She Outshines 209


    hapter 209


    A few minutester, Athena and Brandon were seated on the couch in the old residence. One sat


    on the left and the other on


    the right.


    Athena poured a ss of water and ced it in front of Brandon. She asked, “Brandon, aren’t you


    in Aeloria? Why are you here?”


    The man whom Athena caught secretly moving into the Donovan family’s old residence was her


    second brother, Brandon


    Donovan.


    Brandon had said in the group chat that he would only be able to return to the country in February


    or March next year at the earliest.


    Brandon decided toe clean.


    He took off his hood, picked up the ss, and emptied it in one gulp. Then, he gave Athena a


    gentle and gratified smile. He said, “Athena, I’m so happy to see you. I truly am very happy. It’s just


    that I didn’t want you to see me like this.”


    Athena blinked and sized him up. She asked, “What’s wrong with your appearance? I think you look


    quite good.”


    The Donovan family had good genes, so the children of the family were all good-looking-


    Brandon was no exception.


    He was slim, handsome, and had distinct facial features. He had a pair of shrewd and sharp eyes


    like an eagle, an aquiline, nose, and thin lips


    His gaze and tone were gentle, and he seemed harmless now. However, when he had yet to realize


    that the person pounced on him was Athena, the gaze he revealed was extremely cold and sinister.


    He emanated a dangerous aura.


    who


    Brandon fell silent for a few seconds. He spread his hands and smiled bitterly. He said, “Ipleted


    my studies in advance and obtained my bachelor’s degree. I originally nned to secretly return to


    the country before Advent Sunday to give everyone a surprise. Unexpectedly, I was robbed on the


    way to the airport. I lost all my luggage, including the diploma I just obrained.


    Athena sighed when she heard that.


    The school Brandon studied in Aeloria was prestigious for his major. However, the area where the


    school was located was infamous for frequent crime. International students were even more likely to


    be targeted by local hooligans and gangsters


    Two years ago, a student from Osceiton was shot to death by gangsters because they refused to


    hand over theirptop.


    Athena reckoned the reason why Brandon could run so fast and move so nimbly might have been


    due to living in such an


    environment.


    The bitter smile on Brandon’s face turned into a smile of relief. He said. “Fortunately, I’m


    experienced. I kept my passport, ne ticket, and identity card on my person, so I managed to


    board the ne back to the country.”


    He exined, “When I reached Kitmore City, I had nothing. I didn’t want anyone to know about this.


    That’s why I called and emailed the school to send me a new diploma while I hid in the old


    residence. I nned to wait for the diploma to be sent over before going home. I didn’t expect you


    to find me here.”


    He covered his face with his hands. He said, “I feel so embarrassed now.”


    “There’s nothing embarrassing about this.” Athena patted Brandon’s shoulder gently andforted


    him. “Everyone has been robbed at some point in their lives. It is very normal. No one willugh at


    you for being robbed. The family will be very happy to know that you’re back. Why don’t youe


    home with me?”


    BG.


    Chapter 209


    “About that…” Brandon hesitated. “I was hoping that I could at least earn some money and buy


    everyone a gift before going back. I can’t go back empty-handed like this. How could I face the rest


    of the family?”


    ena was speechless.


    o


    e thought, “Is Brandon someone who cares so much about his image in the eyes of the other family


    members?


    It might be so.


    It was said that Brandon was very smart. Aside from Zilvia and Athena, he was the smartest child in


    the Donovan family. His grades had always been top-notch since he was young, and he had never


    dropped the ball.


    Everyone said that he would definitely be a great person in the future.


    Perhaps it was because of his talent and the environment he was in that he had cultivated an


    extremely high self-image.


    He had studied abroad alone for so many years. He must have wanted to return to his hometown in


    glory. However, in the end, he was robbed and returned penniless. Athena reckoned this might have


    made him very ashamed to face everyone in the Donovan family.


    Athena asked, “What job are you working at now?”


    Brandon was silent for a while before saying, “I am working as a food delivery guy”


    After saying that, he exined, “It’s almost Christmas. Nopany is hiring at this time of year. I


    n to deliver food for a period of time. After the New Year. I’ll look for a formal job.”


    Athena could see the guilt on his face. She did not try to persuade him to go home immediately. She


    only said. Til help you keep this a secret. Let me know when you decide to go home. I’lle pick


    you up in my car.


    She thought for a moment and said with a smile, “ire and Arthur are good at cooking. Until you


    decide to go home, I’ll send you food from home every day”


    “That’s great” Brandon’s eyes lit up at first when he heard Athena say this. Then, he thought of


    something and shook his head. He said, “No. This ce is too far from our new home. The weather


    is also cold. It would be too tiring for you to make the trip back and forth. How about this? Youe


    once every three days and bring enough food for three days at a time. I’ll heat it up.”


    Athena smiled. She said, “Tomorrow morning at 9:30 am. I’ll send food over. You can go to workN?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    after eating.”


    Brandon was both happy and hesitant. He asked, “Isn’t 9:30 in the morning too early for you? You


    cane overter.”


    “It’s not too early,” Athena lied. “I usually wake up at seven in the morning and can leave the house


    by 8:30


    Delivery men needed to be out working by around ten in the morning.


    Athena didn’t want toe toote as it would affect Brandon’s work.


    “Alright.” Brandon was not fussy over the details. “Athena, thank you for everything?


    After saying that, he took off his sses and massaged the bridge of his nose. He said sadly, “Tve


    been overseas for many years. I’ve grown sick of eating fast food. I’ve almost gone crazy from


    wanting to eat home cooked food for so long.”


    Athena nodded silently, expressing her understanding.


    Then, she changed the topic. She asked, “You’ve been secretly following me these past few days,


    right?”


    Brandon choked and smiled bitterly. He replied, “Sure enough, can’t hide it from you.”


    23


    10:50


    Chapter 209


    He exined, “The first thing I wanted to do when I returned to Kitmore City was to see you.


    However, I was too ashamed to appear in front of you, so I followed you secretly. I tried to see you


    as often as I could.”


    After saying that, he sped his hands together and bowed to Athena. He apologized, saying, I’m


    very sorry to have left a bad impression on you by meeting you in this manner.”


    “It’s fine.” Athena waved her hand and said. “If it is you, I don’t mind. I just don’t think you need to


    make things so difficult for yourself. As long as you want to, we can meet openly at any time


    Brandon smiled and said mncholically, “You’re right. Perhaps I’ve been overseas for too long.


    Even though I have returned to my hometown, at times I still can’t believe that I’m really back here. I


    have mixed feelings. I need a little time to


    transition.”


    Ever since the two of them acknowledged each other, Brandon had been secretly observing


    Athena.


    This may have been out of habit or because he wanted to get to know his mysterious sister better.


    Meanwhile, Athena was also secretly observing Brandon.


    She believed that Brandon was not that feeble. The true reason behind him quietly returning to


    Kitmore City but hiding away and not going home was definitely not as simple as he had imed.


    However, since Brandon didn’t want to tell the truth, Athena didn’t want to force it out of him.


    She switched to a pleasant topic. She asked, “Brandon, what do you want to eat the most? I’ll g


    and Arthur to make it


    Thinking of home cooked food, Brandon could not help but smack his lips. He said, “As long as it is


    home cooked, I will dly eat it. Oh right! I only want to eat local delicacies. I don’t want to eat


    Aelorish food anymore in my life.”


    Athena snickered and said, “Alright. I’ll make sure you get something nutritious. I’ll send it over


    together with Mom’s ratatouille and pancakes.”


    Brandon reached out as if he wanted to pat Athena’s head, but he retracted his hand halfway and


    said gently. “Athena, thank you. You’re a hundred times better than I thought.”


    Athena replied, “Thank you, Brandon”


    Athena did not ask how Brandon was doing overseas, nor did she stay long.


    lour. She stood up a


    and bade farewell.


    She could tell that even though Brandon looked calm, he was actually in turmoil and needed time to


    calm down. Therefore, it was better not to chat for too long after the two of them had just met for the


    first time,


    It was already past nine in the evening, and it was very cold outside.


    However, Brandon insisted on sending Athena downstairs. After he watched her car drive away, he


    sighed and went upstairs with heavy footsteps.