Fletcher listened to Morwenna's pleading tone and felt a pang in his heart.
To think she was still worried about Stuart after how he had treated her.
Despite himself, Fletcher spoke up in Stuart's defense, "Wenna, don't take today too hard. When Adelaide was a child, she saved Stuart's life. There was an accident afterwards, and she fell very ill. Stuart rushed to her aid because he feared something might happen to her."
Morwenna responded gently, "Yeah, I get it. I'm not upset."
She said she wasn't upset, but Fletcher could hear a trace of sadness in her voice.
Unable to bear seeing the young girl sad, Fletcher tried to lighten the mood, "By the way, Wenna, how old are you now? I heard you just graduated from high school. Are you of age yet to be married to Stuart?' He now refrained from calling her Mrs. Hetfield, worrying it might upset her.
Morwenna honestly replied, "I just turned 20 last month. We didn't have much money growing up, so I started school a couple of years late."
Fletcher sank his heart. Every time he interacted with Morwenna, he cursed himself and Stuart.
Here was a girl who had once struggled even to pay her school fees.
Stuart must be out of his mind to think she was manipulative.
He decided it was time to give Stuart a piece of his mind!
After hanging up the phone, Morwenna finally felt calm enough to sleep.
She woke up at six in the morning, bright and alert.
Just as she finished freshening up, her phone began to ring.
Morwenna didn't have many contacts, so she was curious about who could be calling so early.
When she checked, it was the old principal.
A sense of dread filled her heart. The principal had mentioned more than once before the semester that he thought about giving up on the school. Now, his call seemed ominous. She quickly answered, greeting him, "Hello, principal."
The tired and old voice on the other end sounded weary. "Wenna, the school might have to close down."
"What's happened?" Morwenna asked urgently.
"It's been raining in the hills continuously and the school building has started leaking. The classrooms and even the walls are cracking. After this summer, the old building from decades ago is just too dangerous. We can't let the children study in such conditions."
"What?" Morwenna thought she was just going to send money for new books and supplies before school started. But now the whole building was compromised.
The principal continued, "I've done the math. Rebuilding the elementary school would cost at least $200,000. I've tried to gather funds, and even considered selling the grain from my farm, but all I can muster is $80,000. It's not enough, Wenna. Let's just let it go. The children can go to the school in the nearby town."
Morwenna panicked, "That can't be. The nearby town is over the mountain, which is too far with dangerous roads. Many parents won't allow their children to continue their education. I'll replace a way to raise the money!"
The principal sighed, "Wenna, you've already done so much for this school. Melvin is gone, why bother?"
Morwenna gripped her phone tighter, her heart aching.
Her voice grew more determined, "No, Melvin is still here. I was Melvin's student. As long as I remember his beliefs, he's still here. Principal, I'll raise the money!"
The conversation ended with sighs.
After hanging up, Morwenna sat quietly for a while.
Her eyes were slightly red and she suddenly smiled brightly, speaking to herself.
"Melvin, are you watching from up there? Don't worry. I'll make what you hoped for happen. From now on, I'll work even harder!"
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