Chapter 649

Judy's POV

I parted my lips to speak, but before I could, Gavin stopped me.

"You have a speech to make," he told me, gesturing towards the stage. I looked at the stage where Dean Rivers was waiting, a smile on her face as she watched me. I turned back to Gavin, feeling a flurry of butterflies in my chest.

"I don't have my speech with me, and this happened so fast, I don't have the time to reprepare for it," I admitted.

"Don't worry about that," Nan said, stepping beside me. She had a piece of paper in her hands, and she handed it to me with a grin. "I have your speech right here."

I looked at it and then back at her face.

"You knew about all of this?" I asked her.

She shrugged.

"Of course I did," she told me, nudging my shoulder. "Who do you think helped him make all the phone calls to all our classmates. Once I explained things to them, they were more than happy to help."

Tears brimmed the corners of my eyes; I cut her out like I cut everyone else in my life out. I ignored her calls and texts when I reached Redcliff, and I felt so guilty about it. Now, here she was, helping make this day absolutely perfect, and there were no words that could describe how much that meant to me.

I stepped closer to her and wrapped her in my arms, hugging her tightly as tears fell from my eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Nan," I whispered.

This woman got engaged and adopted a baby in the last 3 weeks, and I wasn't there for her. She didn't even tell me this news herself like she wanted, and my heart ached at what she must have been going through... what I wasn't there for.

"We'll talk about it later," she whispered back, hugging me just as tightly. "This day is for you, Judy. Enjoy it. It's how it should have been all along."

I pulled back, hating that I was crying in front of everybody, but from the

compassionate looks I was getting, I don't think anybody really cared.

I felt Gavin's warm hand on my back, and I turned to look up at him.

"I should have been here the first time, and I wasn't," he told me softly. "So, this is my way of turning back time."

I bit my lip to keep from smiling like a dummy.

"It's perfect," I whispered brokenly.

"Judy Montague," Dean Rivers spoke through the mic. "We are waiting for you. You have a speech for us."

I smiled and I nodded as I stepped away from my friends and walked down the long, handmade aisle until I reached the stage. I stepped towards the podium, shook the dean's hand, and watched as she stepped away.

Everybody was so quiet, I could hear a pin drop.

"This is insane," I started, a laugh bubbling out of me. It caused others to chuckle as well because this was absolutely unheard of. "I can't

BUTA

believ@you all pulled this off. It's just like our actual graduation allover

again."

I clutched my speech tightly in my hands.

I glanced down at Gavin, who had taken his seat next to Irene and Matt. Matt was

grinning from ear to ear, and I couldn't help but smile back at him.

"I know most of you already heard this speech, and I'm sorry that you have to suffer again,” I said, pausing as some laughed.

With that being said, I started my speech. As I spoke, my eyes kept drifting to Gavin, who was listening and watching me with an earnest expression.

It made my heart swell.

By the time I finished my speech, everybody stood and clapped.

I sat in my seat that I had sat in the first time, and to my surprise, the ceremony continued. Each graduate was called to the stage to collect their diplomas, including mine. The cheers that followed my name were the loudest.

By the time the ceremony concluded, and I received a few hugs, Gavin was there with a bouquet of flowers.

"Where did those come from?" I asked, smiling up at him. They were my favorites, and they smelled incredible.

"I had Taylor pick them up for me," he told me.

"They're beautiful," I told him.noveldrama

"Judy!" I heard Matt saying as he rushed towards me. "I'm so happy you're back."

"Hey,” I said to him, accepting his tight hug. "I'm so sorry I left without saying anything. I shouldn't have done that. Not to you."

He pulled back slightly, and I saw the sadness in his eyes.

"I was really upset when I found out you left," he murmured. "I ended up going to the mansion despite Irene being there. My wolf was calm and didn't kill her. I think he was more

worried about you than he was his distike for Irene."

"Well, I suppose some good came out of it," I said, glancing at Irene, who was approaching with Nan and Chester.

"It's not perfect, but we are getting there. My wolf still doesn't trust her."