She Stuns the World - Chapter 79: Chapter 79

Suddenly, the crowd began to feel like they were the ones being put on display, mocking her as if she were some sideshow, when in reality, it was as though they were the ones performing like circus monkeys under her gaze.
Wesley and the others felt their spirits lift; the sense of humiliation that had weighed them down started to dissipate.
Athena raised her glass with a gentle smile. "Dad, Mom, Arthur, you're all good people. Here's to you."
The three of them exchanged glances and lifted their glasses in return.
After a few sips of red wine, they felt the tension ease, allowing them to stand tall and meet the eyes of those around them with renewed confidence.
Seeing the Donovan family remain unfazed, the crowd lost interest in their ridicule and quietly shifted their focus, murmuring among themselves.
On stage, Zoe had been lingering in the corner, pretending to sip water and check her phone.
It was only then that she finally looked up with a gasp of feigned surprise. She quickly turned off the screen and rushed to the microphone, bowing repeatedly toward Athena. "Athena, I'm so sorry! I was just reviewing some notes and didn't realize the staff accidentally played footage of your family instead of mine. I truly apologize."
Athena smiled coolly and replied, "It's fine. Your brain has always been a bit slow—that's why you've never been able to match up to me.
"Tonight is a big deal for you, so of course, you're excited and nervous. Making mistakes is understandable.
"But for me, this kind of event is no big deal. Even if I tried to mess up, I wouldn't get the chance."
The crowd was speechless, thinking, 'Is there anyone more cutting than Athena?' They were almost starting to feel sorry for Zoe.
Zoe's face turned pale, struggling to keep her composure. After a few seconds, she forced a stiff smile and said, "I'm glad you can forgive me."
Then she smoothly changed the subject, "Athena, I'm sure you scored better than me on the exams this time. Would you be willing to come up and show everyone your results?"
All eyes were on Athena.
They thought, 'The teachers and students from Kitmore City High School have claimed she always ranks first. Can she really maintain that record? After all, Zoe's scores are already incredibly high, likely the best in the school. Can Athena outperform her?'
"Of course I scored higher than you." Athena slowly stood up, smiling at Zoe. "I've already told you, your brain isn't good enough to even be my rival. Trying to compete with me is just setting yourself up for embarrassment."
The room fell into dead silence. Everyone, except the Donovan family, was left stunned by Athena's boldness and confidence.
They thought, 'Where does she get the nerve to publicly mock someone as accomplished as Zoe? Is she fearless because she has nothing to lose, or is she truly that sure of herself?'
Zoe's eyes widened in shock, unable to process what was happening. She thought, 'Even now, Athena can still smile and look down on me?'
Gradually, Zoe's expression softened into a sweet smile as she clapped her hands. "Athena, I believe in your abilities. So how high did you score?"
Athena confidently strode up to the stage. "I'll show you right now just how big the gap between us really is."
She approached the computer at the side of the stage, opened the browser, and began logging into the score-checking system, ready to input her information.
But just as she was about to enter her details, a group of reporters suddenly burst in through the doors, cameras flashing and rolling as they swarmed her and Zoe, capturing every moment with relentless enthusiasm.