Chapter 162

Merry realized something when she saw the look on Paulina’s face, and she grabbed her arm,blurting out, “When Leila visited, I slipped a note into her hand begging for help.”

Paulina froze, “I didn’t see it. I had no idea.”

Merry’s homeroom teacher chuckled from the side, “That girl handed the note back to me.”

At these words, Paulina was dumbstruck.

She stared at Merry in disbelief, her maternal instincts kicking in to defend Leila, “She mustn’t havedone it on purpose, Merry. Leila probably thought you were trying to skip school again, that’s whyshe gave the note back to the teacher. She couldn’t have known what was written.”

Her voice faltering, she continued, “Merry, it’s my fault. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were havingsuch a hard time here.”

She took a step forward, wanting to embrace Merry, “I really know I was wrong, and I’ll make it up toyou. I’ll take you home, okay?”

Merry, however, stepped back.

Looking at Paulina, her voice was filled with despair, “Mom, do you really, truly love me?”

Paulina’s eyes instantly welled up with tears, “Of course, you’re my kid, how could I not love you? IfI didn’t, would I have sent you to this school? If I didn’t care, would I be riding you so hard?”

Cleaning her tears, she tried again, “Merry, I know I’ve been neglectful, but from now on, I promiseto trust you, okay?”

Merry scoffed, “You’ll trust me?”

Paulina nodded vigorously, “Yes, I will trust you.”

Merry challenged her, “So if I say Leila did it on purpose, would you believe that?”

Paulina hesitated, then countered, “That’s impossible. Leila would never hurt you. She must havethought you were up to your old tricks, and she, like me, was fooled by this school.”

Hearing this, Merry’s frustration surged, and she nearly screamed in madness, “She did it onpurpose. She’s so attentive, and how could she not see that something was off with this school?And even now, you’re still making excuses for her.”

Paulina jumped at Merry’s outburst, “Merry…

Merry’s emotions were too intense, and she covered her ears and began to scream. She didn’t wantto hear any more voices.

If Paulina tried to get closer, Merry would only spiral further into fury. She felt a suffocating pressurebuilding inside her chest as if she was about to burst.

All the pain, fear, and humiliation of the past week had become too much for this eighteen–year–oldgirl. She was only eighteen.

Cain called out, “Merry, Merry, please calm down.”

But Merry was beyond reach, lost in her own frenzy.

Until Cordelia suddenly drew close and wrapped her arms around Merry. Her grip was strong,preventing Merry from struggling.

Her voice, cool and low, reached Merry’s ears, “Little Parrot, it’s okay. It’s okay now.”

Merry gradually began to calm down.

Cordelia’s embrace was gentle, her short sleeves leaving her arms a bit cool after she’d offered herjacket to Merry. The faint scent of her body wash acted almost like a tranquilizer, soothing Merry’sturmoil.

Merry stopped screaming and looked up at Cordelia. And then she suddenly hugged her,murmuring softly, “Lia…”

Cordelia patted her head, the girl of few words repeating her assurance, “Little Parrot, it’s okaynow.” But those simple words felt like the most comforting Merry had ever heard.

Eventually, her cries subsided to quiet sobs.

Paulina and Cain, witnessing her breakdown, didn’t dare to approach, calling out gently, “Merry,please, we’ll take you home, okay?”

“Don’t come any closer.” Merry shot back, “Mom, Dad, do you really love me?”

Merry had always been forthright, seldom speaking such sentimental words, but today she askedrepeatedly, highlighting her deep–seated uncertainty.

Did her parents truly love her?

Paulina nodded, “Very much.”

Cain added, “We love you. Absolutely, we love you.”

Merry smiled faintly, “If you love me, let me go.”

Those seven words pierced Paulina like needles.

“If you love me, let me go.”

Standing there, stunned, Paulina realized she had deeply wounded Merry. She never knew that thecruelest words in the world could be so simple.

She began to speak, “Merry…”

Before she could finish, Cain spoke up, “Alright.”

Paulina was taken aback.

Cain stepped forward, addressing Merry, “But given your current state, we can’t let you stay on yourown, so…” His gaze shifted to Cordelia.

Cordelia hesitated briefly. She had wanted to take Little Parrot home from the moment she saw herstate, and only by keeping her close would Cordelia feel at ease.

But that was her parents‘ house.

She said softly, “I’ll make a call.”

Releasing Merry to reach for her phone, Merry immediately clutched at the hem of her shirt.

With a sigh, Cordelia didn’t go far to make the call.

The phone quickly connected, and Lorna’s soothing voice came through, “Lia, what’s wrong? Iheard from Mr. Latham you didn’t go to school today. Is there a problem? Do you need my help?”

Cordelia blinked, slightly bewildered.

Having grown up in an orphanage, she’d always felt somewhat out of place in the Delaney family.After they moved out, her sense of belonging had grown, but it still felt somewhat distant. At thatmoment, Lorna’s words made her feel a stronger connection.

She asked slowly, “Mom, can I bring Little Parrot home with me to stay?”

“Of course, you can.” Lorna replied immediately, “This is your home, and you’re free to do as youplease. Do you need me to prepare a guest room, or will she stay with you?”

Cordelia suddenly burst into laughter, “Set up a room for her, will you? I want her to stay with usuntil the SATs are over.”

“Sure thing.”

After hanging up the phone, Cordelia took Merry by the hand, “Come on home with me.”

They left the aftermath at the school in the hands of the police.

On the way home with Cordelia, Merry was a bundle of nerves. “Lia, those pictures…they can’t beon any computer, right? Maybe they’re in the cloud, but they won’t leak, will they?”

Cordelia patted her hand reassuringly, “We’ve got to trust the cops on this one.”

Merry finally nodded, a little more at ease.

At the Jordan residence.

Cain and Paulina sat on the couch, motionless, their minds a million miles away.

At half–past six, Leila came home from school, her steps light and carefree until she walked in onthe gloomy atmosphere and saw her parents‘ grave expressions.

She paused, a frown creasing her forehead, “Mom, Dad, what’s going on?”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Paulina sprang up and confronted her. A hand flewthrough the air and with a resounding smack, Leila’s cheek flamed with the sting of Paulina’s slap.