She Stuns the World - Chapter 9: Chapter 9
You are reading She Stuns the World, Chapter 9: Chapter 9. Read more chapters of She Stuns the World.
It turned out that homeowners from a nearby development were gathered at the entrance, staging a large protest.
Athena watched them with a quiet sigh, feeling genuine sympathy for their struggle.
Without a word, she returned to her car and navigated into a small alley to avoid the traffic.
The detour would take longer, but it was better than being stuck. After weaving through the back streets, she finally arrived at Vlento Court.
Vlento Court used to be an apartment for employees. It was an old place, but still clean and quiet, with lots of open space.
The area mostly housed older residents now, with few young people around. After all, a young or wealthy person wouldn't want to live in a neighborhood that should've been demolished years ago.
The community had a few residential buildings, none taller than six stories. The exterior walls were worn, paint peeling, and the building numbers had faded.
Athena parked at the entrance and asked the security guard for directions. Soon enough, she found Building No. 6, where a couple in their fifties stood waiting outside.
The man was dressed in a black suit and polished leather shoes, while the woman wore a blue dress and high heels. Their clothes were a bit outdated, but they were spotless and well-kept, radiating a kind of old-world dignity.
The woman kept glancing at her phone, clearly waiting for a message. Meanwhile, the man was on his tiptoes, shading his eyes with his hand as he scanned the area. They were obviously expecting someone.
Athena recognized them immediately—Wesley and Claire Donovan. Just a few days ago, she had met them at the hospital when they all had a paternity test done.
After their blood was drawn, Wesley had taken a phone call, and he and Claire had rushed off, so they hadn't had much of a chance to talk. Although Athena recognized them, she still didn't know much about them.
When the couple spotted her, their faces lit up with a mix of joy and nervousness. They hurried over, stopping a few steps away, their hands trembling as they reached out to take hers but then pulled back.
Wesley stammered, "Athena... is it okay if we call you that?"
Athena smiled warmly, "Of course."
Claire nervously rubbed her hands together. "Athena, we've been so happy ever since we found you! This is the best thing that's happened to us in years.
"It's just that... our family doesn't have much. We're so sorry."
Athena saw the sincerity in their faces and smiled gently. "It's okay. I've had a good life so far, and that won't change. You don't need to give me anything or feel bad about it," she reassured them.
After a brief pause, she added, "If there's something we want but don't have, let's work together to get it."
Her heartfelt words deeply moved Wesley and Claire, and their eyes welled with tears. If they hadn't been worried about overwhelming their daughter at their first real meeting, they might have broken down right then and there.
Wesley quickly composed himself and laughed, "The food's ready. Let's head upstairs and talk over lunch, shall we?"
Athena nodded. "Sure."
Just as they started to walk, a woman's high-pitched voice rang out behind them, "Athena, wait!"
Athena instinctively turned towards the voice, only to be met with the rapid clicks of cameras as a man and a woman frantically snapped photos with their phones.
Athena watched them with a quiet sigh, feeling genuine sympathy for their struggle.
Without a word, she returned to her car and navigated into a small alley to avoid the traffic.
The detour would take longer, but it was better than being stuck. After weaving through the back streets, she finally arrived at Vlento Court.
Vlento Court used to be an apartment for employees. It was an old place, but still clean and quiet, with lots of open space.
The area mostly housed older residents now, with few young people around. After all, a young or wealthy person wouldn't want to live in a neighborhood that should've been demolished years ago.
The community had a few residential buildings, none taller than six stories. The exterior walls were worn, paint peeling, and the building numbers had faded.
Athena parked at the entrance and asked the security guard for directions. Soon enough, she found Building No. 6, where a couple in their fifties stood waiting outside.
The man was dressed in a black suit and polished leather shoes, while the woman wore a blue dress and high heels. Their clothes were a bit outdated, but they were spotless and well-kept, radiating a kind of old-world dignity.
The woman kept glancing at her phone, clearly waiting for a message. Meanwhile, the man was on his tiptoes, shading his eyes with his hand as he scanned the area. They were obviously expecting someone.
Athena recognized them immediately—Wesley and Claire Donovan. Just a few days ago, she had met them at the hospital when they all had a paternity test done.
After their blood was drawn, Wesley had taken a phone call, and he and Claire had rushed off, so they hadn't had much of a chance to talk. Although Athena recognized them, she still didn't know much about them.
When the couple spotted her, their faces lit up with a mix of joy and nervousness. They hurried over, stopping a few steps away, their hands trembling as they reached out to take hers but then pulled back.
Wesley stammered, "Athena... is it okay if we call you that?"
Athena smiled warmly, "Of course."
Claire nervously rubbed her hands together. "Athena, we've been so happy ever since we found you! This is the best thing that's happened to us in years.
"It's just that... our family doesn't have much. We're so sorry."
Athena saw the sincerity in their faces and smiled gently. "It's okay. I've had a good life so far, and that won't change. You don't need to give me anything or feel bad about it," she reassured them.
After a brief pause, she added, "If there's something we want but don't have, let's work together to get it."
Her heartfelt words deeply moved Wesley and Claire, and their eyes welled with tears. If they hadn't been worried about overwhelming their daughter at their first real meeting, they might have broken down right then and there.
Wesley quickly composed himself and laughed, "The food's ready. Let's head upstairs and talk over lunch, shall we?"
Athena nodded. "Sure."
Just as they started to walk, a woman's high-pitched voice rang out behind them, "Athena, wait!"
Athena instinctively turned towards the voice, only to be met with the rapid clicks of cameras as a man and a woman frantically snapped photos with their phones.
End of She Stuns the World Chapter 9. Continue reading Chapter 10 or return to She Stuns the World book page.