Ch. 228: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 228

Chapter 228

Maxine froze, startled by the sound of the shattered wine glass. "Mr. Edwards!" she stammered.

Kevin's icy glare pierced through her. "I'll ask you one last time: where is Norah?"

Maxine glanced nervously at the broken glass on the floor, then back at Kevin's furious expression. Any hint of boldness drained from her as the wine’s haze evaporated.

"Norah’s not here," she admitted in a trembling voice. "It's just me and you, Mr. Edwards."

Kevin’s eyes darkened, and his voice turned colder. "So, the message she sent... You set this up?"

"Yes," Maxine confessed hesitantly, still not comprehending the depth of Kevin’s wrath. "Norah works under the Edwards family name. I needed to meet with you, and she helped me. Isn't that fair? She and I—"

"Enough! Get out!" Kevin roared, his voice reverberating through the room like thunder.

Maxine’s face went pale as she stammered, "Mr. Edwards, please, listen! Norah and I are colleagues. Can’t you let this slide, just this once?"

With a deafening crash, Kevin flipped the table, silencing her completely. The room was a mess, strewn with broken glass, spilled wine, and the remnants of an ill-conceived plan.

Maxine’s legs trembled as she stared at Kevin, now radiating pure fury. She hadn’t anticipated just how intense and volatile his anger could be.

Without another word, Kevin stormed out of the room. Kian, his assistant, stood waiting near the car and was immediately alarmed by Kevin’s dark expression. Without asking questions, he opened the car door and hurriedly stepped aside.

"Find Norah. Now!" Kevin barked as he climbed in, pulling at his tie in frustration.

Kian scrambled to make a call, quickly gathering information. "Mr. Edwards, Madame is headed to the orphanage."

Kevin’s expression hardened. "To the orphanage," he commanded.

....

At the orphanage, Norah had already arrived. Several cars were parked out front, signaling an active day. As she stepped out of her car, she spotted a tall, familiar figure in a sharp suit.

"Lincoln!" she called out with a friendly smile.

Lincoln turned and greeted her warmly. "Norah! It’s been too long." He walked over to shake her hand enthusiastically.

Lincoln, an old classmate, had always been an affable and dependable presence. Back in school, he’d been a standout basketball player, and now, he was a successful businessman, running a company that was nearing public listing. They had crossed paths professionally a few times, which led to exchanging WhatsApp contacts.

Recently, Norah had reached out to him after noticing his efforts in promoting agricultural products and engaging in philanthropy. She’d explained the plight of the orphanage, and Lincoln had readily agreed to help.

Norah smiled graciously. "Thank you so much for this. You didn’t hesitate for even a moment, and I really appreciate it."

"You’re helping me as much as I’m helping you," Lincoln replied cheerfully. "Don’t worry. Leave this to me. These kids deserve better lives."

They walked inside together, greeted immediately by the joyful shouts of children.

"Auntie!" a chorus of voices rang out as the children ran toward Norah.

"Auntie, we have meat to eat again!"

"Auntie, look! I still have my hairpin!"

The kids clamored around her, each eager to share their delight. Their innocence was heartwarming and their happiness contagious.

Norah crouched down, smiling warmly. "I see! From now on, you’ll all have plenty of food, and no one here will ever go hungry again!"

"Thank you, Auntie!" the children cheered.

Norah gestured to Lincoln and said, "You should be thanking this kind uncle. He’s the one helping you."

"Thank you, Uncle!" they chimed in unison.

Lincoln smiled, his hand ruffling the nearest child’s hair.

The orphanage director passed by briefly, offering Norah a polite greeting before returning to her work.

Suddenly, one of the children tugged at Norah’s hand, eyes wide with curiosity. "Auntie, where’s Uncle Big Bad Wolf? Why didn’t he come with you?"

Norah froze momentarily before replying, "He’s busy with work right now, but he’ll come next time."

"Okay!" the child said brightly, nodding in understanding. "Uncle Big Bad Wolf is your husband, right? He’s working hard to make money for you, isn’t he?"

The other children erupted in giggles, laughing at their friend’s candid comment.

Norah pressed her lips together, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.

Lincoln raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Is there some truth to what they’re saying?"

"Kids always make up stories," Norah deflected with a small smile. Changing the subject, she added, "Let me check on the supplies and the photographer."

Lincoln didn’t press further, but his curiosity lingered as he followed her through the orphanage.

Norah busied herself with taking notes and organizing the delivery process. While walking past a stack of freshly slaughtered livestock, the pungent smell of blood hit her hard. The scent, sharp and overwhelming, made her stomach churn violently.

Meanwhile, Kevin’s car sped toward the orphanage. His jaw was clenched tightly, and his mind raced with frustration.

"Norah, you better have a good explanation," he muttered under his breath, his eyes darkening with every passing second.