Ch. 167: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 167
Chapter 167
Norah stood at the sink, washing her face repeatedly, scrubbing with facial cleanser, hand soap, and even body wash. The faint scent of gardenia—her favorite fragrance—filled the air, mingling with the other scents.
She was doing everything to erase Kevin’s smell from her skin.
He had left a lingering odor—a mix of strong alcohol, heavy smoke, and, worst of all, a metallic hint of blood.
As she wiped her face, she forced herself to calm down, meeting Kevin’s gaze with a detached expression. “Don’t overthink it. You know why I wanted a divorce,” she said, her voice even.
The time had come for her to leave, and she had no intention of staying any longer. Watching him move on with Bianca was unbearable.
Kevin’s expression darkened, a glimmer of frustration breaking through his usual control.
She saw it—the jealousy, the possessiveness—when he thought of her returning to Anthony and Steven’s side. Her calm demeanor only seemed to fan the flames, especially when he remembered how he’d seen her laughing with Steven earlier that day.
With his emotions no longer restrained, he took a step forward and grabbed her by the neck, voice raw and threatening, “Norah, I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going to the Civil Affairs Bureau with you.”
“You!” Norah gasped, shocked. He had given his word, and now he was going back on it.
Now she understood why the Civil Affairs Bureau required a cooling-off period. She steadied her breath, forcing herself to stay calm. “It doesn’t matter if you won’t go through with the divorce right now. We’re even now. But tonight, I—”
Her words were cut off as Kevin pulled her into a fierce kiss. He held her firmly, guiding her backward until her legs hit the bed.
Pinned beneath him, Norah tried to push him away, but he grabbed her wrists, pressing them above her head, his gaze intense and unyielding.
“Kevin, please, calm down! I can’t… The doctor said I need to take care of myself right now—folic acid, calcium tablets…” Her voice trailed off, her worry mounting. She couldn’t risk hurting their child.
But Kevin didn’t stop, moving forward until he was deeply entwined with her, and Norah lay frozen, barely daring to breathe. She felt his anger, his possessiveness, and, strangely, a pang of sorrow.
Then, as if coming to his senses, Kevin pulled away, the taste of her tears lingering on his lips—a reminder of the bitterness in their lives. Suddenly, he felt a wave of regret.
He rolled off her, lying on his back, exhausted. Alcohol clouded his thoughts, making him feel weightless, as though he were floating on air.
In a daze, he murmured, “Bianca…”
The name stung Norah. Even now, Bianca occupied his thoughts, a reminder of why he had pushed her away.
The next morning, Norah made her way to a law office. Spotting Bonian, she approached him with determination. “Attorney Lepage, I need this divorce expedited.”
Bonian’s face remained calm as he explained, “Ms. White, few attorneys in this city will touch your case. But since I accepted it, I’ll see it through. I’m scheduled to handle some cases before leaving for the U.S., so your case may take two and a half months.”
Norah’s heart sank. By then, she would be four months pregnant. Kevin would never let her leave once he knew. She narrowed her eyes, a bitter smile playing on her lips. “So, you’re one of Kevin’s friends?”
Bonian’s eyes flickered. “Sharp as ever, Ms. White.”
Norah didn’t miss a beat. “If you won’t handle my case, leave,” she replied coldly, turning on her heel to exit.
As she left, Bonian quickly dialed Kevin, who was still asleep. Bonian’s sarcastic voice broke through the line, “Still in bed? Your wife was here first thing, and she figured out my connection to you. Better be careful.”
Kevin’s grogginess faded as he hung up, dialing Norah. She was out searching for another attorney, encountering rejection after rejection. Seeing Kevin’s number, her stomach twisted, but she answered, her voice steady.
“Where are you?” Kevin’s voice was cold.
“I’m out shopping, taking a personal day,” she lied, trying to mask her anxiety.
“Have you finished what I asked of you yesterday?” His tone was unforgiving.
Norah hesitated, then replied, “I’ll head to the office now.”
“Good.”
Hanging up, Kevin dressed and headed to the cloakroom. His phone rang again, and, assuming it was Norah, he answered coldly, “I don’t want to repeat myself. Don’t push me.”
There was silence before a familiar voice stammered, “Kevin?”
Kevin’s demeanor softened. “Bianca? Sorry. What’s going on?”
She paused, then spoke with quiet resolve, “I need to see you. I have something to say in person.”
“I’ll come by this afternoon,” he replied.
At the Edwards Group, Norah escorted a new recruit, Shelby Lyons, to Kevin’s office. “Mr. Edwards, this is Shelby Lyons,” she introduced.
Kevin’s gaze landed on the slim, wavy-haired woman before he turned to Norah. “You’ll oversee the arrangements with Jenkins,” he instructed, signaling for Shelby to follow up on her task.
Norah dutifully took Shelby to the hotel where Jenkins was staying. As they arrived, Jamie, Jenkins’ representative, looked at Norah, surprised. “Secretary White, I didn’t recognize you last time. My apologies for the oversight.”