Ch. 468: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life Chapter 468

Chapter 468

Norah didn’t wake up immediately, but Jace kept whispering in her ear, repeating his words until she finally stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw Jace hovering over her. Her vision cleared, and she managed to speak, her voice weak. "Jace, let’s… Where are we?"

Jace didn’t answer right away. His lips were pressed into a tight line, his expression serious. When they had first reunited, he’d thought Norah had lost her memory entirely. But now, he realized something far more troubling—her memories were distorted, fragmented.

"We’re in a cave," Jace finally said, his voice steady but heavy. "You have a fever, and I couldn’t keep carrying you. Norah, look at me. There’s something important I need to tell you."

He released her shoulders but stayed close, his gaze intense. The weight of his tone and the gravity in his eyes made Norah realize this wasn’t going to be easy to hear. "Jace, what is it?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Jace hesitated, then took a deep breath. "Norah, we met because you came to the lab…"

He began to explain, recounting how Norah had appeared in the slave camp, dressed in a pristine white princess dress, like an angel amidst the chaos. She had protected him and Karina, standing out like a beacon of hope in that grim place. As the eldest daughter of Pharaoh, no one dared to touch her. She had tried to shield others, but the horrors of the camp were too vast for one person to combat.

But here was the problem: Norah’s memories weren’t her own. She had absorbed the experiences of others, a phenomenon in medicine known as empathy. Jace’s voice softened as he continued, "We escaped the slave camp because you started a fire. I don’t know why you ended up in the imperial capital later, but Norah, you were never experimented on. Your brother Baimo, even Pharaoh—they loved you."

Norah’s breath hitched. Brother Baimo. Pharaoh. The words echoed in her mind, but they felt foreign, like fragments of a story that didn’t belong to her.

Jace gently rolled up her sleeve, revealing a small, round white mark on her arm. "This scar," he said, his voice steady but laced with emotion, "you got it when you saved me. I was being tortured with experimental drugs, and I pushed you away in a panic. A red-hot iron ball landed on your arm and bounced off. Only you and I know about this."

Back then, he’d been terrified that Pharaoh would find out and punish him. But Norah had never said a word. Over time, the scar had faded into a faint white spot, barely noticeable unless you were looking for it.

Norah stared at the mark, her throat tightening. She’d always thought it was a birthmark, but now Jace was telling her the truth. He had no reason to lie, especially not now, when they were running for their lives. This was proof—undeniable proof—that she was Julie, the daughter of Pharaoh and sister of Baimo.

The realization hit her like a tidal wave. She wasn’t just Norah. She was Julie, tied to a legacy of cruelty and power. The Yi tribe had committed unspeakable acts, and Kevin stood on the opposite side of that divide. The weight of it all lodged in her chest, suffocating and inescapable.

"Julie," Jace said softly, using her real name for the first time, "I didn’t want to tell you this. But I had to. I couldn’t let you keep living in someone else’s memories."

He reached out, gently brushing her hair back. His touch was tender, his concern genuine. Even though he knew Norah’s heart belonged to Kevin, all he cared about was her well-being. Everything else was secondary.

Norah’s mind raced. She thought of her confrontation with Kevin over Anthony, a memory that now felt like a cruel illusion. Anthony didn’t exist—he was a figment of someone else’s life, a memory she’d borrowed. This wasn’t empathy; it was sickness. She felt broken, her identity shattered into pieces she couldn’t reconcile.

Tears spilled from her eyes as she buried her face in her hands. They were stranded, with no way to contact Kevin, and Calvin’s men were closing in. The thought of reaching Kevin felt impossible now.

Jace stayed silent, simply sitting beside her, a steady presence in the chaos. He had made up his mind: even if it cost him his life, he would stay by her side. He would protect her, no matter what.

"I’ll go out and look for some wild fruit," Jace said finally, his voice calm but firm. "Stay here, Julie. Don’t wander off, okay?"

Norah nodded, her voice hoarse. "Okay."

She watched him leave, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. Where could she even go? She was a liability, a burden to Jace. And with Calvin’s men hunting them, running blindly would only make things worse.

Meanwhile, Kevin was tracking Norah and Jace’s movements, but he hadn’t made any progress. On the other side, Baimo had taken control of the Yi tribe, quelling the rebellion among the slaves. He had no intention of punishing them further. With Pharaoh unconscious and Calvin’s influence waning, Baimo was determined to rebuild the tribe into something better.

"Kevin," Baimo said, his voice low and measured as he approached, "I didn’t expect you to care so deeply for Norah."

Kevin’s expression didn’t change. His voice was calm but firm. "Norah is Norah. You are you."

He had already pieced together the truth about Norah and Baimo. No matter their differences, his feelings for Norah remained unchanged. He respected her choices, even if they put them on opposite sides.

Baimo’s lips tightened, but there was a flicker of determination in his eyes. "The Yi tribe is broken, but I’ll fix it. Without Calvin or Pharaoh, I’ll make it better. And when Norah returns, she’ll be welcomed as the eldest daughter, respected by everyone. She doesn’t need to be separated from her people."

Kevin didn’t respond. His focus was on finding Norah, and nothing Baimo said would change that.