Ch. 119: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 119

Chapter 119

“I’m only thinking about you!” Linda’s mother said sternly. “James just can’t measure up to his older brother! Being wealthy is everything—look at Norah’s success! So many people praise her, and just mentioning her name gets admiration. What about your daughter? Even if she marries an older man, as long as he’s rich, she’ll be secure for life!”

“Mom!” Linda objected, “I’m not as shallow as you. I’m not all about money. Everyone says I’m materialistic, and I know why—I take after you! You made me like this, and now you want my daughter to follow the same path!”

“How can you say that? What’s so bad about it?” Linda’s mother replied angrily.

Linda, now emotional, responded, “Look at me! My husband is dead, and I’m left with this mess. What’s so great about that?”

“It’s all your own doing,” her mother accused.

“Fine, I’m useless. Then go, go find your son—just stay away from my daughter!” Linda said coldly, baffled by her mother’s lack of understanding.

Norah overheard this argument from outside the door. She waited until the tension subsided, then knocked.

Upon hearing the knock, Linda, worried about appearing vulnerable, forced herself to speak calmly, “Please come in.”

Norah entered, and Linda’s expression darkened at the sight of her.

Linda’s mother, however, quickly stood up, greeted Norah warmly, and said with a smile, “Oh, it’s the lovely Norah! Come, have a seat. Would you like some tea? I’ll pour you a cup.”

Linda felt even more frustrated with her mother’s overly friendly behavior. Despite knowing there was tension between them, her mother seemed intent on pleasing Norah.

Politely declining the offer, Norah replied, “No, thank you. I’m here to speak with my aunt.”

Linda’s mother nodded and said, “Of course, talk to your aunt.” Turning to Linda, she added, “Linda, don’t be so harsh. Norah is practically like a daughter to you. Be open and maintain harmony.” She glanced at Sierra and reassured her, “Don’t cry; it’s all family here.”

Sierra, not wanting to show her vulnerability in front of Norah, quickly wiped her tears and stayed silent.

Linda’s frustration was evident in her tone as she addressed Norah, “What do you want?”

Norah, now seated, looked directly at Sierra, who was dressed provocatively. “Your daughter did something terrible,” she began. “Don’t you think I should be here?”

Linda’s expression soured further, and Sierra instinctively tried to cover herself, anxious about being exposed.

“Are you here to mock me?” Linda asked, her brow furrowed.

“No,” Norah replied steadily, “I’m here for something else.”

“What is it?” Linda asked coldly.

Norah glanced around the room, recognizing everything built by her uncle. She took a deep breath and said, “The police confirmed that the car my uncle drove was tampered with, leading to an explosion that killed him. I’m here to find out who was behind it.”

Hearing this, Linda’s face twisted with anger. She snapped, “Don’t tell me that! You’re the one who caused this! Pretending to be innocent—you’re the murderer!”

Norah held Linda’s gaze, understanding the pain and anger driving her accusations. But she knew there was more to the story. After letting Linda vent, she spoke calmly, “When my uncle kidnapped me, there was another person—a woman—who altered her voice to stay anonymous. You framed me, and I already know someone else orchestrated this. If you want to discover who truly killed my uncle, you need to face the truth.”

“Lies! Utter nonsense!” Linda shouted, refusing to believe it. “You’re just trying to justify yourself and escape blame!”

Linda’s refusal to accept reality stemmed from her guilt. James’ actions led to this tragedy, but Linda clung to her anger at Norah to avoid facing her own regrets.

Norah, her message delivered, said firmly, “Think about it carefully—if my uncle’s death meant something, then I won’t let that woman get away with it.”

Sierra, who had listened silently, was pale and shaken by Norah’s words.

Norah left the room.

In a fit of rage, Linda flipped a table, startling Sierra. “Mom, what are you doing?” she cried.

Linda, with tear-filled eyes, replied, “She’s trying to clear her name by pinning the blame on someone else. She doesn’t care about us—they’re all heartless!”

Linda broke down again, and Sierra tried to console her, whispering, “Mom, don’t be like this. Dad wouldn’t want you to suffer like this.”

The day of the funeral arrived. The sky was overcast, and a light drizzle created a somber atmosphere. Everyone wore dark clothing.

James was now buried next to Norah's grandparents’ tombstones. Gwen and Jack stood together, and Jack’s reddened eyes betrayed his attempt to remain composed. Only Linda and her mother sobbed uncontrollably, holding onto James’ tombstone and kneeling on the ground.

No one was more heartbroken than them.

Norah felt the weight of loss too—he had been her uncle, and no matter what people say, death has a finality that cuts deep.

As the funeral concluded and the guests began to leave, Linda and her mother’s crying continued unabated.

Out of respect, Norah bid farewell to each person who had come to honor James.

When the last guest had left, Norah felt a chill down her spine, as if someone were watching her. Her instincts were strong.

She scanned the surroundings and spotted a figure on the roadside.

The figure had no umbrella but wore a smug smile. Even through the drizzle, Norah recognized the defiance in her expression.

Norah’s face hardened, anger welling up inside her. How dare she show her face here?

She approached quickly and called out, “Lola!”

Lola smiled and replied, “Ms. White, what a coincidence running into you here.”

With an air of arrogance, Lola was clearly enjoying herself, and Norah couldn’t hold back her anger. “Coincidence? You came here on purpose, didn’t you?” Norah demanded.

Feigning innocence, Lola responded, “Ms. White, I don’t understand what you mean.” She glanced toward the cemetery and added, “You were crying in there—did someone die? Was it a relative of yours?”

Lola’s smirk was deliberately provocative.

Norah, her fists clenched, couldn’t restrain herself any longer. She slapped Lola hard across the face. “I underestimated you,” she seethed. “I didn’t realize how vicious you could be!”