Ch. 263: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 263

Chapter 263

Principal Norman stared at Kevin for a long moment, his initial shock giving way to curiosity. He couldn't understand why Kevin was so invested in this story. “Why does this matter to you?” he asked, his tone edged with genuine confusion. “Even if the kidnapped girl wasn’t Norah, how does it concern you?”

The principal’s question didn’t seem malicious, but rather a reflection of his own bafflement.

Kevin’s sharp gaze softened slightly as he replied, his tone measured. “I’m investigating something, and this incident raised some doubts. It wasn’t Norah who was kidnapped, but for some reason, she remembers it as if it were her. The girl had the same name as Norah. Why would she have this memory unless she’s been made to believe it? Why hide the truth?”

Principal Norman’s expression wavered.

Kevin leaned forward, his voice steady but probing. “This happened at the school you managed. Can you give me a proper explanation?”

The older man sighed deeply, his posture slumping under the weight of the conversation. “I’ll tell you what I know, though I don’t have all the answers,” he said finally.

Kevin’s gaze darkened.

Principal Norman picked up the photo Kevin had handed him earlier and studied it for a moment. “Norah’s memory is definitely muddled,” he said. “The confusion stems from the fact that the kidnapped girl shared her name—first and last. Her parents approached me back then, pleading for my cooperation. They insisted that whenever this incident was mentioned, Norah should be treated as if she was the one involved. To this day, I don’t know why they insisted on such a charade.”

Kevin’s brow furrowed. “Why would her parents go to such lengths to hide this? Were they trying to protect her from something?”

“I don’t know,” Principal Norman admitted, shaking his head. “Norah was in high school at the time. Her family was adamant about keeping this buried. They believed she wouldn’t dig into it and hoped she’d forget it entirely. They even asked me to ensure the topic never came up in any official records.”

Kevin processed the information silently, his mind churning. “Did you ever worry she’d discover the truth?” he asked.

“No,” the principal replied. “It’s been years, and reports about the incident are long gone. She has no reason to look into it, and it’s a memory she’d rather avoid anyway. Her family made sure to keep her in the dark.”

Kevin’s jaw tightened. He had stumbled onto this by accident, but now he couldn’t ignore the implications. If Norah’s memory was manipulated, was the mysterious Anthony also a fabrication?

Kevin pressed further. “Have you ever heard of someone named Anthony being connected to her during this time?”

Principal Norman furrowed his brow, thinking hard. After a moment, he shook his head. “No, I don’t recall anyone by that name.”

Kevin’s eyes narrowed. The more he dug, the more likely it seemed that Anthony wasn’t real—just another fragment of a false narrative.

“Thank you for your time,” Kevin said finally, standing up.

Principal Norman rose as well, still puzzled. “You care about her so much. What’s your relationship to Norah?”

Kevin met the older man’s gaze without hesitation. “She’s my wife.”

The revelation left Principal Norman stunned. “I had no idea,” he stammered. “If I’ve said anything inappropriate in the past, I apologize.”

Kevin waved off the concern. “It’s late. I won’t take up any more of your time.”

Principal Norman escorted Kevin to the door, still reeling from the interaction.

By the time Kevin left, it was early morning.

Norah, meanwhile, lay in bed, feeling the familiar pang of hunger. Lately, her appetite had grown, and her cravings leaned toward bold, spicy flavors. She groaned, too tired to get up but too hungry to ignore it.

Rolling onto her side, she tried to sleep again, only to be startled by a knock at the door. Dragging herself up, she shuffled to the door and opened it.

To her surprise, Kevin stood there, tall and imposing.

“You’re back?” she asked, blinking in confusion. “Why aren’t you home?”

Kevin stepped inside without answering, carrying a bag in his hand.

“What’s that smell?” Norah asked, already recognizing the spicy aroma.

“Malatang,” Kevin replied simply, setting the bag on the table.

Her eyes widened. “You bought this? For me?”

“Who else?” Kevin said, unpacking the bag and handing her a pair of chopsticks. “Sit and eat.”

Norah hesitated, watching him carefully. Kevin was famously meticulous and disdainful of anything that didn’t meet his high standards. Street food, especially something as messy as Malatang, was definitely not his style.

“You’ve never even touched this stuff before,” she said, still skeptical.

Kevin met her gaze calmly. “You like it.”

The simplicity of his answer left her momentarily speechless. She sat down and dug in, but the questions lingered in her mind. How did Kevin even know she liked this?

As if reading her thoughts, Kevin added, “My aunt mentioned that pregnant women often crave spicy food. I thought I’d give it a try.”

Norah looked up sharply, her chopsticks pausing mid-air. “You went to buy this for me?”

Kevin nodded. “Of course.”

Her heart softened, but she couldn’t help teasing him. “You used to hate this kind of thing. The smell alone would’ve driven you away.”

Kevin’s expression didn’t change. “I don’t like it, but that doesn’t matter. If it makes you happy, I’ll do it. My preferences aren’t boundaries—I can adapt for you.”

Norah stared at him, her emotions swirling. Kevin’s words, so simple yet sincere, left her unable to respond. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly seen.