The Hide and Seek Game That Lasted a Lifetime novel Chapter 12

Chapter 2

Nora felt her heart skip a painful beat. Without thinking, she quickly snapped her phone shut, the sudden movement sharp and instinctive.

Chase approached her slowly, his gaze drifting toward Jamie’s pale face. He exhaled deeply, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

“I know what Camila did was wrong,” he began, his voice heavy with regret. “But I’ve already instructed the doctors to do everything they can. The blood bank gave Jamie top priority as well. It’s just… she’s so young, and her body isn’t strong enough to handle all this…”

Nora didn’t utter a single word. Instead, she fixed him with a cold, contemptuous stare that cut deeper than any insult.

Chase frowned, clearly unsettled by the icy look she gave him—something he wasn’t used to facing from her. After a moment of awkward silence, he muttered an excuse and turned away.

Nora knew exactly where he was headed—to be by Camila’s side.

She hadn’t cared before, and now, more than ever, she refused to care.

Over the following days, Nora remained at the hospital, devoted to Jamie’s care. Yet, she also made a quiet, solitary trip back to the Whitmore estate to clear out all her belongings.

Day one at the hospital:

Chase didn’t leave Camila’s bedside for a single second, his attention fully consumed by her fragile state.

Meanwhile, Nora returned home and burned every photograph, every memento that reminded her of their years together—watching the flames consume the past she no longer wanted.

Day two:

Chase visited Jamie for about an hour before rushing out when Camila called him urgently.

Nora spent the evening at home, shredding the half-finished sweater she had once knitted for him with painstaking care. She crumpled the pieces and threw them into the trash without a second thought.

Day three:

Chase showed up again, this time accompanied by Camila.

Nora watched everything unfold on the security feed—the two of them locked in a heated embrace, kissing passionately and clinging to each other right beside Jamie’s hospital bed.

That night, she returned to the estate and took photographs of every confidential file Chase had hidden away, determined to keep a record of his secrets.

Day five:

Jamie was finally discharged from the hospital.

Chase brought Camila back to the Whitmore estate as if nothing had happened.

—

“Nora,” Chase said, his voice edged with frustration. “Camila’s injured. She’s weak right now and can’t take care of herself. She needs me.”

Nora’s eyes met his, her heart breaking all over again.

“Chase, have you forgotten our agreement?” she asked quietly.

No matter how wild things got outside, he was never to bring another woman home. That had always been her non-negotiable line.

And until now, Chase had respected it.

Nora watched their silhouettes move in perfect rhythm, Chase’s hands gentle, his eyes soft and tender.

Her chest twisted painfully, as if her heart might shatter.

He used to touch her like that, but only once a month—and every time, his touch was cold and mechanical, as if he were performing a duty he resented.

She remembered lying beneath him, his hand gripping her throat, his voice hoarse as he whispered, “Chase Whitmore… if you really hate this, you don’t have to keep pretending…”

She never understood why, if he hated her so much, he kept returning to her bed.

But he never answered.

He just kept going—again and again.

Eventually, she stopped asking questions, because the silence hurt less than his lies.

She told herself maybe that was just the kind of man he was.

Until she saw how he treated Camila.

Then, at last, she understood:

There is no such thing as a man who is too cold.

He simply doesn’t warm up—to you.