Ch. 436: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life Chapter 436

Chapter 436

Journi's face twisted in shock. "What the hell are you talking about?!"

Flustered, she darted a glance at the people around her before snapping, "Shut her up! Now!"

Then, as if struck by a better idea, she sneered. "No—cut out her tongue. I want her silenced for good."

Journi's threats came fast, but Norah caught something in her frantic words. The more guilty someone was, the more they tried to cover it up with aggression.

If Baimo hadn’t planted the idea in her head, she might not have tested her like this.

Norah smirked. "Hit a nerve, did I?"

Journi lifted her chin with smug satisfaction. "What? Are you scared? Beg for mercy now, and maybe I'll consider leaving you in one piece."

Norah scoffed. "You didn’t even deny it. You’re just desperate to shut me up. No matter what you do, the truth won’t change. A fake will always be a fake."

"Shut up!" Journi shrieked, her composure cracking. She relished seeing people beg before her, but Norah’s defiance only fueled her fury. Why wasn’t she afraid?

"If you want me to shut up, kill me already." Norah goaded her.

Journi's face contorted in rage. "You think I won’t?!"

She snatched a dagger from a nearby guard and pressed it against Norah’s cheek. "If you’re not afraid of death, fine. I’ll make you wish you were dead. First, I’ll ruin your pretty face. Once you’re disfigured, no one will want you. They’ll turn their backs on you. Then, I’ll sever your tendons and make you a cripple."

A sick pleasure glinted in Journi’s eyes as she imagined it.

Norah didn’t flinch, even as the cold blade bit into her skin. Her gaze stayed locked on Journi. "You seem a little obsessed with destroying my face. Almost like… you know what it’s like to be ruined yourself. Could it be that yours isn’t even real? Plastic surgery, maybe?"

"You—!" Journi recoiled, hands flying to her face as if Norah had exposed something.

Her panic only deepened Norah’s suspicions.

"I’m going to kill you, you little—!" Journi roared, lifting the knife.

But before she could strike, the sound of approaching cars cut through the tension.

Journi froze. The dagger hovered inches from Norah’s skin when a man stepped out of the vehicle.

"Miss." The voice was calm yet commanding.

Journi turned, her grip on the knife tightening. "Elder Ke."

The old man—dressed in a black robe, his silver hair neatly combed—walked toward them. Though he appeared to be in his seventies, his presence was strong, unwavering. He glanced at Norah but didn’t seem surprised. Instead, he addressed Journi in an even tone. "Miss, now is not the time for bloodshed. You should return."

Journi hesitated before letting out an annoyed huff. She slowly pulled the knife away from Norah’s face.

"Elder Ke, this woman is a threat to me. I can’t just let her go."

"We’ll deal with it later." Elder Ke’s words left no room for argument.

Journi shot Norah a venomous glare. "You got lucky. But don’t get too comfortable."

Norah watched as Elder Ke turned back toward the car. Something about him unsettled her.

Before she could dwell on it, rough hands shoved her forward. They forced her into a car and pulled a black cloth over her head.

They didn’t want her knowing where they were going.

Norah lost track of time during the ride. When the car finally stopped, she was dragged out and the hood was yanked away.

A sprawling garden stretched before her, its beauty at odds with her situation. The buildings combined ancient elegance with modern luxury, a clear sign of wealth and power. This was no ordinary home—it was a fortress.

"Get in!" A guard shoved her forward.

Norah steadied herself. "Where is this? How long are you planning to keep me locked up?"

"That’s up to the young miss." Owen’s tone was cold. "If I were you, I wouldn’t get too comfortable."

Without another word, they left her alone.

Surprisingly, she wasn’t confined to a single room. She could move around the garden, though high-voltage wires lined the towering walls. Escape was impossible.

As Norah wandered, a group of young women dressed in traditional Yi tribe clothing passed her. She greeted them, but they ignored her, heads bowed as they moved swiftly inside.

They reminded her of palace servants in ancient times.

A sudden crash rang out, followed by the sharp crack of a whip.

"Ahh!"

Norah followed the sound and came upon a brutal scene. A plump woman lashed a frail girl mercilessly, her whip slicing through skin already marred with bloody wounds.

The girl couldn’t have been older than fifteen. She trembled violently, arms raised in a pitiful attempt to shield herself.

"Please—please stop!" she sobbed.

But the woman, Kendall, sneered. "Spare you? This is how things work here. You break the rules, you get punished. Consider yourself lucky I don’t beat you to death!"

She raised the whip again.

Norah's instincts kicked in.

She lunged forward, grabbing the whip before it could land another blow.

Kendall’s eyes widened. "You dare—?!"

Norah’s grip tightened. "She’ll die if you keep this up. Over a broken bowl?"

The watching crowd sucked in a breath, fear flickering in their eyes.

The young girl clung to Norah’s leg. "Sister, help me… please…"

Norah looked down at her. Malnourished, bruised, utterly helpless. She couldn’t just stand by.

Kendall yanked at the whip. "You must be new here. Let me make one thing clear—when I say someone dies, they die. Nobody will know, and nobody will care. Now, get your hands off me, or you’ll be next!"

Menacing figures emerged behind her. More enforcers.

The girl trembled. "Don’t… don’t fight them. You’ll die…"

Norah’s eyes flicked to the guards, then back to Kendall. Her grip on the whip didn’t loosen.

Instead, she moved.

Before Kendall could react, Norah was behind her, looping the whip around her thick neck and pulling tight.

"Ahh!" Kendall choked, struggling against the hold.