Chapter 169
Cordelia had eyes like a hawk, and she never forgot a single detail, be it something she yearned for or something she wished to forget. It was only last night, while horsing around with Merry, that she realized how much fun they could have with their playful banter.
But it was in that fleeting moment that she’d memorized Merry’s body. That was why, the instant she saw that photo, she instinctively saved it to her phone.
But if the girl in the photo wasn’t Merry, then who could it be?
Could it be doctored?
That was what she pondered as she followed Merry and her group, catching up and asking her, “Think hard, Merry. What were you doing when the picture was taken?”
Cordelia’s question was overheard by Yates, who was tagging along. His eyes widened in disbelief at her words.
Wasn’t Cordelia just making things harder for Merry?
Sure enough, Merry’s eyes flickered with conflict and fear. She began to shake her head, about to speak, when Cordelia pressed on, “What pose were you in when the picture was taken?”
Yates usually went along with whatever Cordelia said, rarely objecting. But at this moment, he almost couldn’t help himself. Cordelia was so headstrong, and she probably didn’t realize how painful it could be for Merry to revisit such a painful memory.
However, before he could say anything, Merry seemed to snap out of her daze.
Chapter 169
Her head shot up, the despondency vanishing as she exclaimed, “That’s not my photo.”
When she had been coerced into taking photos, she was crouching,
never standing.
Cordelia nodded in acknowledgment.
Merry, confused, said, “But if it’s not mine, what’s going on with this photo? Is it Photoshopped? But why would someone do that?”
She picked up her phone again, reopening the forum post.
The photo–sharing site had been taken down, but the internet was already in an uproar.
Most people were blasting the school for its lack of humanity, but a vocal minority began to toss out snide remarks,
“Just saw those pictures, number 3’s pretty hot.”
“Number 4’s got the bigger rack, shame no one knows who she is. Her friends and family must, though.”
“Pro here to judge the pics, they’re not shopped. Looks like the real deal, folks. Come claim them.”
Merry read these comments, stunned, “They’re saying it’s real, so what’s happening?”
Cordelia fell silent for a moment, “Right now, we can only wait for the police to give us their side of the story, and see what’s really going on.” She had faith in Skyler and felt that Skyler couldn’t possibly leave such a loophole open. If only she had Skyler’s contact, she could call him directly.
Merry calmed down, the more she thought about it, the stranger it.
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seemed. She composed herself and said, “It’s not me. I didn’t take such a photo.”
The speculations online were just that, speculations. The people involved would never admit to anything.
Cordelia nodded, suggesting, “Maybe you should go home for today.”
But Merry shook her head, her gaze resolute, “Lia, you’re right. I haven’t done anything wrong. If I went home now, it’d look like I’m guilty. I can’t be that weak, and I need to face this head–on.”
After finishing her statement, Cordelia looked at her hesitantly, asking convinced, “Are you sure you can handle it?”
Merry nodded firmly.
Cordelia tried to comfort her again, “You don’t have to force yourself.”
Not everyone was like her, indifferent and aloof, unbothered by societal norms. She understood this crowd’s pursuit of reputation and recognition.
Merry shook her head and continued towards the classroom.
Her phone chimed. It was a message from Bland, “Whatever happens, remember, I am with you.”
It was a message from her guiding light.
Right. How could she have ever considered giving up? With such a perfect friend like Lia, and her idol, how could she bear to leave them? Bland’s words filled her with courage.
She put away her phone and entered the classroom.
The post had been deleted as soon as it was up, which only fueled the discussions. Merry entered the classroom.
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Chapter 169
Just as she entered, someone looked at her.
Their whispers found their way to Merry.
Daniel, the class president, seemed afraid to look directly at the look and inquired, “Merry, are you okay?
Merry said, “I’m fine.”
After she said that, she looked fixedly at everyone in the classroom as she slowly opened her mouth, “That picture wasn’t of me. I didn’t take that kind of picture. Everyone doesn’t need to think too much.”
After saying that, she sat directly on her seat.
The class whispered again.
Meanwhile, in Midnight Scent.
After Skyler rushed in and saw the post, he was instantly a bit angry, “Boss, this is too much. They are simply insulting my hacking skills. With me around, these pictures can’t even be circulated. I have already found them on the internet and deleted them. Those photos that are being released now are partly from downloading images from the internet, and only one of these photos is real.”
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