SWNOVELS Chapter 162
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 have done it on purpose, Merry. Leila probably thought you were
trying to skip school again, that's why she 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 having such 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 to you. 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? If I 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 promise to 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 have thought 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 on purpose. 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 want to hear any more voices.
If Paulina tried to get closer, Merry would only spiral further into fury. She felt a
suffocating pressure building 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—old girl. 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.
1/3
Chapter 162
Cordelia's embrace was gentle, her short sleeves leaving her arms a bit cool
after she'd offered her jacket to Merry. The faint scent of her body wash acted
almost like a tranquilizer, soothing Merry’s turmoil.
Merry stopped screaming and looked up at Cordelia. And then she suddenly
hugged her, murmuring softly,
Al
Cordelia patted her head, the girl of few words repeating her assurance, “Little
Parrot, it's okay now.” 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 asked repeatedly, 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 the cruelest 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 your own, so..." His gaze shifted to Cordelia.
Cordelia hesitated briefly. She had wanted to take Little Parrot home from the
moment she saw her state, 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.
Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.
The phone quickly connected, and
) . 5
Lorna's soothing voice came through,
is ; @
Lia, what's wiopg?Ytedrd rom Mr.
: (@N
LRA didn’t go to school today.
Is there a problem? Do you need my
" .
help?” The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
Cordelia blinked, slightly bewildered.
Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.
Having grown up in an orphanage,
,
she'd always felt somewhat out of
place in the Rn deed
AoA Buthsr 0 ¢€ of belonging
had grown, but it still felt somewhat
f )
distant. At that moment, Lorna's
words made her feel a stronger
connection. The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
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 you please. Do you need me to prepare a guest room, or will she
stay with you?”
2/3
Chapter 162
Cordelia suddenly burst into laughter, “Set up a room for her, will you? I want her
to stay with us until 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 be on 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 on the gloomy atmosphere and saw her parents* grave
expressions.
She paused, a frown creasing her forehead, “Mom, Dad, what's going on?"
Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.
No sooner had the words left her
mouth than Paulina sprang up xd
confronted her. A rah Mew throug h
the Sir and With a resounding smack,
Sil “ :
Leila’s cheek flamed with the sting of
; ) 5
Paulina’s slap. The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!