Ch. 470: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life Chapter 470

Chapter 470

Norah was the first to spot him.

He stood at the mouth of the cave, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, as if the light itself had wrapped him in a radiant halo.

Steven.

Instinctively, Norah pushed Jace aside and tried to stand, but her legs felt like they were filled with lead, heavy and uncooperative.

"Steven," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She wanted to move toward him, but her body refused to obey. Jace stayed close, ready to catch her if she stumbled.

Steven noticed her too. He’d heard others mention Norah’s name in connection with Kevin, and it had sparked something in him—a faint memory he couldn’t quite grasp. He remembered Norah as someone important, someone beautiful, but the details were just out of reach.

Norah saw the clarity in Steven’s eyes and realized the truth: he’d forgotten the past. The memories of their time in the slave camp, the bond they’d shared—it was all gone. She turned to Jace, desperation in her voice. "Jace, is there any way to help him remember? It’s cruel for him to live like this, not knowing who he is or where he came from."

Jace nodded. "I’ll do what I can."

Steven didn’t leave. He stayed close to Norah, as if her presence might help him piece together the fragments of his lost memories. He didn’t know why, but her name stuck in his mind, even when everything else was a blur.

Norah didn’t push him away. She couldn’t. Instead, she focused on Jace, who was preparing something for her. He held out a small cup, his expression serious. "Drink this," he said. "It’ll help."

Norah hesitated, her stomach churning at the thought. She’d always been repulsed by the idea of drinking his blood, even if it was medicinal.

Jace noticed her reluctance and spoke softly. "Norah, I won’t hurt you. You know what I am—a medicine man. My blood can help you. Remember the emerald green beads I gave you? They had my blood in them. They helped you before, and this will too."

Norah’s mind flashed back to the beads. She remembered how they’d brought her a strange sense of calm. But this was different. This was raw, intimate, and it made her skin crawl.

Before she could respond, a voice interrupted them. "Ms. White! A call from Captain Edwards!"

A man in camouflage approached, holding a sleek silver phone. Norah took it, her heart skipping a beat as Kevin’s deep, hoarse voice came through the line.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his tone urgent but controlled.

"I’m fine. No injuries. What about you?"

"I’m unharmed too." Kevin exhaled, the relief evident in his voice. "Wait for me. I’ll be back soon."

"Okay."

The conversation was brief, almost mundane, but the weight of their connection was palpable. Jace and Steven exchanged glances, both aware of the bond between Norah and Kevin. They stepped back, giving her space.

After hanging up, Norah handed the phone back and turned to Jace. Reluctantly, she drank what he offered. The faint medicinal taste lingered on her tongue, and she shuddered. She couldn’t imagine what Jace had endured to become what he was—a living remedy, a product of Pharaoh’s experiments.

"Is the poison still in my system?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Is that why your blood helps me?"

Jace shook his head. "No, the poison is gone. Kevin’s antidote worked. But your body is weak, and my blood can speed up your recovery. Julie, don’t overthink it."

"Call me Norah," she snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. The name Julie felt like a chain, tying her to a past she didn’t want to claim.

Jace sighed. "You’ve always been Julie to me. That’s who you were when we met. I know it’s hard, but you can’t erase your past. We don’t get to choose where we come from, but we can choose how we move forward."

Norah wanted to laugh, but the sound caught in her throat. "The Pharaoh I know—the one I’ve seen in my memories—he’s a monster. He kills, burns, destroys. And he made you into this. How am I supposed to accept that?"

The images flashed in her mind like scenes from a nightmare. She couldn’t reconcile the person she was now with the person she’d been as Julie. It was too much.

"I’m tired," she said finally, her voice hollow. "I need to rest. When Kevin gets back, wake me."

Jace nodded and stayed by her side, fanning her gently as she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

An hour later, Kevin arrived. He didn’t waste time. After asking his men for Norah’s location, he strode straight to her tent. When he pulled back the flap, he found Jace and Steven inside, both standing guard over her.

The moment Kevin entered, Jace and Steven exchanged a look and quietly stepped outside, leaving Kevin alone with Norah.

She was still asleep, her breathing shallow but steady. Kevin sat beside her, his eyes never leaving her face. When she finally stirred and opened her eyes, she thought she was dreaming. But then she remembered—she was with Jace, in Kevin’s camp. This was real.

Norah reached out, her hand trembling as she tried to touch his face. Kevin leaned in, closing the distance, and gently took her hand in his.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them was heavy but comforting, a language all its own.

"I’m sorry," Kevin began, his voice rough with emotion. But Norah cut him off, pressing her fingers to his lips.

"Don’t apologize. None of this is your fault."

Kevin hesitated, then nodded. "Stay here and rest. When you’re stronger, I’ll take you back to the imperial capital."

Norah’s eyes searched his, and she saw the conflict there. She knew he had responsibilities, a mission that couldn’t wait.

"I’ll go back with Karina and Steven," she said softly. "And… you."

She squeezed his hand, her voice breaking. "I want to stay with you, Kevin. But I know you have your duty. I won’t be selfish."

Kevin’s chest tightened. He wanted to tell her she wasn’t being selfish, that he’d find a way to make it work. But the words stuck in his throat.

Norah looked away, her breath hitching as tears threatened to fall. She knew the truth: Kevin had a calling, and she couldn’t—wouldn’t—stand in his way.