Ch. 174: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 174
Chapter 174
Kevin placed the food in front of Norah and asked, "Do you want me to feed you?"
His tone was calm, but Norah couldn’t quite believe he was serious.
"I’m not in the mood to eat," she replied coolly. "Isn’t that my choice?"
Kevin didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he picked up a spoonful of food and held it out to her, his usually cold eyes now soft.
Surprised, Norah hesitated, but Kevin spoke gently, "You still need to eat."
Feeling a little flustered, she took the spoon from him, "I’ll eat on my own, thanks." She quickly ate a few bites, not wanting him to go further.
Kevin handed her a glass of water, "Don’t choke."
She wasn’t choking but felt rattled by his sudden tenderness. Just as she was about to say something, Kevin interrupted her thoughts, "I asked Kian to book a ticket."
"A ticket to Foutumsally?" she asked, barely concealing her surprise.
Kevin nodded. "Let your family know you’re leaving with me. I don’t want them to think you’re missing."
"Alright."
Even though this trip was their first, Norah knew it would also be their last. She wouldn’t be returning with him.
Kevin watched her for a moment, then added, "I only believed what I saw on the surveillance because you didn’t say anything. Next time, just tell me what’s going on."
Norah looked at him curiously, "Are you explaining this to me?"
"One of us has to," Kevin replied, a bit more serious now. "Otherwise, misunderstandings just pile up."
Norah stayed quiet, knowing he was right, even if their current situation felt beyond repair. Still, she managed a simple, "Got it."
"Good. Get some rest—I still have work to finish."
Seeing her push her plate away, Kevin instinctively reached for it, but she stopped him.
"If you’re busy, go. I’ll take care of this," she said, heading downstairs.
Aunt Mamali sat in the living room, clearly lost in thought. As Norah passed by, she mentioned, "Madam, I overheard Mr. Edwards speaking firmly to Ms. Lynch earlier. It sounded like he was standing up for you."
"Standing up for me?" Norah replied, a touch of disbelief in her voice. She didn’t think Kevin would reprimand Bianca on her behalf. Bianca was, after all, the person he cared about the most. She couldn’t imagine him speaking harshly to her.
Smiling to herself, Norah headed back upstairs, deciding not to dwell on it.
The next morning, Norah got up early to make breakfast, asking Aunt Mamali to help while sharing some of her cooking tips.
Once they finished, she and Kevin drove to Edwards Group together. As he watched her skillfully take the wheel, Kevin asked, "Do you have a driver’s license?"
Surprised, she asked, "Why does that matter?"
"If you do, I’ll get you a car," he said.
Norah nearly laughed at the irony, "I’ve been your secretary for years. Your garage is full of cars—what would I need my own car for now?"
But Kevin seemed insistent, "I just don’t want you relying on my car or taking taxis everywhere."
Eyes focused on the road, she replied evenly, "If I bought a basic car, people would think it’s beneath you. And if I bought something fancy, they’d think I was flaunting."
He gave a quiet nod, "Life is about what you need, not what others think."
She didn’t respond, wondering what had suddenly shifted in his perspective.
The workday passed without much conversation. Shelby, a new recruit, was learning quickly, even surpassing expectations. Seeing this, Tessa, a long-time employee, approached Norah with concern. "Ms. White, after all these years with Mr. Edwards, do you really plan on leaving?"
Later that evening, Kevin took Norah to Red Leaf Villa, where Jamie had prepared a lavish spread of exotic dishes. While they ate, Jamie tried to make small talk about business, raising her glass to toast Norah, "Ms. White, here’s to you."
Before Norah could respond, Kevin stepped in, "She’s allergic to alcohol. Juice will do."
Jamie's smile didn’t waver, but a shadow of curiosity crossed her face. Kevin’s attention to Norah’s habits seemed... more than professional.
After dinner, Jamie suggested they attend a private fireworks show nearby, mentioning, "Only the executives can attend—no assistants or entourage."
Her words were aimed squarely at Kevin, but his gaze drifted back to Norah.