Ch. 405: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life Chapter 405

Chapter 405

Norah drifted in and out of sleep, waking to the scent of roasted meat. When she opened her eyes, the sky had already begun to lighten. A quick glance at the time—just past 5 AM.

The temperature shift between night and day was sharp. As she stepped out of the tent, a shiver ran through her, and she instinctively hugged herself for warmth. Around her, everyone was already awake.

A woman gestured toward the fire.

Chunks of meat still sizzled over the flames.

Julissa translated, “You didn’t eat last night. Have something now—we’ll be leaving soon.”

But Norah had no appetite.

She shook her head.

Karina, on the other hand, ate plenty.

Together, they rode camels for three hours, finally reaching a more populated area just after 11 AM. Signs of civilization—restaurants, people, noise.

Inside a small eatery, as they waited for food, Norah’s phone suddenly caught a signal.

Her screen lit up.

Missed calls from Kevin. Kian, too. Several messages.

[Norah, I know you’re heading to the Yi tribe. Call me back as soon as you see this.]

For the first time in days, Kevin had reached out to her first.

She had known all along that Kian would inform him, that Kevin would eventually find out where she was.

She wasn’t running.

She called him back.

The line rang.

After a moment, Kevin’s deep voice came through. “Where are you? Are you safe?”

“I should be in the Yi tribe. I’m safe,” Norah answered calmly.

She had no idea how tightly Kevin was gripping his phone at that moment, how his hands had trembled the instant her name flashed on his screen. He wanted to demand her exact location, to drop everything and rush to her. To hold her. But he couldn’t.

He had already made Norah believe their child was dead. He had already sent Kian with the divorce papers. He had taken every step to ensure their separation. He couldn’t undo it now.

“You came to the Yi—”

Before he could finish, Norah cut in, her voice quiet but firm.

“I came to the Yi tribe to find Steven. And you. But Kevin, I don’t think there’s any reason for us to meet again. While I still have signal, let’s end things here.”

She had once been willing to live and die by his side.

But he never needed her the same way.

His voice was unreadable, devoid of urgency. But Norah had spent seven years by his side—she knew him. And she knew that this detachment meant only one thing.

She wasn’t needed anymore.

Fine. She didn’t need him either.

Norah pressed forward. “Kevin, Steven came here because of me. If anyone should be looking for him, it’s me—not you. As for the money and property you gave me, I don’t want it. Tell Kian to take it back. We… we don’t have anything to do with each other anymore. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”

Every word was clear. Decisive.

But to Kevin, it was like a knife to the chest.

He had prepared for this. He had expected her to hate him, to scream, to question him.

But he had never expected this calmness.

His breath caught in his throat.

Before he could say another word, the line went dead.

He dialed back immediately.

“The number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later.”

Kevin’s grip on his phone tightened. A dark determination flickered in his black eyes.

“Levi. Frank. I need more people stationed in the Yi tribe. The second you see Norah, bring her back to Craggaville.”

It was too dangerous here.

She didn’t know how to fight. If Pharaoh’s men found her first…

Levi hesitated, his brows furrowing. “Captain Edwards, you know Madame’s personality. If she could be forcibly taken back, she wouldn’t have made it this far.”

Frank added, “Even if we do take her, we can’t keep her locked away. She’ll just find a way to escape again.”

Kevin understood.

Even if she were sent back, she had the means and the will to come right back here.

His lips pressed into a thin line. His voice turned cold. “I have my own plan.”

Once she was back in Craggaville, he’d have Kian keep an eye on her.

“Understood.”

Levi and Frank exchanged looks, then nodded in unison.

Norah frowned.

The signal was gone again.

Strange. She was in a populated area now. Why would there still be no reception?

Just as she stepped outside to try calling again, chaos erupted.

A dozen masked men stormed in, weapons drawn.

Before anyone could react, gunfire ripped through the restaurant.

Karina moved instantly, grabbing Norah and pulling her toward the stairs.

A woman clutched her child, Julissa followed close behind, and screams filled the air.

“Boss, they ran to the second floor!”

The leader made a sharp gesture.

“Find her—dead or alive. If we bring back Norah’s corpse, Pharaoh will reward us handsomely.”

“Yes, sir.”

A chorus of voices echoed, chilling and resolute.

Karina’s stomach twisted.

Pharaoh was after Norah?

Why?

Was it because of the poison that had once been in her system? No—Norah’s poison had already been cured. They had only just escaped the desert. How could Pharaoh’s men have tracked them down so quickly?

Unless…

Unless there was a traitor among them.

Karina tightened her grip on Norah’s wrist. “Norah, take off your clothes. We’ll swap. I’ll go east, you go west.”

The woman beside them nodded. Julissa quickly translated, “Ms. White, she’s offering to take you to her tribe. They’ll help you find who you’re looking for.”

Julissa turned to Karina. “What about you?”

“You go with them,” Karina ordered. “I’ll stay behind.”

Her voice was sharp, urgent.

But Norah didn’t move.

She had heard what Karina heard. Understood what Karina understood.

Switching clothes meant sending Karina to die in her place.

She couldn’t do it.

BOOM!

An explosion ripped through the air.

The blast sent a shockwave through the building, and Karina shoved Norah with all her strength.

Norah felt herself being pulled—by Julissa, by the woman—dragged toward a half-collapsed iron door.

The room they stumbled into was pitch black.

Then—

A flicker of orange light.

Norah turned, heart pounding.

She wanted to go back…