I mess up, just tell me, and I’ll do my best to fix it.” Athena responded with a soft smile, her eyes warm and bright. Thank you, Arthur. That means a lot.” Hearing her say his name made Arthur’s heart leap. A goofy grin spread across his face, and he felt like he could float away with joy. Wesley continued, “And this is your sixth sister, Maria. She’s 20. You can call her whatever you like. No need to stand on ceremony between sisters.” Maria, seeing Athena up close for the first time, was completely awestruck. Athena’s beauty, even more radiant than she had imagined from afar, was almost otherworldly. She seemed to glow, like some kind of celestial being, and it made it hard for Maria to hold her gaze. Overwhelmed with nerves, Maria’s eyes darted to the side as she stammered, “H-hi, Athena. I’m.. I’m Maria,” Feeling the need to say something more, Maria quickly added, Athena, you’re so beautiful-the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. You’re like… like a fairy! I’m not even exaggerating

Athena, noticing Maria’s nervousness and slight insecurity, responded with a gentle smile “Hello, Maria. Nice to meet you.” She had thought the sixth daughter of the Donovan family might be her twin sister, but now, seeing Maria in person, that was clearly not the case. ‘So where is my twin? Athena wondered. The question of her real twin’s whereabouts gnawed at her, but she hesitated to ask. Her relationship with the Donovans was too new, too fragile for such personal questions. Athena’s smile was so captivating that it left Maria feeling slightly dizzy. In her mildly intoxicated state, she marveled at 273 20:5. Wed, Chapter 19 Athena’s seemingly flawless presence. How could one person embody so much perfection? she thought. From her stunning beauty to her graceful poise, from her porcelain skin to her enviable figure and impeccable style- Athena was the very definition of elegance. Her smile, in particular, was utterly mesmerizing. 67% Her voice was just as enchanting-a gentle, pure melody that made Maria feel like she’d stumbled upon a cool mountain spring on a scorching summer day. It was refreshing, soothing to the soul. Lost in her thoughts, Maria barely noticed Josie peeking out from behind her. Her eyes, a mix of curiosity and shyness, were locked on Athena. Snapping back to reality. Maria gently patted Josie’s head. “Josie, didn’t you say you were excited to meet Athena? Come on, say hello” Josie glanced at Athena, mumbled a barely audible “Hi, Sister, and quickly ducked back into hiding. Maria couldn’t help but chuckle. ‘Is our little one feeling shy again? Don’t worry, Josie. Athena is awesome. You don’t need to be shy around her. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Josie responded by burying her face against Maria’s waist, murmuring a soft “Mm” without looking up. 0 Wed, Oct 9