Ch. 575: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life Chapter 575

Chapter 575

The accident happened so quickly that by the time Norah reacted, the child had already fallen. She scooped him up into her arms and shot a cold glare at Maleah as she stood.

Maleah stepped back in fear, stammering, “What are you trying to do? I didn’t use any force, okay? He fell on his own—it has nothing to do with me!”

“Maleah, right? I’ll remember that name. If my child gets sick, my lawyer will be in touch. Oh, and isn’t your husband a manager at some big company? I’m sure he’s doing well financially. So don’t act stingy when it comes to covering medical expenses.”

Norah hadn’t planned on arguing with Maleah. If Maleah wanted attention, Norah was willing to give her some. But kicking her child? That crossed the line. If she stayed silent now, she wouldn't be Norah.

Maybe it was the icy tone in her voice, but not only did Maleah shrink back, even a few nearby parents instinctively stepped away.

Norah didn’t care. She simply carried Cooper back to the rest area.

The games continued in full swing. The kids who won cheered, while the ones who lost threw tantrums and cried. Around noon, Norah got a message from Kevin—something urgent had come up at work and he had to head back to the office.

She didn’t make a fuss. Instead, she called the restaurant to arrange lunch.

There was no reason for her to cook.

If the teacher had trusted Maleah with organizing lunch, it meant she didn’t care much about the truth—or maybe she just wanted to have a good time. In that case, Norah figured she might as well let everyone enjoy a decent meal.

The announcement came over the speakers, signaling the end of the morning events. Everyone returned to their respective rest areas. Parents from other classes were busy preparing lunch. Only Cooper’s class parents were either chatting on video calls or snapping pictures—waiting for food.

“Are you really Cooper’s mom?”

A parent—clearly sent over by others—walked up and asked Norah.

Norah nodded. “You don’t think I’m his mom?”

“It’s not that. It’s just… I’ve never seen you pick up Cooper from school. You’re not in our moms’ group either. Honestly, I thought you might be the nanny. No offense.”

Norah smiled calmly. “That just means I give off a practical vibe. I don’t take it personally. So, what did you want to talk about?”

People didn’t just approach her for no reason. And this one was being overly polite—definitely had a favor to ask.

The woman looked embarrassed but finally whispered, “I didn’t want to be the one to ask, but everyone’s getting anxious—and honestly, I am too. The kids are starving. So… when are you planning to start cooking? It doesn’t have to be fancy. No one expects a full-blown banquet.”

Truth be told, she was hungry too.

Norah checked the time. It was about time for the food to arrive.

She made a call, and the voice on the other end answered right away, “Madam, I’ll be there shortly. I’m already at the school gate. Please wait a moment—we won’t delay your lunch.”

“Great. Just be careful not to bump into any kids when you come in.”

After hanging up, Norah smiled at the parent. “Just hang tight. Lunch will be ready soon.”

The woman glanced toward the makeshift kitchen in the distance, looking confused, and gave an awkward smile.

Minutes later, a food truck rolled onto campus and parked by the playground. A crew of chefs got out, each carrying a dish.

Everyone’s attention snapped to the scene. Sharp-eyed parents recognized the chefs’ uniforms—from the most renowned hotel in Belourvinelle—and gasped. It looked like the school had really gone all out.

The principal, however, looked helpless. He hadn’t hired those chefs. He had no idea which parent had pulled this off.

“Madam, just as you ordered—the banquet is ready. Where should we set up?”

The hotel manager addressed Norah respectfully, leaving everyone stunned.

Maleah’s face turned red, then pale. She was visibly uncomfortable.

“That hotel is outrageously expensive… and that woman doesn’t exactly scream ‘rich,’ does she? Is she trying to show off?”

“Right? I just saw her arguing with the parent committee chair. Maybe she’s trying to make a point.”

No one knew who made the comments, but Maleah heard them loud and clear. She walked over to Norah with a fake smile.

Before even reaching her, Maleah sneered, “Is that really the hotel manager? Or did you just get some broke relative to play the part?”

She yanked a chef aside as he walked by. “Let me see what kind of banquet this really is. If it’s just some cheap dish, I’m calling you out.”

She lifted a plate cover—and a dish of steamed lamb was revealed.

The rich aroma spread instantly, prompting gasps from the crowd.

Norah chuckled, “Maleah, isn’t this a dish from the Manchu-Han Imperial Banquet?”

Maleah had no clue. But judging from everyone’s reaction, she was losing ground. Her lips twitched. “Smells good, but who knows how it tastes?”

“We’ll know soon enough. You’re blocking the food—are you trying to stop us from eating?”

Norah had been waiting for this moment. If she was going to shut Maleah down, she’d do it when Maleah was riding high—then bring her crashing down.

Maleah quickly stepped aside, watching nervously as the dishes were placed on the table. Panic crept in—what if Norah had actually splurged on a full banquet?

Even if it wasn’t, just the hotel’s name carried weight.

Then a thought struck her.

Maleah smirked and said coldly, “Cooper’s mom, this event was supposed to be about parents cooking. You cheated. This sets a bad example for the kids. You're not being a good role model.”

“Oh really? I thought the point of today was for everyone to have fun. If my cooking wouldn’t bring joy, why not find another way to make everyone happy?”

Norah cut her off, then turned to the others. “Ladies, come grab a seat. Honestly, I’ve never had a full-course banquet like this. If it weren’t for Maleah, I wouldn’t have had the chance. So let’s all thank her, shall we?”

The parents looked at Norah in silence.

Everyone knew she and Maleah were clashing, and no one wanted to get dragged in. But this meal changed the game—they owed her now.

Someone stepped up and took Norah by the arm. “If you ask me, the one we should thank is Cooper’s mom. Without her, we wouldn’t be eating anything this good. Just the smell is making my mouth water.”

Once one parent stepped forward, the rest followed. One by one, they sided with Norah.

Maleah stood off to the side, seething.