SWNOVELS Chapter She Outshines 222
Chapter 222
Donovan's Restaurant was closed for the festive season
Claire, who had been busy for the past half a year, could finally rest comfortably 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 a large bottle of milk and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Let me drive you there."
"There's no need for that. Claire shook her head. "This place 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 population 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 Claire 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?"
Claire'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'll compare that with the photo I saw."
"Yes, yes, yes. I have m-many..." Claire'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, Claire 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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Chapter 222
Claire 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? Just ten minutes. It won't be long.. Claire pleaded
The other party replied empathetically. "There's no hurry. Save my number and send me the photo when you find it."
Claire 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.
Claire 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: [The last time Athena asked me for Zilvia's photo, I told her where it was. Athena might have taken it.] Claire 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 Claire over the phone.
Claire told her about the phone call she received when she was at the market. Then, she told Claire 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."
Claire didn't hesitate and immediately told Athena the number of the "good samaritan. She then reminded Athena to tell her the outcome 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 penetrated the Internet overnight and blew away everything related to Zilvia.
"Seems like someone wants to remove all trances of Zilvia's disappearance. They don't want anyone to recognize Zilvia and
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Chapter 222
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 Claire's conversation with Athena through the bug she planted on Claire. She immediately stepped on the accelerator 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.
According 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 black 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.
The combination lock was a piece of cake to her.
She took out a small spray bottle and sprayed its contents onto the combination lock
Immediately, the color of five numerical keys darkened and a thin layer 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 flashlight 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 a large stack of photos.
I was indeed photos of Zilvia.
All of them had been laminated and were preserved very well.
She looked at the photos in silence, as
reyes wavered slightly
However, that only lasted 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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