Jason stood proudly at the podium, delivering his speech with the charisma of a seasoned orator.
Below the stage, Estre’s face was alight with a beaming smile, her pping so vigorous that her
hands turned a bright shade of red. She was bursting with pride. After all, that was her man up there.
“Estre, you and Jason seem to be doing great these days,” Jesse whispered, sliding into the seat
next to her with a knowing grin.
Estre simply smiled back and said, “We’re hanging in there.”
Estre remained calm andposed, without much emotional fluctuation.
Once the student representatives and school officials concluded their speeches, the crowd dispersed
for some free-time revelry across the campus.
Every nook and cranny boasted festive decorations for the centennial celebration, with banners and
streamers fluttering in the breeze. The quad and surrounding streets were lined with food stalls
reminiscent of a bustling county fair.
The main event space, where the school’s officials and special guests gravitated, was alive with
excitement, with Jason and his peers at the heart of it all.
Besides anniversary celebrations, there were also charity events scheduled for that day. Whether it
was Jason, Grayson, or Estre, everyone showed their support, contributing to the school’s future
prosperity.
The school officials, beaming at the sight of generous donations, could hardly contain their joy, knowing
next year’s research funds were more than secured.
“Jesse, $600,000.”
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“Bryce, $600,000.”
“Estre, $600,000.”
“Grayson, $2 million.”
“Jason, $2 million.”
The day’s contributions were notably consistent, with the bigwigs like Jason casually dropping a cool
$2 million each. Their typical donations, often reaching into the billions, were reserved for times when
the school truly needed it.
For the 100th anniversary, everyone had chosen to donate equally, no one vying for the spotlight, yet
together, the total was staggering.
As the emcee read out the amounts, most people were too engrossed in their conversations to pay
much attention.
11.20
“Holly, $600,000.” It was when the emcee called out Holly’s name that the crowd fell into a
stunned silence, the emcee himself taken aback.
Holly, who had perished in a fire years ago, was now listed as a donor. Had there been a mistake?
Confirming the list in his hand, the emcee announced once more into the microphone, “No mistake,
Holly has indeed donated $600,000.”
The murmurings began.
“Holly? The same Holly we thought was gone?
“Didn’t she pass away? Did her family make the donation on her behalf?”
As the crowd buzzed with shock and confusion, Estre’s gaze slid toward Jason, who looked equally
stunned, his eyes scanning the throng.
Estre had been right all along; she hadn’t misrecognized the person those past few times. Holly had
yed a massive joke on them all.
“Emcee, are you sure it’s Holly? Don’t scare us,” someone called out.
With the crowd’s doubts echoing around him, the emcee double-checked the list and reaffirmed,
“There’s no error. It is indeed Holly who has donated $600,000.”
“Holly.”
“Holly.”
“Is that Holly over there?”
Following the emcee’s confirmation, a path cleared in the crowd, and Estre watched as that girl
driving the Maserati stepped out, supporting a woman in a pale blue coat. As she approached,
Estre’s eyes traveled from the woman’s feet to her face, and there was no surprise to see the one
they had all thought lost for four years.
Holly was alive.
The girl from the Maserati wasn’t a figment of her imagination, nor had she been mistaken at Velvet
Voices KTV. Holly was very much alive, now standing in front of them all.
Estre watched Holly for a moment, then turned to Jason, whose expression was aplex mix of
astonishment and disbelief. He had never expected Holly to return from the dead.
Beside him, Grayson and Thomas were equally dumbstruck, their eyes fixed on Holly. They had all
attended her funeral, where the Ledford family had mourned her supposed passing due to a failed
surgery. Now, Holly was here, in flesh and blood.
Bryce and Jesse, sitting beside Estre, were just as taken aback, their faces darkening as they
processed Holly’s sudden reappearance.
11.38
With Holly’s arrival, the crowd first boiled over with excitement, then fell into a hushed stillness, only to
erupt once again.
As Holly made her way toward Jason and Estre, she paused, her smile touching her lips as she
greeted them, “Jason, Estre, it’s been a while.”
Jason looked down, silent, as Holly, devoid of her usual vigor and moving slowly as if still recovering
from a severe illness, said, “It’s a long story. I’ll exin another time.”
The Dean, shocked to see Holly alive and the donor of $600,000, wasn’t sure what to say. “Holly, we’re
so grateful you could make it today. It’s just… unexpected.” He had attended Holly’s funeral over three
years ago. Back then, she was gone, and the Ledford family had grieved deeply.
Holly offered the Dean a faint smile. “I’m just doing my part for the school. There was a bit of a
misunderstanding about that incident.”
The Dean quickly reassured Holly, “Of course. We are happy that you’re okay, Holly. It’s a joy just to
have everyone back safe and sound,
With the Ledford family’s prominence and Korey’s influential position, it was natural for the Dean to
handle Holly’s return with care.
After chatting with Holly for a bit, the Dean breezed through the issue with a few words, urging
everyone to continue enjoying the day’s anniversary festivities.
Jason and Estre ended up together, and it turned out Holly hadn’t died after all. Ravenwood
College’s anniversary celebration today was full of surprises and gossip.
At noon, the Dean arranged a grand banquet in the school’s dining hall, while other students attending
the festivities were free to grab lunch at other cafeterias or from the various activity stalls scattered
around campus.
Right then, as folks were chowing down in the dining hall, Holly was suddenly wheeled in by that girl
named Reba.
Holly’s sudden appearance set off a fresh wave ofmotion and sympathy.
Jesse and Estre kept mum, while Bryce was seething with rage, thinking to himself, “She’s been
gone for years without a trace, and now she’s back? Why can’t she just stay gone?”