Ch. 146: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 146

Chapter 146The familiar voice made Norah’s heart skip a beat, and she froze, turning around slowly.

There, she saw her former college classmate, Micah Dupuis.

She remembered Micah well. Just three months ago, he’d joined Edwards’ tech department, and she had personally conducted his interview. Apart from their history as classmates, Micah’s qualifications and skills had impressed her.

Norah mustered a polite smile. “What a surprise, Micah.”

Her recent decision to keep the baby left her feeling oddly vulnerable, almost as if she were harboring a secret.

“I had the day off and thought I’d come in for a check-up,” Micah said, his gaze warm. “By the way, next Friday is the baby shower for our old class president’s newborn. Are you planning to go?”

The college class president had always been a stand-up guy. He was from a rural area, yet had constantly helped his classmates, including Norah, when they needed it. Micah’s words tugged at her memory, making her realize she hadn’t received an invitation.

Micah noticed her confusion and quickly clarified, “I know the news hasn’t been shared in the class group yet. I’m close with the class president, so he told me first. I just thought you’d like to know too.”

Norah nodded, processing it.

Micah continued, “The baby was born with congenital heart issues. The medical bills have been staggering…” His voice trailed off as he looked pensive.

His words sank in, striking a chord with Norah. The thought of a fragile child suffering brought a pang to her chest, especially now that she was carrying her own.

“I’ll be there,” she replied softly, then gestured for him to go ahead with his appointment. “Take care of your health, too, Micah.”

“Thanks. You, too,” he replied with a nod as she walked away.

After Norah left, Micah noticed her tension when they’d crossed paths and recalled how she’d thrown something in the trash right before their exchange. Curiosity tugged at him, and he peered into the bin, spotting scraps of paper with the words “B-ultrasound” still legible.

Something didn’t sit right. He pieced the fragments together, just enough to reveal that Norah was over a month pregnant. The information startled him, especially given the rumors about her dedication to her work at the Edwards company. Without a boyfriend, Norah’s situation left him puzzled. After a moment, he took a quick photo of the scraps and then, to respect her privacy, burned them with his lighter.

Leaving the hospital, Norah called a taxi and headed to a nearby mall. She dialed Gloria’s number but got no answer; instead, Kevin called her first.

His voice was low and steady. “Are you on your way to see Gloria?”

“Yeah. Did you need something?” she asked casually, trying to keep things light between them.

“Nothing in particular,” he replied. “Just remember what I mentioned this morning.”

She assured him, and he hung up. When Gloria eventually returned her call, Norah apologized for disturbing her rest. “I’m at a mall near your place. I’ll wait here until you arrive.”

After Norah settled into a small café with two cups of milk tea, Gloria showed up, spotting Norah seated at a dainty, round table.

“Inviting me to one of these trendy places? You must have something up your sleeve,” Gloria joked as she sat down.

Norah chuckled. “Honestly, no agenda—just thought it would be nice to get out together.” She took a sip, adding, “Kevin mentioned that he’s already sent Kian to negotiate the exhibit for us.”

Gloria’s mood shifted at the mention of Kevin. His veiled threats from before and Norah’s occasional softness toward him were reminders of the complexity between them.

“Norah, let me give it to you straight. To make it in this world, especially as a woman, you have to be tough. If you don’t set boundaries, you’ll get trampled. You’ve got to protect yourself,” Gloria advised.

Norah nodded solemnly. “You’re right. In fact, I went to the hospital earlier, and they confirmed—I’m a little over a month pregnant.”

Gloria wasn’t surprised. She’d suspected as much when Norah was sick in her bathroom the other day. Now that Norah had opened up, Gloria stayed by her side, her face softening with sympathy.

Norah smiled. “I need to pick up a few loose-fitting outfits. Would you help me?”

“Let’s go.” Gloria took her hand, squeezing it as they strolled through the clothing racks filled with comfortable, flowy clothes and dresses.

Gloria, however, looked concerned. “You’ve always worn tailored, professional outfits. Suddenly switching to loose, casual clothes? Kevin’s sharp; he’ll probably notice the change.”

Norah reassured her, saying, “I hired some new staff for him. I can ease into the transition without drawing attention.”

She picked out a few options, offering to buy something for Gloria as well, though Gloria politely declined. “Are you sure you don’t want something?”

“This one’s on me, I promise,” Norah said with a laugh.

Inside, though, she felt a bittersweet pang. Deciding to keep the baby might mean eventually stepping away from everything here, including friends like Gloria.

Just then, a sharp, haughty voice interrupted them. “Excuse me, salesperson! I’m a top VIP here. Give me the dress she’s holding—now!”

The voice was so loud and assertive that it pulled both Norah and Gloria’s attention to the source.

Gloria’s eyebrows shot up. “Top VIP or not, doesn’t she know it’s first-come, first-served?”