She Outshines 222
Donovan’s Restaurant was closed for the festive season
ire, who had been busy for the past half a year, could finally restfortably for a while and
prepare for Christmas.
After breakfast in the morning, she carried a basket and was about to go out. “Im going to get
groceries. What do you feel like eating
The few people who didn’t need to go out said, ‘Everything you cook is delicious. Buy whatever you
want to eat.”
Arthur gulped down arge bottle of milk and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Let me
drive you there.”
“There’s no need for that. ire shook her head. “This ce is not far from the market, and I’ll take
my time grocery shopping. When you’re free, make a list of Christmas goods. Remember to write
down anything you want. We’ll get them tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Don’t worry about
the money.”
Then, she held her grocery basket and slowly walked out.
The majority of the poption in Kitmore City came from other parts of the country. Those who are
born and bred here were less than half of it. Many people’s hometowns were in the countryside, As
soon as it was Christmas, the entire city felt especially quiet.
It was the same for Mid–Level Mountain Garden ire strolled down the street and barely saw
anyone.
It was not until she arrived at the market that the surroundings became lively.
She was about to go to the seafood section to pick some fish and prawns when her phone rang. It
was an unknown number.
It can’t be a scam call or a sales call, can it?’ she thought.
While she was hesitating, someone squeezed past her and quietly stuffed a “button” into her
pocket.
She didn’t notice that. After pondering for a bit, she answered the call. “Hello?”
The person on the other end of the line asked, “Are you a family member of Zilvia Donovan, the girl
who disappeared 13
years ago?”
ire’s eyes widened and her breathing hastened. After a few seconds, she said with a trembling
voice, “Y–Yes. I–I’m her mother. Do you know where Zilvia is? Have you heard from her
The other party said, “I stumbled upon a photo of a seven or eight–year–old girl. She looks very
much like Zilvia, whom I once saw on television. But so many years have passed. I’m not sure if
they’re the same person.
“Do you have a photo of Zilvia? If you do, can you send it to me’llpare that with the photo I
saw.”
“Yes, yes, yes. I have m–many…” ire’s voice was trembling and getting incoherent. Her hand
rubbed her body reflexively. I’ll send it to you now. Please, wait
After saying that, her body stiffened.
She didn’t have Zilvia’s photo on her.
In order to avoid triggering strong memories of Zilvia, ire didn’t have photos of Zilvia on her
phone either.
For the same reason, everyone in the Donovan family didn’t store photos of Zilvia on their phones.
Plus, it had been so many years.
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ire asked her family for Zilvia’s photo, but her family could not send it to her immediately.
She could only beg the other party. “I–I’m sorry. I’m buying groceries now, and I don’t have Zilvia’s
photo on my phone. I’ll go home and find it for you right away. Can you give me ten minutes?
N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.
Just ten minutes. It won’t be long.. ire pleaded
The other party replied empathetically. “There’s no hurry. Save my number and send me the photo
when you find it.”
ire was moved to tears. “Thank you. Thank you so much! You’re really a good person. I–I’ll go
look for the photos now “Okay, I’ll wait for your photo, the other party said and hung up.
ire was so excited that her head was spinning. She was so transfixed that she didn’t know what
to do with her hands. After pacing back and forth a few times at the same spot, she sobered up a
little. She muttered, “I need to hurry home to look for the photos” Then, she quickly walked to the
side of the road, got into a taxi, and went straight to Mid–Level Mountain Garden.
On the way home, she
ta message to the family chat group: Is Zilvia’s photo still at the old house? I need it urgently.] Jaden
replied: [Thest time Athena asked me for Zilvia’s photo, I told her where it was. Athena might
have taken it.]
ire immediately called Athena to ask about the photo.
Athena was busy and didn’t look at the iMewane chat group. I took the photo from the old house
but I’ve put it back under the bed. Do you want Zilvia’s photo now?” she asked ire over the
phone.
ire told her about the phone call she received when she was at the market. Then, she told ire
that she was going the get the photos right away.
Athena felt that something wasn’t right. She said calmly. “Mom. Vlento Court is still far away. I’ll
drive there. Give me that person’s number. I’ll send the person the photo when I find it.”
ire didn’t hesitate and immediately told Athena the number of the “good samaritan. She then
reminded Athena to tell her the oue be it good or bad.
Athena wrote down the number. “Okay, I’ll go now,” she then hung up.
After that, she p
put on her coat and took her bag. As she went downstairs, she thought that this matter was too
strange.
Weren’t there photos of Zilvia online?
Also, Mom’s phone number had been changed long ago. How did that person get Mom’s phone
number?
What are they trying to do?
She suddenly thought of something. Without wasting a second. Athena used her phone to search
for photos of Zilvia online.
Something eerie was going on.
She couldn’t find any photos of Zilvia!
Not only that, all the reports and articles about Zilvia Donovan and the Donovan family losing their
twin daughters were
It was as if a gale had prated the Inte overnight and blew away everything rted to Zilvia.
“Seems like someone wants to remove all trances of Zilvia’s disappearance. They don’t want
anyone to recognize Zilvia and
Fri, Oct
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find her.
This is a little tricky.
“Should I continue investigating this matter?” Athena looked at the gloomy sky as she muttered to
herself.
At the same time, Joy heard ire’s conversation with Athena through the bug she nted on
ire. She immediately stepped on the elerator and drove quickly to Viento Court.
Christmas Eve was nearing, and there were few pedestrians and cars on the streets.
Joy’s journey was smooth and it didn’t take her long to get to Vlento Court.
one.
Viento Court was also very quiet. As far as her eyes could see, there was no o
The old guard, who was still on duty at the entrance of the neighborhood, was dozing off at the gate
post and didn’t notice Joy’s car at all.
ording to the information she had gathered, Joy found Block 6 very quickly. She parked her car
downstairs, picked the lock, and went upstairs.
She was wearing a dark hat and a ck face mask. Even if anyone saw her, they wouldn’t be able
to see her face.
She got to the sixth floor very soon and stood in front of the Donovan family’s old abode.
Thebination lock was a piece of cake to her.
She took out a small spray bottle and sprayed its contents onto thebination lock
Immediately, the color of five numerical keys darkened and a thinyer of oily sheen could be seen.
This meant that these five numbers were pressed more often than the rest.
Generally speaking, the lock code set would most probably be the birthdate of someone in the
family. It was either in the order of day, month, and year or the reverse order.
These five numerical keys could make up the six–digit passcode, where one of the numbers was
being used twice.
She ran through the birthdays of the Donovan family members in her head. After confirming that
these five numbers matched those of Josie’s birthdate, she pressed them in the order of year,
month, and day.
‘Hm, that’s not the right one, Joy mumbled in her mind.
Then she keyed in Josie’s birthdate following the order of day, month, and year.
The
The door opened.
Joy snuck into the house and walked into the ro
room. She shone de shlight under the bed and saw a small box.
She dug out the small box and pried open the lock. Inside the box was a USB drive and arge
stack of photos.
I was indeed photos of Zilvia.
All of them had beenminated and were preserved very well.
She looked at the photos in silence, as
reyes wavered slightly
However, that onlysted for some short ten seconds before they regained calmness.
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Joy carried the box into the bathroom and used a lighter to burn the photos one by one. She then
flushed the ashes down
the toilet.
Not a single photo was left.
She even flushed the USB drive down the toilet.
“Now, there’s nothing left,” Joy muttered as she locked the box and put it back under the bed.
Then, she walked out of the house, closed the door, and strode downstairs.
Looking around, there was still no one.
She left as stealthily as she had sneaked in.
In a corner diagonally opposite Block 6, under a big tree, Athena quietly watched Joy walk out of the
building. She watched her get into the car and then watched her leave. Athena, too, didn’t make a
sound.
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