Ch. 295: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 295

Chapter 295

Norah couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw Jace.

“How could this be?” she murmured, her voice laced with disbelief.

Jace, on the other hand, was overcome by an all-too-familiar fear—that she might no longer look at him the same way.

He shouldn’t be worried about anyone disliking him. He had no reason to.

But right now, Norah’s priority was tending to his wounds. She spoke gently, yet firmly, “Just stay still, and let me take care of this.”

Jace hesitated, his unease visible in the slight tension in his posture.

Norah didn’t wait for his approval. She moved closer, unbuttoning his shirt, and what lay beneath made her heart clench. The scars on his pale skin stood out starkly, raw and angry.

The sight left her unsettled.

She found some medicine on the coffee table, picked it up, and began to treat his wounds with the utmost care. As she dabbed the ointment on his injuries, her mind began piecing together recent events.

“You came to see me yesterday, didn’t you?” she asked, breaking the silence.

Jace dropped his gaze, avoiding her eyes.

Norah continued as if speaking her thoughts aloud. “You were fine then. No injuries. But after I was kidnapped, everything changed. That red-haired woman—Karina—I saw her leave your room. She knows you, doesn’t she? She’s the one who tied me up that day. Are these wounds her doing? Or is there more to this story?”

Her voice carried both concern and frustration, but she was already connecting the dots.

Jace exhaled, resigned. “Her name is Karina,” he said quietly.

“Karina,” Norah repeated, her brow furrowed in thought. “Was she the taxi driver that day?”

Jace nodded. “She was. That’s how I was able to save you.”

Norah studied him, her emotions a tangle of confusion and unease. “Did we meet before? Back in that dark place?”

Jace’s eyes flicked to her, as though trying to gauge how much she remembered.

But her expression remained clouded, uncertain.

He had no intention of letting her recall those memories. He had only wanted to see her, to keep her in his life, even from a distance. Bringing up the past would only reopen wounds he’d rather keep closed.

“You’re Norah,” he said finally, his voice low.

Norah tilted her head, studying his face. “I’m Norah, yes. But aren’t I also Julie? You called me Julie earlier. Am I not Julie?”

Jace’s brow creased, and he seemed to retreat into himself. The internal struggle was evident in the way he clenched his fists.

He had loved her, still loved her, but he knew she was never his to claim. They came from different worlds, and he’d always understood that. His only wish was to protect her, to ensure she lived a life of happiness—even if it wasn’t with him.

“You’re Norah,” he said firmly, trying to convince himself as much as her. “You’re Kevin’s wife. Julie… Julie is nothing more than a name in my imagination.”

Norah frowned. The dreams she’d been having lately seemed to tell a different story.

Jace’s voice broke through her thoughts. “I don’t have a name,” he said, his tone laden with regret.

Norah stared at him, her gaze unwavering. “You do. You gave me my name—Julie. And someone gave you your name. Jace, Karina, Julie… these are all names someone else gave us, aren’t they?”

Jace’s fists tightened, his knuckles white as her words hit closer to home than she realized.

Suddenly, as though driven by a desperate need to shut down the conversation, he leaned forward, pressing her into the couch.

Norah froze, startled by the abruptness of his movement.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her hands braced against his chest.

Jace’s eyes darkened. “You’re brave, aren’t you? Walking into a strange man’s room without hesitation. Don’t you know the dangers of doing something like this?”

Norah met his intense gaze without flinching. “I know you,” she said calmly.

“Do you really?” Jace challenged, his voice dripping with tension.

“I know enough,” she replied. Her eyes held his, unwavering. “And even if I didn’t, you wouldn’t hurt me. Would you?”

Her words made Jace pause.

Seeing his hesitation, Norah leaned closer. “You’re all talk,” she said, her voice softer now. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Her confidence disarmed him. Jace backed away, conflicted and frustrated.

She sat up, watching him carefully. “If you wanted to harm me, you wouldn’t have saved me in the first place.”

Jace rose from the couch, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “You’re right,” he admitted. “No matter what, I can’t hurt you.”

Norah nodded. “That day, Karina didn’t kill me either. Why?”

“Don’t concern yourself with that,” Jace said curtly.

“I’m not trying to meddle,” Norah replied. “But I remember fragments of the past, and I know we’ve crossed paths before. Whatever happened, I’ve moved on. Can’t you?”

Jace looked at her, his expression unreadable. “You’re different from us,” he said finally.

“Why am I different?” Norah pressed.

Jace shook his head, avoiding her question. “Just leave,” he said, his tone distant.

Norah sighed, standing up. “When you’re ready to be honest with me, I’ll be here.”

She turned to leave, but a wave of dizziness hit her, and she stumbled.

Jace was at her side in an instant, steadying her. His grip tightened slightly as his eyes fell on a faint bruise on her arm.

Shock flickered across his face. “What happened?”

“It’s nothing,” Norah said, brushing him off. “Take care of yourself.”

She walked toward the door, leaving him standing there, his fists clenched.

Just as she reached the exit, Jace called out to her.

When she turned, she saw him holding out the string of beads he used to wear.

“Take it,” he said, his voice soft but firm.

“This is important to you,” Norah said, hesitant to accept it.

“It’s yours now,” Jace insisted, pressing it into her hand. “Keep it safe.”

Norah studied the beads, catching the faint scent of sandalwood mixed with the metallic tang of blood.

She looked up at him one last time, her gaze heavy with unspoken questions. But Jace said nothing more.

Taking the beads with her, she nodded and left. The door closed behind her, leaving them both alone with their thoughts.