Ch. 113: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 113

Chapter 113

Norah was unmoved, even after making such harsh comments to Bianca. She was simply protecting herself.

"Don’t you know I already have someone in my heart?" Norah said.

Her words immediately blocked Kevin’s advances. She was committed to someone else. Yet, he had never seen this mystery man, turning the situation into a riddle between them.

Kevin’s face turned cold, but he responded firmly, “It’s irrelevant. As soon as the contract arrives, I’ll let you go. If you don’t sign the divorce agreement, I’ll send it to you myself.”

The marriage contract was set to expire before they could secure the shares, and Norah understood this. She chose to go along with him silently, as a sort of acknowledgment of their arrangement.

“Fine,” Norah replied, taking out her phone and checking the calendar. “It’s only a few days, Mr. Edwards. I hope you can find the time.”

Kevin didn’t answer.

After a while, doctors came to bandage their wounds. Norah’s injury wasn’t deep; it was just a cut, and she knew James hadn’t intended to kill her. It was the influence of that woman behind it all.

Soon, the police arrived at the hospital. Norah was the victim in this case. A police officer approached her with a solemn look and informed her, “Ms. White, I regret to tell you that Mr. James did not survive the explosion. Given the blast, there was no chance of survival.”

The officer’s words made her tremble. She imagined the charred bodies, realizing this was her first time experiencing something so traumatic. Fear and regret washed over her. Her uncle had kidnapped her, but he didn’t deserve death for it. A few years in prison would’ve sufficed. Yet, fate had dealt a heavy hand.

“Is there anything else you found?” she asked quietly.

“The car was tampered with,” the officer explained. “There was a fuel leak…”

The police recounted the whole incident. James had driven unaware of the fuel leak, smoking inside the car. The fire ignited and caused the explosion. At the time, no one paid attention to the woman, who was likely trying to escape amidst the chaos. No one could have predicted the tampering.

Norah was unsure whom to suspect. Even though she hadn’t seen it, a feeling of suspicion towards that woman lingered in her heart. But without evidence, her suspicions were just guesses.

This incident was of serious nature, and the police treated it accordingly. Norah, now shaken, couldn’t help but close her eyes and see the flames and death replay in her mind. It was much worse than her accident in junior high; this time, someone had actually died—someone related to her.

She clenched her hands, trying to suppress her fear. She didn’t want to witness death in front of her eyes ever again.

Kevin noticed her small gestures. Despite her calm exterior, she was trembling inside. She was a woman putting on a brave face.

He exchanged a glance with Kian, who left the room and returned shortly with a bottle of warm milk. Kevin placed it in front of Norah.

“Drink,” he instructed.

Norah hesitated, unmoving.

“That night at your house, didn’t Steven mention you liked sweet milk when you were nervous or scared?” Kevin reminded her, his voice cool. “You should drink some now to ease your nerves.”

“You remembered,” Norah said, surprised by his thoughtfulness.

“I remember everything about you,” Kevin replied, unscrewing the cap for her.

Norah gazed at him, recognizing his confidence but knowing he had forgotten so much. She took the bottle; the milk was warm and sweet, its taste faintly soothing her fear, though leaving a subtle bitterness behind.

“Rest,” Kevin said once his own wound was bandaged. “I’ll handle things with the police.”

He wanted Norah to rest and not be burdened further. With such a serious kidnapping, he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Norah lay on the hospital bed, trying to find peace. After some time, someone arrived.

“Norah,” a familiar voice called.

“Mom,” Norah responded.

Gwen rushed to her bedside, seeing the wound on her neck and her frail condition. She immediately broke down, hugging Norah tightly. “James, that scoundrel! How could he kidnap and threaten you like this? Our family will never associate with them again! Your father, thinking of brotherhood, let this happen, but he’s seen sense now. He’ll cut them off for good!”

Jack stood at the door, silent, but his eyes reflected both pain and guilt. His sense of familial duty had led to this suffering. He couldn’t forgive himself for it.

Norah, taking a deep breath, spoke quietly, “Dad, Mom, Uncle’s dead.”

She thought she’d feel nothing, but sharing this with her parents still made her voice choke up.

Nothing mattered more than being alive. The sudden loss, no matter the resentment, left a hollow sadness.

“What?” Gwen gasped.

Jack couldn’t speak, but the sorrow and shock were evident in his eyes.

Norah lowered her voice further. “The body will be sent back… Please, be strong, both of you.”

She didn’t know what else to say. Her parents would surely be affected, no matter their feelings towards James.

Gwen’s words of anger faded, replaced by a heavy silence in the room. Had James survived, they might have scolded and punished him, but death left no room for such words.

Norah looked at her father, worried he’d be too overcome with grief for his brother. Jack gripped the door frame, gazing at her. “He made his choices,” Jack said, trying to keep his composure. “As long as you’re safe.”

Norah remained quiet, knowing her father’s heart was heavy. She turned to Gwen, urging softly, “Mom, stay with Dad.”

Gwen, who had earlier scolded Jack and cursed James’s family, now chose silence. She simply stood by Jack, comforting him in his pain.

The family took time to recover over the next few days. None of it was Norah’s fault; it was a tragedy caused by James’s actions. Yet, the price was steep.

James’s funeral was held in his hometown. Despite everything, they shared the same surname, and humanitarian duty compelled them to attend.

Upon arriving, they were met with many eyes—eyes that were not on Jack and his wife but on Norah. Relatives whispered, blaming Norah for James’s death, seeing her as cold-blooded despite her youth.

“She looked like such a sweet girl growing up,” they murmured, “but she turned out differently. James was her uncle, and she’s responsible for his death…”