Leila was stunned the burning sensation on her cheek overwhelming her senses. She turned to Paulina, her eyes brimming with a mix of corÃfusion and hurt disbelief, âMom, why would you do that?â
Paulina was beside herself with anger, âTell me, did Merry ever give you a note asking for help?â
Leila narrowed her eyes, carefully considering her words, âMom, why would you ask something like that?â
Paulina, who lacked any kind of reason in her rage, blurted out the truth, âThat school has been raided. It was full of abuse. They didnât just dunk Merry in water to make her obey, there were also electric shock rooms, meditation rooms.â
As she recounted the horrors, Paulina remembered what she had witnessed at the school that day.
Cordelia had whisked Merry away, sparing her the sight of the items being removed from the school, but Paulina and Cain had stayed behind, determined to see the full extent of Merryâs suffering. And then they came across the instruments of torment, designed to leave no physical marks on the body but to indelibly scar the mind.
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As Paulina recalled the sight of those devices, each one likely used on Merry, she shivered from head to toe.
Only then did Paulina begin to harbor resentment towards Leila. Why hadnât Leila acted when Merry sent her a message? Was it deliberate? Merryâs words had shaken Paulinaâs steadfast belief in Leila.
Especially when Leila had come home, wearing her pristine school uniform, her backpack clean, a diamond hairpin sparkling in her hair, while her Merryâ¦.
At that moment, Paulina was overwhelmed by an impulsive rage, and, without thinking, she slapped Leila.
Hearing Paulinaâs revelations, a flicker of comprehension crossed Leilaâs eyes.
Always intelligent enough to mask her true feelings, she quickly grasped a critical piece of information, the school had been exposed, and certainly, Merryâs teacher was in custody. Leilaâs secret was out.
Feigning shock, Leila responded, âMom, what are you talking about? How could Merryâs school be like that? Are you serious?â
Paulina hesitated at Leilaâs surprise, âYou really didnât know?â
Leila seized the opportunity to plead her innocence, âMom, what are you saying? If I had known, wouldnât I have told you? Sure, Merry and I had our differences, but weâre sisters. How could I ever harm her?â
I
Paulina challenged her, âThen why didnât you give me the note Merry sent you? Why did you give it to her teacher instead? And why didnât you tell me about it?â
Tears welled up in Leilaâs eyes, âMom, you, know Merryâs character better than I do. I thought she was planning another escape, so I didnât even read the note. Wasnât it just another one of her pranks? So, I handed it straight. to the teacher. Isnât that what weâre supposed to do with problems, go to the teacher?â
Paulina was silenced.
Leila continued her voice quavering,/Sending her to that school broke your heart. If Iâd told you she was causing trouble again, it would only hurt you more.â
Her tears began to fall, âBut I never expected something like this to happen. Thank goodness nobody got hurt. But why didnât Merry tell us anything when she came home for the weekend?â
Paulina was taken aback by the question.
In the midst of the turmoil, they had forgotten to ask Merry that very question.
Cainâs gaze flickered, and as their eyes met, they both realized something. Paulina began, âAt the time, the students testify and none of them spoke up. Then Merry mentioned the school had â¦â
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stopped short as hit . Her face drained of color âI need go the police .â
such incident were leakâ¦
Cain interjected quickly, go. The police said theyâve taken care of everything computers. We need .â
evasive words to Leila. She kept her thoughts to herself, her eyes glinting with knowledge.
Delaney family, Cordelia gone into detail about Merryâs ordeal with Lorna.
And Lorna hadnât asked, welcoming Merry with open arms. Seeing Merry shivering in Cordeliaâs clothes, Lornal immediately suggested, âLetâs get you warmed up with a hot bath, then Iâll whip up some hot soup for you.â
Cordelia nodded, âSounds good.â
After escorting Merry upstairs and explaining the schoolâs abuse to Lorna in brief, Lorna clenched her fists That school deserves to be struck down for such cruelty.â
âIf anyone dared treat you like that, Iâd fight them tooth and nail.â Lornaâs protective instincts were clear.
Observing Lornaâs response, Cordelia was filled with a sense of warmth.
Postâbath and soup, Latham arrived on his old bike to comfort Merry, âThe past is behind us. Do you want to take a few days off, or are you ready to come back to school tomorrow?â
Merry was puzzled, âI can go back to school?â
Latham smiled, âOf course. Did you think Iâm just a math teacher with no clout? Iâve taken care of everything at school, and your spot is waiting for you.â
Merryâs eyes filled with tears. In her darkest moments, she had doubted the goodness in the world. But now, she realized that warmth always outnumbered the darkness.
âIâll go back,â she decided.
âAlright.â
After some more comforting words, Latham left, and as evening came, Sanderson arrived home, outraged by Merryâs story, âThe Jordans were so careless. How could they send their child to such a place without proper investigation?â
privacy of their bedroom, they vented their anger.
Even Mathilda was incredulous, ranting to Lacy who could barely grasp the story but agreed nonetheless, âRight we must never send Lorna to such a school.â
Mathilda sighed, both frustrated and concerned.
As night descended, the Jordans made their way to Merryâs door for the second time that day. Paulina could barely hold back her tears upon seeing Merry, while Cain, with a more pragmatic approach, extended a bank toward Merry, âSweetheart, I know youâll probably never forgive us, so please, take this card.â Before Merry protest, Cain continued, âWeâve made mistakes as parents, and we wonât make excuses for . This is token of our love. You wanted get into the Ontoky City Film and Animation Academy, right?
wonât stand in your way anymore. But, the auditions are costly and the tuition even more so. Use to help with that.â
Merry looked at him for a long moment before nodding slightly and accepting the .
evening, was up in her bedroom, lost in her books, trying to catch up on a dayâs worth of lost time. She was diligently working on homework. By the time she was done, the clock had struck eleven. After a moment of thought, she stood up and made her way to room. For some her was . Knocking on door and receiving response confirmed .
Chapter 163