From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 328

**TITLE: Her Rise 328**
**Chapter 328: Knocking Athena Down**

At that moment, Maya’s phone buzzed insistently, cutting through the tension in the air. A surge of irritation washed over her, but she forced herself to take a deep breath and glanced at the caller ID.

It was her mother.

With a reluctant swipe of her finger, she answered the call, her voice strained. “Hey, Mom.”

“Maya! What on earth is happening? Didn’t you set up a challenge for Athena? How did she manage to overcome it? The entire internet is buzzing about her, and they’re even suggesting that you—”

“Mom, I know!” Maya interrupted, her tone sharp and laced with frustration. She could feel the heat rising in her chest, a mix of anger and helplessness.

“Athena got lucky this time, that’s all! I miscalculated, but it’s not entirely on me! If there’s anyone to blame, it’s my brother! If he hadn’t been aiding her behind my back, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”

“What?” Patricia’s voice trembled with disbelief, the shock evident even through the phone.

“You must be mistaken! What does your brother have to do with any of this? He just got back, didn’t he? How could he possibly be involved with Athena?”

The mere thought of it sent a wave of fury crashing through Maya, her chest tightening with indignation.

Initially, she had considered various possibilities, even entertained the idea of Zaden or other acquaintances lending a hand to Athena. But her brother? That notion had never crossed her mind.

“The only reason Athena managed to return from abroad is because Preston helped her,” Maya asserted, her voice rising with each syllable, her frustration spilling out like a torrent. “And he’s done it again! That viral simulation video? He was the one who uploaded it!”

As she continued, her anger intensified, each word a release of pent-up frustration.

“And now, her surgery is going to be featured in a prestigious medical journal! Once it’s published, she’ll be everywhere! Everyone will be singing her praises, and I’ll be left in the dust!”

Maya understood the industry dynamics all too well. A surgery like Athena’s would garner admiration and scrutiny from every corner of the field. Once Athena garnered that acclaim, she would have an army of supporters rallying behind her, leaving Maya with no chance to reclaim her position.

Patricia fell silent, her mind racing. She muttered to herself, “How could this be?”

Indeed, how could it?

But whether Maya accepted it or not, the reality had already unfolded before her eyes.

No matter how much she wished to change the narrative, there was nothing within her power to alter the outcome.

Then, Patricia’s voice broke through her thoughts, a glimmer of hope in her tone. “Maya, can’t that journal accept complaints? Write a letter questioning the legitimacy of Athena’s surgery—claim there are issues with it. If you can delay the review until after publication, she won’t make it into that issue.”

Maya froze for a moment, her mind racing. Then, as if a light bulb had flickered on, her eyes brightened with realization.

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