Love or Die: CEO’ s Daily Dose of Swoon (Cordelia)

Chapter 28

Cordelia seemed feather-light as she laid her hand on Paulina, but only Paulina knew the true strength behind it. It was an iron grip that left her struggling in vain to break free.

With a glare, Paulina snapped, "This is a matter of my own family. Stay out of it!"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than the pressure on her shoulder intensified, a sharp pain shooting through her bones, forcing her to release her hold on Merry.

Merry, seizing the moment, ducked behind Cordelia, the one everyone knew could throw a mean punch.

Paulina moved to grab her again, but Latham stepped forward to mediate. "Paulina, let's talk this out. We're here to fix things, not to get physical. Honestly, this isn't as dire as expulsion!"

The theft was a serious accusation for an adult. A reprimand would be letting them off easy. Yet Latham felt a pang of sympathy for Merry. If she were taken away now, her life would be ruined.

He positioned himself between Cordelia and Paulina, fearing that Paulina might lash out at the frail- looking Cordelia, who, despite her delicate appearance, was known for her sense and sensibility.

Paulina tried to push past Latham. "Mr. Latham, go away. Don't speak for Merry. How many times has she been caught up in trouble? I've washed my hands of her, considered her no daughter of mine, but this time she dares to smear Leila's name. I won't let it slide! From the get-go, she's been nothing but trouble, leading Leila astray!"

Latham countered frantically, "Please be rational here..."

Their squabble was cut short when Cordelia spoke up, her voice cold and clear, "So, you've decided Merry is guilty?"

Paulina hesitated, then nodded firmly.

Cordelia responded with a single chilling suggestion, "Then we have no choice but to call the cops."

Silence fell upon the office.

Paulina looked incredulously at Cordelia, then at Merry. "Call the cops? Do you realize what will happen to Merry? She's an adult. Theft could land her in jail!"

Merry shot back a look that was both bitter and scornful. If her parents were all siding with Leila, convinced of her guilt, why bother pretending to care?

Her cheek burned from a slap, but the heart she thought had grown numb ached even more.

The room was silent until Cordelia spoke again, calmly analyzing, "Forensic techniques these days are advanced. Merry never touched the envelope from the time it was slipped into her desk until it fell out. If we call the police, a fingerprint comparison will reveal the true thief."

At this, Leila, who had been sobbing silently, froze.

She looked up, meeting Cordelia's penetrating gaze, and shivered uncontrollably.

Cordelia didn't look at Leila but addressed Merry, "Are you willing to call the police?"

Merry stood tall, defiant. "Yes!"

Paulina laughed bitterly. "You think calling the cops will make me believe you? I'm only stopping you for your own good, Merry. If someone else was framing Leila, I would've called them myself! Go on, call them. Let them investigate and prove your guilt. If you want to go to jail, I won't stop you!"

Merry was in disbelief. They hadn't spoken in over two years... yet, just this morning, Paulina had reminded her to eat breakfast, and now they were back to this standoff, all because of Leila...

Watching the drama unfold, Cordelia pulled out her phone and dialed 911 without another word.

Leila panicked, "No, don't!"

Cordelia paused, her finger on the call button, and turned to look at her. All eyes in the office were on Leila. Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Twisting in turmoil, she spoke, "Mom, let's drop it. I don't want Merry to go to jail. She may be a mess, but she's still my sister."

Paulina softened her face with pity and pointed at Leila, telling Merry, "See? Even after all you've done, she's thinking of you. Why can't you be more like your sister?"

Merry remained silent.

Leila pleaded, "Let's just forget this, okay? The money's still there. Mr. Latham, let's end it here!"

Lucille sneered, "This is the integrity you get from someone who excels at school. Some people are just low, in every sense of the word!"

Cordelia glanced at Leila, whose face, so similar to Merry's, was etched with panic and forced laughter. Turning away, Cordelia said firmly, "I'm calling the police."

And with that, she pressed the call button.

Leila lunged forward. "Stop it!" But Paulina held her back. "Let her be, Leila. If she wants to dig her grave, that's her choice."

The call connected, and Cordelia began to speak. "Hello, I'm at..."

Before she could finish, Leila blurted out, "It was me! I took the money!"

Stunned silence engulfed the room as everyone turned to stare at Leila.

Cordelia slowly lowered the phone, the screen still showing the call hadn't been made.

After a moment, Paulina confronted Leila, grabbing her arm. "What did you say?"

Taking a deep breath and bursting into tears, Leila confessed, "Mom, I did it. Please don't call the cops. I'll pay back the money, okay?"

When Paulina heard the accusation, it took her a full ten seconds to recover from her disbelief. She blurted out, her voice laced with urgency, "Leila didn't mean it! It must've been Merry pushing her buttons too hard. Leila just wanted to teach Merry a lesson! Let's just drop this, okay? We can pay for the damages, but please don't let this go on her permanent record!" Tears began to well in her eyes as Paulina pleaded, "This could ruin her future!"

Merry stood beside Cordelia, watching the scene unfold. But the vindication she had expected to feel with the truth coming out was absent.

When she got into trouble, Paulina's first reaction was a metaphorical slap in the face.

But when Leila was in trouble, her instinct was to defend her.

Despite both being twins, it seemed like the one who cried got the candy, and Merry had always been the one to hold back her tears.

Lucille hadn't expected things to take such a turn. She frowned and asked, "Leila, how could you do such a thing?"

Paulina quickly interjected, "It's just kids being kids, you know how it is..."

But before she could finish, the sound of footsteps approached, and a familiar voice rang out from the doorway, "Well, what's all the commotion about?"

Everyone turned to see Yates standing at the threshold, flanked by his friends, Flame No.1-3, their red hair standing out like sore thumbs in the quiet suburbia.