Chapter 159

He thrashed desperately, and just as he was about to pass out, Cordelia hoisted his head up, thendelivered a swift kick to his belly, sending him flying into the wall behind with a thud.

“Bang.” He hit the ground hard, cradling his legs and arms as he rolled in agony, unable to stand.

Still, Cordelia wasn’t satisfied, but she worried that causing a casualty would only complicatematters, so she reluctantly turned away and surveyed her surroundings.

The school had taken numerous precautions to prevent student harm, leaving not a single sharpedge in sight. She searched for a moment before finally grabbing a chair and tugging Merry along,“Let’s go.”

Any guard who dared approach got a taste of her chair, and Cordelia’s method was simple, direct,and effective.

Her strength was formidable, and after being struck, the guards were laid out cold. But there weretoo many of them, and escaping was proving to be a challenge.

Still, she fought tirelessly, knocking down whoever came her way, until they reached the schoolgates. The iron gate was now tantalizingly close.

Before they could exit, the headmaster rushed over with backup, “How dare you cause havoc in myschool? We’ve called the cops.”

After his declaration, he turned to Merry, “And you, Merry, your parents sent you here to learn, notto get mixed up in this. Tell me, did this woman abduct you? It has nothing to do with you, right?”

Merry froze.

The headmaster glared, sending a shiver down her spine.

She seemed torn but finally spoke to Cordelia, “Lia, just go, please.”

Cordelia was furious. She knew there had to be a reason for Little Parrot’s hesitation, and perhapsthe headmaster had something on her, but what could it be that silenced an entire school?

She had done her research, and in the school’s ten–year history, many had graduated, yet no onespoke of abuse. The whole affair was shrouded in mystery.

But she gripped Merry’s arm firmly, “I came to take you away.”

Without another word, she seized Merry and headed for the gate.

Her formidable combat skills sent the guards into a panic, and those with stun guns didn’t even getclose before being disarmed and directly gave someone else a shock.

The guards no longer dared to approach, and could only watch helplessly as the two women leftthrough the gate.

But as soon as they stepped out, several police officers stopped them, “We received a call about anassault on school property, injuring several teachers. Drop your weapon immediately and releasethe hostage.”

As the officers spoke, Cordelia set down her chair.

Just then, parting the officers, Paulina and Cain rushed in.

Paulina grabbed Merry protectively, demanding of Cordelia, “What are you doing? Why are youtaking my daughter?”

Before Cordelia could reply, Merry spoke up, “It’s not like that. Lia didn’t kidnap me.”

Paulina was taken aback, “Not a kidnapping?”

Merry stepped out from behind Paulina and hid behind Cordelia, trembling all over from either thecold or fear Upon seeing her condition, Cain quickly draped his jacket over her, asking, “What happened?Why are you all wet?

Merry echoed the question, as if under a spell, unable to reveal what had transpired.

But being enveloped in the warmth of Cain’s jacket felt like a revival from the cold seeping into herheart.

Cordelia began to explain slowly. “When I got there, her teacher was dunking her head in thewater, over and over.”

The explanation was brief, but it hit Paulina and Cain squarely.

Paulina was incredulous, “That can’t be possible.”

Cain was even more shocked, “Absolutely not.”

How could such a reputable school allow student mistreatment?

As they processed this, the battered homeroom teacher emerged, soaked and bruised, unable tostand straight. Hearing Cain’s words, he shouted, “Don’t listen to their lies.”

Pointing at his soaked clothes, “Merry was the one misbehaving. She ran into the pool herself,soaking us both. When I reprimanded her, she resisted and called outsiders for an escape.”

His agitation was palpable, “I’ve taught for years and never seen a student so defiant. Take heraway, and she’s unteachable.”

The word ‘escape‘ struck a chord with Paulina, who had dealt with Merry’s previous runawayattempts. To her, Cordelia was a bad influence, and Merry was a disobedient child. Compared tothem, she trusted the teacher more.

She turned to Merry, “How shameless can you be? To escape, you’d concoct such lies?”

Merry tried to speak to Paulina, but her lips quivered in silence. Was she truly worthless in Paulina’seyes?

She turned to Cain, but his disappointed gaze only added to her suffocation.

Suddenly, she felt the drowning waters not just around her but in the very air, and the panicreturned.

In a burst of defiance, she shrugged off Cain’s coat and threw it to the ground.

She opened her mouth to scream, but no words came out, and instead, she stomped on the coat asif rebelling against her parents.

Her near–hysterical state tightened Cordelia’s heart. She quickly took off her own jacket andwrapped it around Merry, holding her close.

And slowly, Merry began to calm down.

Now, the headmaster pointed at Cordelia and addressed the officers, “She’s caused injury onschool grounds and slandered our institution with her lies. She belongs in jail. Be careful, and she’sextremely dangerous.”

Paulina’s finger jabbed the air, her voice thick with indignation, “Cordelia, why can’t you just be gladfor a change that Merry’s turning her life around? It’s only been a week, and she’s already bucklingdown and hitting the books. You’ve always been top of the class, so why are you coming herestirring up trouble? And to top it off, you’ve gone and hurt a teacher. I’m begging you, Mr. President,please give Merry another chance. If this school gives up on her, what’s she going to do?”

After calming Merry down, Cordelia felt a rush of urgency upon hearing Paulina and theheadmaster’s exchange.

But it wasn’t the injustice against herself that had her on edge, it was the burning desire to protecteveryone in the school, recalling the scenes that had just unfolded. The typically slow–to–reactCordelia spoke up with a clarity that surprised even herself, “Officer, I need to report a crime.”