She Outshines Them All

She Outshines 340

What should have been a pinnacle moment during the award ceremony felt rushed and lackluster, completely out of sync. with the show’s high standards and massive popularity.

The main reason was that Lorelai had a meltdown backstage, crying and throwing things wildly, causing chaos behind the

scenes.

The production team couldn’t risk having her come up on stage to accept the award. Even if they let her, she surely wouldn’t comply.

So, they had no choice but to ask the Pittman family to take her away. The host then announced that Lorelai was too tired and had fallen asleep, asking Paityn to accept the award on her behalf.

Athena, wanting to shield Josie from excessive attention due to her recent fame, had Maria take the sleepy Josie back to the hotel. Athena herself, wearing a mask, went up to accept Josie’s award. NôvelDrama.Org © 2024.

With neither the champion nor runner–up present, the audience’s enthusiasm dwindled. The hosts, abandoning their pre- prepared questions, quickly wrapped up the formalities and declared the talent show officially over.

Despite this, the ratings for the episode broke records. The entire internet was buzzing about the competition between the two young talents and their connection to Paityn.

But Paityn didn’t care about any of that.

Alina wasn’t there, and her mind was elsewhere. After presenting the awards, Paityn hurriedly muttered, “I need to check on the children.” Then she quickly left the stage.

She rushed back to the hotel. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Damon waiting.

Damon, also masked, nodded at her.

Paityn, with a cold expression, opened the door silently for him to enter, then closed it behind them. She took off her sunglasses and mask, twisted open a bottle of water, and asked icily, “What do you really want?”

Damon removed his mask, his eyes filled with the passion she hadn’t seen in years. “I watched Josie’s performance tonight. She’s more talented than I ever imagined. Her image, stage presence, psychological composure, and ability to handle the moment were all incredible. There’s no way I’ll let such a genius go to waste.

“No matter what you decide, I’m going to Kitmore City tomorrow morning to inform the Donovan family about Josie’s true identity. I’ll ask them to let me take Josie under my wing for her development.”

“You must be dreaming.” Paityn cut him off, sneering. “The Donovan family cherishes Alina like a treasure. They won’t let you get close to Josie, much less allow you to claim her.”

“Why wouldn’t they?” Damon retorted. “I’m not trying to take Josie away or sever her ties with the Donovan family. I just want to mentor her, to turn her into a superstar. It’s beneficial for Josie, and it’s beneficial for the Donovan family. Why would they say no?”

Paityn didn’t even know how to respond. “All of that is just your wishful thinking. What gives you the right to force your will on Alina and the Donovan family?”

“You’re right,” Damon replied calmly. “That’s why I’m going to discuss it with them.”

Paityn was speechless.

Even in her thirties, well past the naïve, love–struck girl she once was, Paityn still felt like an inexperienced fool in front of Damon, always falling behind in their exchanges.

It took her a few seconds to find a comeback. “And if they refuse, what will you

do?”

“If they truly care about Josie, they’ll agree,” Damon replied. “If they don’t, I’ll consider taking legal action to gain custody of Josie and bring her with me.”

“Are you insane?” Paityn stared at him in shock. “You’ve never raised Alina for even a single day. She doesn’t even know who you are, and you think you can just take her away?”

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“Taking her would benefit you too, wouldn’t it? Damon said calmly. “You can’t leave the Pittman family and raise Josie yourself. But if I gain custody, it’ll be easier for you to see her

It didn’t make sense, but Paityn couldn’t find a way to refute it.

Damon checked his watch and said, “We’ll figure out the details after I meet with the Donovan family. You have just one night to decide if you’re coming with me or not

Paityn took a deep breath before saying, “Does your wife even know about Josie? If she finds out Josie is your child, will she let you off so easily?”

my

“My wife isn’t in good health, Damon said indifferently. “She’s spent the past few years praying and staying out of both business and the company, Besides, our son is already a failure and will be relying on the family for the rest of his life. Now that I finally have a child with real talent and potential, she has no say in the matter.”

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Paityn shook her head and said, “You’re still so selfish, always thinking only of yourself.”

“Is there any point in saying that now?” Damon replied. “Josie is your child too. You should focus on how you’ll handle your relationship with her.”

“Call me by 9 a.m. tomorrow,” he added before pulling on his mask and leaving.

Paityn leaned against the wall, holding her head with one hand as she felt a splitting headache coming on, her heart filled with turmoil,

As despicable as Damon was, he wasn’t entirely wrong,

Paityn thought, ‘Should I go with him to meet the Donovan family? Or should I go alone? And if I met them, what should I say? What if the Donovan family refused our proposal? What would I do then? Would Alina be happy to see me?”

While she was lost in thought, the bedroom door opened, and someone stepped out.

Startled, she asked in alarm, “Who? Who’s there?”

“It’s me,” said a familiar, cold voice. “I heard everything between you and Damon.”

Paityn thought, ‘Why is Saanvi here?

Paityn’s mind went blank as a wave of immense fear and pressure washed over her.

Paityn thought, “This is bad… really bad‘

Saanvi, slim and elegant even in her late fifties, walked gracefully toward Paityn, her high heels clicking softly on the carpet. Holding a designer handbag, she said in a calm yet imposing voice, “Josie is really your and Damon’s child? Oh, your illegitimate child?”

Her voice held such authority that Paityn instinctively answered, “Yes.”

“Do you have proof that she’s your biological daughter?” Saanvi asked, her tone unreadable.

“Yes,” Paityn stammered, almost trembling. “I have pregnancy records, birth certificates, and pictures and videos of me with Alina when she was little.”

There were many. She’d kept them all, hidden in her pre–marital home.

Saanvi, pacing slowly with her designer purse in hand, asked, “You want Josie back, don’t you?”

Paityn thought, ‘Why is she asking this?”

Paityn’s anxiety grew, and she was afraid to answer.

After hesitating for a long time, she finally mustered up the courage to say, “Yes, I miss her a lot.”

“Then let’s take back her custody,” Saanvi said, her voice soft yet sharp.

“What?” Paityn looked at her in disbelief. “What did you say?”

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She must’ve misheard.

There was no way Saanvi would say such a thing.

Saanvi should have scolded Paityn mercilessly, but now she was asking Paityn to get Josie back

Saanvi repeated with a smile, “I said we’ll work together to take back Josie’s custody. Let her hear the Pittman name and live with the Pittman family. That way, you and your daughter can be reunited, never to be separated again”

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