Ch. 262: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 262

Chapter 262

Norah was adamant that she had never disappeared during a summer vacation. Her certainty gave Kevin pause, leaving him to question whether he had overlooked something significant.

The summer she was allegedly missing might not have been ordinary.

Unaware of Kevin's unease, Norah glanced at the intersection ahead and said, “I’m almost home. Just drop me off downstairs.”

Kian smoothly brought the car to a stop at the curb.

Norah stepped out, turning back briefly. “Thanks for the ride. Get home safe,” she said politely, her tone carrying a hint of finality.

Kevin stayed silent, lost in thought. Norah, noticing his preoccupation, didn’t linger. She walked into her apartment complex without looking back.

Kevin’s gaze lingered on her retreating figure, caught in an endless loop of unresolved questions.

“Kian,” Kevin finally said, his voice low, “are we absolutely sure there are no gaps in Norah’s background information?”

Kian, who had meticulously compiled the details of Norah’s life to help Kevin investigate, replied confidently, “Nothing was left out. Everything we could uncover is there. Maybe she just doesn’t remember—it’s been a long time.”

Kevin’s expression darkened. “She remembers her high school years. Why wouldn’t she recall something as significant as a summer-long disappearance?”

Kian hesitated. “That’s a good point. But, sir, isn’t Steven an old classmate of hers? Maybe he’d know more.”

Kevin’s jaw tightened. “I’m not asking Steven.”

He had already dug into Norah’s circle of classmates, teachers, and acquaintances. Yet, Anthony, the man Norah mentioned repeatedly, remained a mystery.

“Wait,” Kian said suddenly. “What about Principal Norman? He used to be her homeroom teacher back then. He might know something.”

Kevin’s eyes narrowed. “Good idea. Set up a meeting with him immediately.”

Meanwhile, Norah had returned home, slipping off her shoes and replacing them with her favorite fluffy bunny slippers. She flicked on the lights and collapsed onto the sofa.

But even in her comfort, her mind couldn’t settle. Kevin’s words about her supposed disappearance replayed in her head.

To distract herself, Norah pulled out her phone to text her family.

Her mother, Gwen, responded quickly, as always.

“Take care of yourself out there, sweetheart,” Gwen texted. “Don’t overwork yourself. Come home this weekend for dinner. Your dad misses you, though he’ll never admit it.”

Norah smiled faintly at the familiar warmth of her mother’s messages.

“I’ll come home,” Norah replied.

But then Gwen followed up with something more pointed: “Have you finalized the divorce yet?”

Norah sighed. Her family had been urging her to cut ties with Kevin as quickly as possible.

“Not yet,” she typed back.

Gwen didn’t hold back. “Then hurry it up! Don’t waste your youth on this mess. There’s still time for you to start fresh. You deserve someone who treats you right. Trust me—when the right person comes along, you’ll wonder why you even hesitated!”

Norah chuckled softly, touched by her mother’s protective nature.

But Kevin’s words lingered in her mind. On impulse, she texted her mother again.

“Mom, when I was in high school, was there ever a summer when I wasn’t home?”

Her mother took an unusually long time to reply.

After ten minutes, Gwen finally responded.

“Who told you that?”

“No one,” Norah quickly typed. “I was just curious.”

“There’s no such thing,” Gwen replied firmly. “You’ve always been home during the summers. Don’t let anyone fill your head with nonsense.”

Norah exhaled in relief. Her family had strict rules, and it would have been impossible for her to leave for an entire summer without them noticing.

She set her phone aside, brushed her teeth, and headed to bed.

Kevin, however, was far from resting. He went straight to Principal Norman’s house that evening, determined to get answers.

The elderly man was startled by the late-night visit but greeted Kevin warmly nonetheless.

“Kevin!” Principal Norman exclaimed as he opened the door. “What a surprise! Come in, come in. It’s late—why didn’t you call ahead?”

Kevin stepped inside, wasting no time. “I’m sorry for the unannounced visit, Principal Norman. I need to ask you something important about Norah.”

Principal Norman raised an eyebrow but nodded. “Of course. What’s on your mind?”

“Did anything unusual happen to Norah during junior high?” Kevin asked directly. “Specifically, did she ever get hurt, or was she saved by someone?”

The older man’s demeanor shifted instantly. His expression darkened, and he hesitated before responding.

“Well… there was something,” he admitted after a moment. “But it’s not something we like to talk about. It was a tragedy that affected everyone.”

Kevin leaned forward, his gaze sharp. “What happened?”

Principal Norman sighed heavily, adjusting his glasses. “Norah was kidnapped during a school trip. Several students lost their lives. She survived, but the ordeal left her physically and emotionally scarred. For her well-being, we agreed never to bring it up. Even if someone mentioned it in passing, we’d steer the conversation elsewhere.”

Kevin’s fists clenched as he processed the revelation.

“Do you remember this man?” Kevin asked, pulling a photograph from his pocket and placing it on the table.

Principal Norman’s face went pale when he saw the image. His lips parted, but no words came out.

Kevin’s expression hardened. “Who is he?”

Principal Norman swallowed hard, his hands trembling as he stared at the photograph.