Ch. 144: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 144

Chapter 144Norah grew uneasy as Kevin leaned in closer, so she quickly responded, "Okay, I'll stay."

Satisfied, Kevin softened. "You've had some stomach issues lately, but it seems like you've put on a bit of weight?"

Norah froze, feeling caught off guard. He’d brought it up before, and she brushed it off again. "Probably just a lack of rest and some water retention. Endocrine imbalances can do that too."

Kevin's brows knit together. "But didn't you hire Scarlet to help? Why is the workload still so heavy?"

"I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I guess." Norah tried to deflect, not daring to meet his gaze.

Kevin’s tone sharpened. "Are you just making excuses because you don't want to be involved in this?"

"No, not at all," she replied hastily, trying to hide her growing anxiety.

Desperate to steer away from the topic, Norah suggested, "Since you've had the sour plum soup, maybe I could make you something to eat?"

Kevin held her gaze for a beat, his expression unreadable. Finally, he replied with a low "Alright."

…

In the kitchen, Norah prepared a simple, soothing bowl of noodles—something easy on the stomach after all the alcohol Kevin had consumed. Kevin ate it contentedly, even offering a rare compliment, "This is good."

Norah remained silent, her mind elsewhere. She didn’t plan to cook for him much longer. She was counting down her days here.

After he finished, Kevin looked over at her and said, "Tomorrow, don't worry about going into the office. I’ll take you to the mall for some new clothes."

"Is that a good idea?" she hesitated. "We’ve kept things private. People might notice us together, and then we’ll be all over the headlines."

Kevin shrugged, dismissing her concern. "Then go with Gloria. Have her meet you there, and let her know she can head straight to the exhibit afterward."

It caught Norah off guard that Kevin was genuinely serious about helping Gloria with the exhibit space. His influence was undeniable—just a few words from him could shift everything Gloria had worked on.

She nodded. "Alright, I'll go with Gloria."

Kevin said nothing further, which she took as agreement.

After cleaning up his dishes, Kevin looked back at her, "I have a few more things to finish up. Could you bring me a coffee in half an hour?"

"Sure," she agreed, nodding.

Exactly half an hour later, Norah brought a fresh cup of black coffee to Kevin's study. He was deep in a video call, speaking fluent French with an air of authority and command. Norah placed the coffee on his desk and was about to leave quietly when Kevin looked up and said, "Get some rest, I’ll join you soon."

Before she could respond, one of the men in the video call joked in English, "Is this your new girlfriend, Mr. Edwards?"

Without missing a beat, Kevin corrected him, "No, she’s my wife."

Norah felt a shock run through her. She hadn’t expected him to openly acknowledge her. But she noticed that he’d done it without hesitation, the way he’d stood up for her in the past.

The other man switched back to French, resuming business. Kevin took a sip of his coffee, then turned to Norah. "Once I’m done with all this, how about we take a trip to Foutumsally for a few days?"

She was touched. "When do you think you’ll be finished?"

"A week at most," he replied.

"Alright," she murmured, her heart warming. It could be the honeymoon they’d never had, the chance to finally share a piece of their life together.

After Kevin gave a slight nod, she excused herself and returned to her room, messaging Gloria to finalize their plans. Norah tried to unwind, checking in on her stock portfolio and catching up on her favorite show, before eventually drifting off to sleep.

…

Hours later, she woke to feel a hand slowly tracing her waist, the warmth of his breath at the nape of her neck. Instinctively, she tensed, whispering, "I… haven’t been feeling well lately…"

Kevin stilled but didn’t pull away.

"Norah, you've pushed me away more than once now," he murmured, his voice low in the dark.

A chill crept over her. His frustration was almost tangible.

Struggling for words, she replied, her voice faint, "I'm sorry… I really don’t feel well. I don’t want to spoil this for you."

Kevin’s voice turned cold. "You already have."

Without another word, he got up, and moments later, she heard the water running in the bathroom. He left the room shortly after.

Norah lay in silence, her heart heavy.

…

The next morning, she rose early. As she headed downstairs, she saw Kevin, already dressed in his running clothes.

Noticing her dressed and made up, he said, "Don’t leave before having breakfast."

Norah nodded. "Of course. I'll make us something."

But Kevin stopped her, "No need. Join me for a run."

Though surprised, she complied, falling into step beside him. After a few paces, Kevin asked, "What's your agenda today?"

She thought for a moment. "Just some shopping… is there anything you need?"

He shook his head, "No. Are you meeting anyone?"

"Gloria, maybe. We might catch an art exhibit if time allows."

Kevin nodded approvingly. "If you get back early, bring dinner by the office."

"Sure," Norah agreed easily.

They walked on together, side by side, neither acknowledging the tension of the night before.