Ch. 287: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 287

Chapter 287

Gloria furrowed her brows and spoke firmly, her tone sharp yet steady. "Are you letting fear cloud your judgment? What do you mean, ‘too weak’? You’re not a soldier. You’re not trained in combat. You’re a pregnant woman, Norah. Stop blaming yourself for something that’s entirely out of your control! The real criminals are still out there, and blaming yourself won't solve a damn thing."

Norah’s guilt gnawed at her. She hated feeling helpless, hated that her weakness had put others at risk. She couldn’t help but replay everything in her mind—the danger, the kidnappers, their relentless thirst for her life.

Gloria softened her voice but kept her resolve. "Listen, Norah, no matter how much you beat yourself up, you can’t change the fact that someone tried to hurt you. You can’t prevent every threat, no matter how strong you think you should be. These people need to be stopped, and they will be. But you can’t carry this weight on your shoulders alone. Kevin would never let that happen."

Norah, trembling, leaned into Gloria’s embrace. Her voice wavered. "I’m scared, Gloria. This wasn’t just some random kidnapping. It felt... calculated. I don’t think I can fight them. I’m not strong enough."

The darkness of the trunk flashed in her mind—the suffocating fear, the weight of impending doom.

Gloria gently stroked her back, her voice a soothing balm. "You don’t have to do this alone. I’ll be with you every step of the way. We’ll face this together. You’re not as alone as you think."

Norah closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath. Gloria’s words felt like a lifeline, grounding her in the chaos of her emotions.

But something deeper nagged at Norah—Karina. Her gut told her there was more to that woman. The way Karina reacted, the strange familiarity Norah had felt… it wasn’t random. Something buried in the depths of her mind was trying to resurface, and the pieces just didn’t fit.

She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away, but they lingered like shadows she couldn’t escape.

Hours passed, each dragging slower than the last. The sterile hospital halls seemed frozen in time, eerily silent as midnight crept in.

The surgery had stretched to eight long hours, and with every passing minute, Norah’s anxiety grew. She hadn’t slept. She hadn’t eaten. She couldn’t. She was too afraid of what she might wake up to if she dared close her eyes.

Finally, the light above the operating room flickered off, and the double doors swung open. Norah bolted to her feet, her heart hammering in her chest. Kevin was wheeled out, pale and lifeless, his body swaddled in medical equipment.

The doctor approached, exhaustion etched into his face.

"The surgery was successful," he said, his tone cautious, "but he’s not out of the woods yet. The next 24 hours are critical. Whether he regains consciousness... we’ll know by tomorrow."

Norah’s breath hitched, and her heart sank. She nodded numbly, her gaze locked on Kevin’s unconscious form as they wheeled him into the ICU. She pressed her palm against the cold glass window, staring at his pale face.

Gloria stood beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Kevin’s strong. He’ll pull through. I know he will. You just have to believe."

Norah forced a nod, but her voice betrayed her fear. "You’re tired, Gloria. Go home and rest. I’ll be fine."

Gloria shook her head resolutely. "I’m not leaving. You’re not alone in this, Norah. I’ll stay right here until Kevin wakes up. We’ll wait together."

Meanwhile, in a dark, abandoned warehouse, the sound of a whip cutting through the air echoed sharply.

Smack!

The whip struck Karina’s back with merciless force, splitting the skin. Blood oozed from the fresh wounds, but Karina didn’t cry out. She clenched her teeth, her body trembling as she collapsed to the ground, barely able to move.

Archer, seated in a chair, sipped tea nonchalantly as if he were watching an entertaining show. His cold, unfeeling eyes finally turned to Karina, who lay motionless on the floor.

"You hesitated," he said icily, setting his cup down. "You had the chance to finish her, but you didn’t. Are you working against me, Karina? Do you have your own agenda?"

Karina crawled weakly toward him, her voice hoarse and trembling. "No... no, I would never... She grabbed my hand. I couldn’t let go in time. Please, believe me. It won’t happen again. I’ll fix it. I’ll prove myself."

Archer’s expression hardened. He kicked her aside like she was nothing more than garbage. Karina gasped as pain radiated through her ribs, but she didn’t dare cry out. Instead, she begged for mercy.

"You’ve already failed me," Archer said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You’re worthless. If I hadn’t picked you up from the gutter, you’d be rotting in some filthy alley."

Karina’s chest tightened. She nodded submissively, tears pooling in her eyes. "I know. You saved me. You’re my... adoptive father."

The words tasted bitter in her mouth. Archer wasn’t a father—he was a tyrant. A puppet master. And she was just one of his disposable pawns.

They were all raised under Archer's control.

But the only feelings they held for him were fear and a deep sense of awe—no affection whatsoever.

To Archer, they were nothing more than tools to generate money.

They knew this well.

If anyone became dispensable, they would inevitably be sacrificed.

Yet, they couldn't resist.

From the moment their hands were stained with blood, they became worse than outcasts—forced to scurry in the shadows just to survive.

The thought of living freely in the light was a distant dream, one they had long forfeited.

Archer narrowed his eyes, his voice icy and demanding: "What about Jace?"

Suspicion lingered in Archer's mind. He hadn’t seen Jace for a long time, and he couldn’t help but question their loyalty.

Before his words could settle, the sound of measured footsteps echoed in the silent space. The pace was deliberate, each step clear and purposeful.

Archer immediately recognized who it was. Without hesitation, he flung Karina to the ground.

Karina's body convulsed with pain, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness. Still, she forced her eyes to remain open, knowing Jace had arrived.

Jace stood in the doorway, his white coat stark against the dim surroundings. Hands casually tucked in his pockets, he radiated calm confidence, despite the danger thick in the air.

Archer didn’t wait. He lashed the whip at Jace.

Jace made no attempt to evade the blow.

The whip tore across Jace's face, leaving a crimson streak on his refined, almost otherworldly features.

His brown eyes betrayed no emotion.

It was as if he had no capacity for feelings—no pain, no reaction, and certainly no joy. Perhaps he had even forgotten what joy felt like.

"Do you still know how to come back?" Archer snarled. "What have you been doing these past days? Karina’s been breaking her back for you, while you’ve been off enjoying yourself!"

Jace walked forward with measured steps, stopping just before Archer. A faint, enigmatic smile played on his lips as he said, "This is where I left. Naturally, it’s where I’ll return."

Archer leaned back in his chair, his glare unrelenting. "You didn’t complete the mission!"

Jace’s tone was indifferent, almost detached. "My mission was to dissect the human body."

Archer’s dissatisfaction grew. His hands clenched tightly as his eyes bore into Jace. "But your mind seems restless. Tell me—you’re not planning to betray me, are you?"

Karina’s heart sank, fear flooding her. Despite the pain, she began crawling toward them.

Jace’s cold, slender fingers brushed against Archer’s face. His smile lingered as he replied, "What do you think?"

Karina’s face turned ghostly pale, her hands trembling as they clenched tightly.