Ch. 294: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 294

Chapter 294

Norah was stunned by Kevin’s thoughtful gesture. She looked at him with wide eyes and asked, “How did you know I wanted strawberry cake?”

Kevin’s lips curled into a sly smile. “I have magic powers.”

Norah raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Magic? Really?”

She glanced suspiciously at the cabinet nearby, then back at Kevin. With a look of disbelief, she strode over and opened the cabinet.

Her jaw dropped. The cabinet was stuffed with food—snacks, fruits, cakes, and more, all neatly stacked to the brim.

Turning back to Kevin, she arched an eyebrow.

Kevin cleared his throat awkwardly and said, “I might’ve stocked up... just a little.”

Norah couldn’t help but laugh. “You’ve been working hard just to impress me, haven’t you?”

Kevin’s face flushed slightly, and his gaze drifted toward Levi, who was stationed by the door, trying his best to look inconspicuous.

Levi, however, felt Kevin’s eyes on him and immediately turned his back, pretending to focus on the hallway.

Kevin recalled the conversation they’d had earlier:

“Hide snacks in the cabinet,” Levi had suggested confidently. “Girls love surprises like that. It never fails!”

Kevin had been skeptical. “Are you sure about this?”

“Absolutely!” Levi had said with enthusiasm. “I’ve done it for my nieces—they loved it every single time!”

It hadn’t taken long for Kevin to realize how unconvincing the trick was when applied to someone like Norah.

Now, as Norah gleefully dug into her cake with a spoon, Kevin whispered to Levi, “Didn’t you say this always works?”

Levi looked sheepish. “I didn’t know Mrs. Edwards wouldn’t fall for it. It worked on my nieces!”

Kevin raised an eyebrow. “Nieces?”

Levi sighed and admitted, “Captain Edwards, let me be honest with you. The only girls I’ve ever impressed are my nieces. That’s all I’ve got.”

Kevin shot him a look of exasperation. He’d expected Levi to be some kind of expert.

Half an hour later, Levi found himself downstairs, doing push-ups as punishment.

Sweating profusely, he counted aloud, “Ninety-nine... one hundred... one hundred and one...”

Meanwhile, back in the room, Norah stood by the window and spotted Levi working out in the courtyard below. She tilted her head in confusion.

“Is Levi seriously exercising this late at night?” she asked.

Kevin chuckled. “He’s very disciplined. Likes to stay in shape.”

“Oh,” Norah said, impressed. “Soldiers must have incredible self-control.”

“Absolutely,” Kevin replied. “Now come on, the show’s getting to the best part.”

...

The next morning, Quinn called Norah and asked her to deliver an important document. Norah realized she’d left the document at home and, knowing Quinn was in a rush, decided to make a quick trip back.

Kevin, though hesitant to let her go alone, respected her dedication to her work. He sent Levi to accompany her.

On the way, Levi groaned, “Mrs. Edwards, you’ve got to help me. Captain Edwards is too harsh on us. If I keep this up, I’m going to collapse one day.”

Norah frowned, puzzled. “What do you mean? What happened?”

Levi sighed dramatically. “Yesterday, Captain Edwards punished me. He had me exercising until midnight, and I had to get up before sunrise!”

Norah blinked. “But didn’t he say you enjoy exercising at night?”

Levi looked crushed. “He said that?” He paused, then reluctantly admitted, “Well, I guess I do... like exercising at night.”

When they arrived at Norah’s apartment, she told Levi to wait for her outside while she ran upstairs to grab the document.

“Got it. I’ll be right here,” Levi said, standing guard.

As Norah approached her door, she hesitated. She hadn’t seen Jace in a while, and a strange sense of unease crept over her. Was he home?

Deciding to check, she rang his doorbell.

She pressed it three times.

When there was no response, she assumed he wasn’t home and turned to leave.

But just as she did, the door creaked open.

“Jace…” she began, but her words faltered.

Jace leaned against the doorframe, pale and unsteady. His tall frame swayed, and Norah instinctively rushed to support him.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Jace mumbled weakly, “Julie…”

Hearing that name, Norah’s heart clenched, but she didn’t press him. Instead, she helped him inside.

The moment she stepped into his apartment, the metallic scent of blood hit her. She glanced at the trash can, which was overflowing with blood-soaked gauze.

Her eyes widened in alarm as she looked at Jace’s abdomen, where blood had seeped through his shirt.

“Jace! What happened to you?” she exclaimed, guiding him to the sofa.

Jace avoided her gaze. “Don’t… touch me,” he said hoarsely. “I’m dirty.”

Norah froze, startled by the self-loathing in his voice.

“I don’t want to stain you,” he muttered, his tone filled with shame.

Norah’s chest tightened as she looked at him. She placed her hand gently on his.

“You’re not dirty,” she said firmly. “Let me help you.”

Jace flinched but didn’t pull away. He looked up at her, his brown eyes filled with sadness. “Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“No,” she said softly. “I’m not afraid.”

For a moment, Jace seemed on the verge of tears. A faint smile touched his lips. “That’s good. As long as you’re not afraid of me… that’s good.”

Norah carefully unbuttoned his shirt, revealing countless scars crisscrossing his torso. Her breath hitched.

“How did this happen?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Why are there so many wounds? The last time I saw you, I noticed the injury on your arm, but I didn’t realize…”

Jace’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “I told you I wouldn’t lie to you. But if I tell you everything… you might not like me anymore.”

Tears pricked at Norah’s eyes as she shook her head. “That’s not true. Nothing you say could make me think less of you.”

Jace’s gaze softened, and for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to hope.