She Outshines 124


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    Athena felt a slight jolt in her heart as she walked into the study Mom and Dad can tell me


    whenever you want, I’m mentally prepared for it.”


    She knew that a lot must have happened in this family,


    To her parents, it was definitely not easy to dig up and recount all kinds of painful pasts.


    Wesley gave a slight nod, poured a ss of warm water into the empty ss, and uncovered the


    tray. He ced the ss of warm water and several tes of snacks in front of her. “Feel free to sit


    down if it’s convenient. You can eat and listen to me ramble. If you get tired, just let me know, and


    we can talk another day”


    Athena sat down across from her fathe no matter how much you have to say.”


    a few sips of water, and then smiled gently. “Dad, go ahead. I’ll listen carefully,


    Her father hadn’t even started speaking yet, but his voice was already slightly hoarse, and he


    seemed to be under more stress


    than she was.


    Seeing his daughter soposed, Wesley suddenly felt that despite his age, his ownposure


    was not as steady as hers. He couldn’t help but chuckle softly at the realization.


    He then said solemnly, “Maria told me that she has already informed you about her and Josie being


    adopted by our family. Not only were you not surprised, but you also thought it was a good thing. I


    think perhaps Lunderestimated your capacity to ept and adapt.”


    Athena nodded and gave a faint smile, confirming that it was true.


    Wesley said, “Regarding Maria, I want to rify that even though she is adopted, she is actually


    your cousin.”


    Athena gave a slight surprise. “Oh.”


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    Wesley said, “Maria’s biological mother is Catherine, who is your mother’s younger sister by two


    years. They grew up together and have a very close rtionship. When your mother was pregnant


    with you, it was Catherine who took care of her the whole time. On the night of the hospital fire, if


    Catherine hadn’t dragged your mother out of the hospital forcibly, she might have been caught in


    the mes as well.”


    Athena nodded silently.


    Wesley’s voice grew heavy as he said, “The fire caused your mother and grandparents to fall ill, and


    Catherine stayed with us, helping to take care of the three patients. After staying with us for three


    years, she brought five–year–old Maria’to live with us, until your… twin sister Zilvia… had an


    ident.”


    His voice grew strained and trembling. Perhaps it was because he found it difficult to face the


    matter, or maybe it was because he couldn’t bear to look at Athena’s face. Alternatively, he might


    not want her to see his expression.


    He suddenly pressed the switch for the deskmp, leaving only the dim spotlight on the desk, which


    cast his face into the shadows.


    Athena almost instinctively wanted to ask what happened, but she knew her father would exin,


    so she didn’t ask anything. After a while, Wesley rubbed his face and looked at his daughter trying


    to sound casual as he said, “When you first came to our home, did you find it strange that Mom and


    Dad had so many children? You might have even wondered, with the family’s financial situation not


    being very good, why Mom and Dad still had so many children?”


    Athena said softly, “I know that Mom and Dad really love children, and each new child must have


    brought you happiness. I can also see that when you had us, the family’s financial situation was


    likely quite good, so supporting as wasn’t a problem.”


    Wesley smiled and said, “It’s not that I’m bragging, but our family is considered quite prestigious


    back in our hometown. We’ve been schrs for generations. Your grandfather served in the military


    and earnedmendations, and your grandmother came from a schrly family. We had over ten


    acres ofnd and were quite well–off.”


    At this point, his voice grew somber again. “But what really matters is that everyone in the Donovan


    family must never forget that the Donovan family is a true home of heroes and martyrs…”


    Athena straightened her back, and her expression became serious as she listened to her father’s


    narration.


    Her grandparents had four sons, named Armand, Dutton, Mateo, and Wesley. Her father was the


    youngest among them.


    When the country needed them, they would send their three sons to the battlefield without


    hesitation.


    These three sons lived up to their parents‘ expectations, making significant contributions on the


    battlefield. However, they all made the ultimate sacrifice, and t bodies were never even discovered.


    Their parents did not regret sending their children to the battlefield. They were simply very sad and


    disappointed that their sons did not return alive.


    Therefore, they hoped that their youngest son would have several children after getting married,


    ideally no fewer than three. This way, their sons who sacrificed themselves on the battlefield could


    be reborn into the Donovan family.


    Coincidentally, Wesley and ire also loved children and longed for a lively, loving family life. Being


    young and healthy, they had three sons in one go after getting married.


    At that time, her grandparents were still in good health, so they rented out their several acres of


    land to others and came to the city to help take care of their grandchildren.


    In that era, the cost of raising children was not high, and societalpetition was not as intense as


    it was today. Moreover, the three grandsons were all bright and easy to manage, so the elderly


    couple did not find it very burdening.


    Seeing how well the three sons were behaving and that they could afford to support the family,


    Wesley and his wife couldn’t help but think that having a daughter would make their family perfect.


    Wesley and his wife were just speaking casually, but to their surprise, the elderly couple also


    wanted a granddaughter. The three boys were eager for a little sister and promised to take care of


    her once she arrived. As a result, Wesley and his wife decided to continue having children.


    They went on to have two more sons, and it wasn’t until the sixth pregnancy that they found out it


    was a girl–and not just one, but twin girls. The whole family was overjoyed.


    Considering that ire was already in her thirties, the family arranged for her to give birth at the


    best private hospital in Kitmore City to ensure a smooth delivery. Catherine, who was appointed to


    assist her, apanied ire throughout the


    process.


    No one would have imagined that a devastating fire would break out in the hospital right after the


    birth of a pair of beautiful twin baby girls


    The trauma the entire family experienced was profound, leaving a deep andsting scar.


    ire and Wesley’s parents suffered from illness for a long time as a result.


    The onlyfort was that little Zilvia was there with them, helping them to recover.


    As Zilvia grew day by day, bing increasingly smart and charming, the Donovan family


    gradually began to find their way back to normalcy.


    At this point, Wesley lowered his head, burying his face in his hands. His voice was hoarse as if a


    dull knife were slowly scraping at his throat. “No one could have imagined that, in just five short


    years, disaster would strike the family again…”


    BD


    Athena’s heart pounded wildly, and she instinctively ced her hands on her knees, gripping them


    tightly.


    For the first time in her life, she felt a deep fear of hearing what wasing next.


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