Chapter 172
As the words fell, a voice called out from a distance, “Merry, Cordelia, the headmasteris asking for you.”
Hearing this, Paulina and Cainhurried to follow, while Leila, after a moment’s thought, quietly followed behind them.
They e
entered the headmaster’s office directly, with Leila waiting at the doorway, peering inside.
Four police officers were inside gathering evidence. Skyler, with a warm smile, said, “Lia, you’re here? We’ve stumbled upon some unexpected developments.”
Cordelia nodded, “Go on.”
Skyler continued, “The photo that’s been making rounds online definitely didn’t originate from that school. That’s one thing we can be sure of. But where did it come from? That’s another line of inquiry. I’ve rechecked the image against Lia’s, and there’s no doubt it hasn’t been digitally altered, so it’s genuine. So, I have to ask, Merry, do you have a habit of taking such photos?”
is that?”
Paulina couldn’t hold back, “What kind of question is
Skyler raised his hand to stop her, “Please, madam, I mean no offense. I’m just trying to trace the origins of the photo. Don’t you want to find out who targeted Merry?”
Though Paulina disapproved of his questioning, she held her tongue.
Merry shook her head, “Never.”
“Little Parrot wouldn’t release such a photo to hurt herself,” Cordelia added.
Skyler agreed, “Right, she’s the victim, so she couldn’t be the perpetrator. But from what I understand, you have a twin sister who looks identical to you, right?”
Merry nodded.
Before Skyler could continue, Paulina, now infuriated, demanded, “What are you implying? Leila is the culprit? That she took these scandalous photos of Merry and posted them online?”
Turning to her, Merry said, “It’s not my photo.”
Confused, Paulina asked, “Not yours? What do you mean?”
She couldn’t fathom the truth, not even considering the correct possibility.
Merry laid it bare, “It means the photo is of Leila, not me.”
Paulina was stunned, then angrily retorted, “Nonsense.”
Cain couldn’t believe it either, “Merry, how could you falsely accuse Leila? There might be some tension between you two, but surely there’s no deep–seated hatred because you are sisters.”
“You’re trying to drag Leila through the mud just because the school took your picture?” Paulina accused, “Merry, how can your thoughts be so dark?”
Merry looked at her parents, a sad smile on her face. Their defense of Leila wasn’t laughable or wicked to her, just profoundly desolate.
As parents, their protection was basic, yet before the school incident, they had doubted her, with no trust at
all.
The flicker of joy she felt when she heard that they had asked Leila to move out and invited her home, was now gone.
Chapter 172
She didn’t say anything more, her mind was already made up. Her bond with her parents was likely severed for life.
Thinking this, she lowered her eyes, signaling a wish to end the conversation.
Skyler frowned, “Mr. Jordan and Mrs. Jordan, without evidence, please refrain from baseless accusations.”
Paulina challenged him, “And what evidence do you have that the photo is of Leila?”
Skyler was at a loss for words, but then Cordelia spoke up calmly, “We have evidence.”
“What?” Paulina looked at her.
Cordelia took out her phone. “When the incident happened, the post was deleted quickly, but I saved the picture. I assume you haven’t seen it yet.”
Cain’s brow furrowed.
Cordelia didn’t show it to him but handed the opened photo to Paulina.
Paulina glanced at it and quickly averted her gaze, feeling embarrassed and even angry at the sight of her own daughter’s photo. “What are you showing me this for?” she asked, feeling humiliated.
Cordelia asked, “As their mother, can’t you tell the difference in the photo?”
Paulina hesitated. She looked at the photo again. The girl in the photo had no mole or birthmark, with smooth, delicate skin. The face was partially hidden by hair, obscuring the details.
Merry’s features were actually a bit more distinct than Leila’s. If she had a clear photo, as a mother, she could compare them.
But with the hair covering the face in the photo, it was indistinguishable.
After struggling to discern any difference, Cordelia pointed to the breasts on the photo, “Little Parrot is a bit bigger here.”
Paulina was stunned.
Her mind flashed back to the times she went to the spa with Leila, recalling how she looked without her clothes. Mother and daughter often went to the spa together, so she knew Leila’s body well.
But it had been a long while since she had been that intimate with Merry.
She involuntarily looked up at Merry, who had lost weight from the stress at school, but one part of her remained full and well–developed:
She looked back at the photo in disbelief.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Love or Die: CEO’ s Daily Dose of Swoon (Cordelia)