Chapter 124 FOR ALL TO SEE
MERRIELYNN.
The day of the school auction had finally arrived, but unlike what I had anticipated, I wasn’t really feeling it.
It wasn’t that the event wasn’t great; it was just me.
I wasn’t in my best mood, so all I could do was wear a fake smile until the event was over.
Before it started, I showed up dressed in my neatly ironed uniform.
Well, none of it really mattered. It was all just a mask to cover the mess inside.
It had been a week since Cormac had broken up with me. Barely a week since Valtor had hammered in the final nail.
I still heard their voices in my head—Cormac’s cold detachment,Valtor’s quiet pity.
I barely slept after all that.
I barely ate. And now, I was supposed to smile and play along, pretending I wasn’t crumbling.
I had spent the last few days supervising everything about the auction, from the decorations of the hall to every last detail. Now that I stared at the sea of well-dressed students, alumni, and donors, I felt my heart swell with accomplishment.
The auction items were displayed on elevated platforms, and I gave myself a mental pat on the back as I stared at it all.
Of course, I didn’t do this alone, but being chairman of the committee responsible for this was a huge responsibility I initially tried to run away from.
Students mingled before the event coordinator came on stage. Everyone was on their best behavior for potential benefactors, and the air was buzzing with excitement.
Emorie found me soon enough and squealed when she laid eyes on me.
“You look beautiful,” she said, but then she took a closer look at my face and frowned. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” I lied.
She just sighed. “Okay, then. Let’s just get through this, shall we?”
I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure how.
The event was in full swing when the auction began. The coordinator stood at the front of the room, microphone in hand, hyping up each item as bids rolled in.
People clapped, some cheered. But I barely registered any of it. My mind was elsewhere, stuck in a place I didn’t want to be.
A small commotion to my left made me glance over, and I froze when I listened to what was being said.
“Next up,” the announcer said, “a speech by our very own committee planning chair—Merrielynn Forbes!”
My stomach dropped when I heard my name.
“What?” I turned to Emorie, suddenly panicking.
She winced. “Crap, I forgot to tell you—they added you last minute because of your work on the event. You’re supposed to go along with it.”
“But I didn’t prepare a speech!” I whispered in agitation.
“Just say anything,” Em suggested. “You can just thank everyone for coming.”
I felt my face flush as a deafening round of applause filled the hall as I made my way to the stage.
I plastered on a fake smile, and when I took the microphone, I cleared my throat.
Staring into the crowd, I could feel my body tense. My heart was racing, but I just had to do this.
“Go,Mere!” I heard Em’s voice from the crowd, cheering me on, and I smiled, genuinely this time.
“Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, students of Pinnthorpe, I am truly humbled to stand before you tonight,” I began, still wearing my smile. “I want to start by expressing my deepest gratitude to our headmaster for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead this event. Your faith in me has been a tremendous honor, Sir.”
A round of applause followed that, and I waited for it to die down before continuing.
“To the planning committee, I am forever in your debt,” I said, smiling in their direction. “Your efforts, creativity, and dedication have made this evening possible. And I am so proud of what we’ve achieved together.”
Another round of applause followed.
“To my friends,” I went on, “friends who have encouraged me and put up with my anxiety, thank you for being my rock. Your support means the world to me. And to every student at Pinnthorpe, I am grateful for your enthusiasm and participation. Your energy is what makes us thrive.”
The cheers that followed were deafening, and honestly, it made my heart feel lighter.
“To our esteemed guests, donors, and alumni, we are honored by your presence,” I continued with a light bow. “Your generosity and support are crucial to our school’s growth and success.”
I was going to end my little speech there, but I decided to add something else at the last minute.
“Finally, to my incredible co-planner,” my voice broke as I thought of Cormac. I couldn’t even bring myself to say his name without feeling hurt.
After taking a moment to collect myself, I continued.
“I couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you for being an amazing partner in this journey. Your inputs were invaluable.”
To conclude, I added, “This event has been a labor of love, and I am excited to see it come together so beautifully. Let us celebrate the spirit of generosity, community, and excellence that defines Pinnthorpe. Thank you all again, and let’s make this evening unforgettable!”
I was given a standing ovation as I returned to my seat, and my heart was full when I saw the love and support.
The event continued, and much later, Emorie and Tobias found me sitting alone in a corner. I didn’t notice them approaching at first because, once again, I was too lost in my own head.
“Hey, Mere,” Emorie called, her tone gently teasing. “We will talk about that beautiful speech later, but for now, I think Tobias’ starting to think you’re in hiding or something. Better explain yourself.”
I forced a smile, glancing at Tobias, who was standing a little behind Emorie, his expression unusually serious. His usual carefree smile was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he seemed... concerned.
“What’s going on?” he asked, the concern clear in his eyes. “You look like you haven’t been sleeping.”
I just shrugged, trying to brush it off. “I’m fine, really.” I knew I didn’t sound convincing.
Emorie cut in before I could say anything else. “He doesn’t know what happened. Just... don’t mind him. He’s just worried.”
I smiled at that, grateful for the friends I had. Emorie had been there when no one else was. She’d helped me through the fog of pain, sitting with me in silence these past three days, not pressing for explanations but only offering support.
Tobias’ concerned gaze softened as he stood beside Emorie, looking between us. “Mere, you’ve got to take care of yourself. We’re here for you, okay? Whatever the problem is, you’ll be fine.”
I met Tobias’ eyes and just smiled.
I could only nod, not trusting myself to speak.
Emorie must’ve noticed because she gave me a small nudge, her lips curving up just a bit. “Alright, enough with the deep stuff,” she said, changing the subject. “We’ve got a little time before the after-party, and I’m not letting you sit here all night moping. Come on, let’s get something to drink.”
I was going to go with her, but just then, the headmaster approached me, a warm smile on his face.
I stiffened slightly when I saw him, but he looked like he was in a very good mood, and that made me relax a little.
“MissForbes,” he began, his voice full of pride, “I think I should thank you for everything you’ve done with the auction. This has been one of the most successful events we’ve had in a long time, and it wouldn’t have been possible without your hard work and dedication.”
I forced myself to nod, not believing how many compliments I was getting from the headmaster. “Thank you, sir,” I murmured, my heart swelling again.
Sadly, despite the kind words, I didn’t know if it was alright to feel proud. Not when Cormac wasn’t here, not when my heart felt like it was breaking a little more every second.
But I kept the smile glued to my face, nodded again, and said, “I’m glad it worked out.”
He patted my shoulder as if we were sharing a moment of victory. “You’ll be a fine leader one day, Merrielynn. I have no doubt.”
The words should have made me feel something—some sense of achievement, perhaps—but all I felt was a growing emptiness.
I had really thought that I would see Cormac tonight, and now that he didn’t show up, I was worried despite myself, and it was overwhelming.
As the headmaster walked away, my gaze automatically searched the crowd, even though I knew he wasn’t here.
“Great job, Merrielynn,” Emorie said, snapping me out of my thoughts as she appeared beside me, her usual bright demeanor a welcome distraction. “This is seriously impressive. Look at all the people! You did it.”
I smiled weakly. “Yeah, I guess.”
But just as I was starting to let myself enjoy the moment, something strange happened.
The music was playing softly, the hall was still crowded with people, when suddenly the screens around the room flickered.
The projectors, which had been showcasing images of student art and charity work, all blinked out for a moment. A few people murmured in confusion, and I turned to see what was going on.
Then, without warning, the screens lit up again—but this time, they displayed something else entirely.
On all ten projectors spread around the room, there were pictures.
Distorted images of me. But not just of me—they were the photos Cormac had manipulated with me and that teacher, making us look... close.
Too close.
Intimate...
“Goddess…” I whispered in horror as I stared at the images that had boldly been displayed of an important event for all eyes to see.