Novel Square
Chapter 164
Jason stood proudly at the podium, delivering his speech with the charisma of a seasoned orator. Below the stage, Estrella’s face was alight with a beaming smile, her clapping so vigorous that her hands turned a bright shade of red. She was bursting with pride. After all, that was her man up there.
“Estrella, you and Jason seem to be doing great these days,” Jesse whispered, sliding into the seat next to her with a knowing grin. Text © by N0ve/lDrama.Org.
Estrella simply smiled back and said, “We’re hanging in there.”
Estrella remained calm and composed, 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 Estrella, 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.”
“Bryce, $600,000.”
“Estrella, $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, Estrella’s gaze slid toward Jason, who looked equally stunned, his eyes scanning the throng.
Estrella had been right all along; she hadn’t misrecognized the person those past few times. Holly had played 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 Estrella watched as that girl driving the Maserati stepped out, supporting a woman in a pale blue coat. As she approached, Estrella’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.
Estrella watched Holly for a moment, then turned to Jason, whose expression was a complex 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 Estrella, 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 Estrella, she paused, her smile touching her lips as she greeted them, “Jason, Estrella, 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 explain 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 Estrella 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 Rebecca.
Holly’s sudden appearance set off a fresh wave of commotion and sympathy.
Jesse and Estrella 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?”