Ch. 162: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 162

Chapter 162At the talent market, Norah felt the impact of the "Edwards" label—plenty of applicants showed up to submit their resumes. She sorted through them meticulously and sent the selections to Kevin. But his silence said it all: he didn’t like any of them.

Norah realized it—Kevin wasn’t planning to let her leave, and he was making it difficult on purpose. She felt the fatigue seep in, not just from the heat but from the endless hurdles. Deciding to push through, she committed to staying another hour to gather more applications. But if Kevin still wasn’t satisfied, she resolved to wash her hands of it.

Under the blazing sun, she stepped out to buy a bottle of water. The heat made her dizzy, so she sat down on a roadside planter to catch her breath.

"Norah," a hesitant male voice called out.

She looked up to see Steven, dapper in a sharp silver-gray suit, standing beside her. Surprised, she took in his familiar face, which broke into a gentle smile.

“Steven,” she said, managing a small smile of her own.

"Small world," he replied, slipping a hand into his pocket as he sat down nearby. He nodded towards a black Bentley parked down the street. "I was here for some business and saw you as my assistant stepped out to grab something. What brings you here by yourself?"

"Recruiting," she replied simply.

"Recruiting? And they had you come out personally?" Steven's brows knit in surprise.

Norah hesitated before admitting, "Yeah, it's for my own replacement."

A silence fell between them, thick with unspoken words. Steven finally ventured, “You look worn out. Is there…trouble between you and Kevin?”

His question caught her off guard. Few people knew she and Kevin were in a hidden, contract marriage. But here was Steven, gently probing as though he understood. She looked at him, stunned.

“You knew?” she asked quietly.

He nodded, smiling faintly. "I figured it out when I saw him with you last time. And then there was all that online buzz—confirmed it for me. I always thought… well, I just hoped he’d make you happy.”

She nodded, lowering her gaze. “Honestly, Steven, he’s not a bad person. If we weren’t tied by this marriage, I’m sure we’d get along just fine. But the time has come, and I’m ready for a divorce.”

The word "divorce" brought a mix of relief and sorrow to Steven’s face. "Why? Did he hurt you in some way?" he asked, voice thick with concern.

Norah chuckled faintly. "No, he didn’t hurt me. But this whole arrangement—it’s just time for it to end."

Steven looked at her thoughtfully, his voice soft but steady. “If it’s making you unhappy, it’s okay to let go. But if there’s still something unresolved, maybe give it a bit more time. Sometimes, feelings work themselves out.”

Norah nodded, resonating with his words. “You’re right. Sometimes, time lets things just… fade away. That’s exactly how I feel now.”

Wanting to lighten the moment, Steven pulled a silly face, hoping to cheer her up. She blinked in surprise, then laughed, touched by his unexpected gesture.

"Where did that come from?" she asked, still smiling.

"I just thought you needed a reason to laugh," he replied, grinning.

Unknown to them, Kevin was watching from a distance. The sight of them together, laughing and sharing an easy rapport, made his face darken with a sudden intensity. He muttered Steven’s name under his breath. He’d been hearing about this “Anthony” Norah once mentioned, and though he couldn’t track that person down, Steven was her only long-term male friend. The thought gnawed at him.

When Norah finally returned to the office, it was nearly 4 p.m. She had managed to collect more than 30 resumes, all from top graduates. She barely noticed Kian’s sidelong glance as he commented, “Secretary White, is it necessary to rush so much?”

Ignoring him, Norah marched into Kevin’s office, presenting the stack of resumes. “Mr. Edwards, here are all the candidates I’ve found—graduates from top universities. Please take a look and let me know if anyone meets your standards.”