The Hide and Seek Game That Lasted a Lifetime novel Chapter 14

Chapter 4

The following morning, Chase arrived at the garage to pick Nora up. As soon as his eyes landed on her, a confident, almost smug smile curved his lips.

“Did you spend the entire night mulling things over? You know exactly where you went wrong, don’t you?” he teased.

Nora’s face was pale, drained of color. She simply nodded, her expression vacant.

“I know what I did wrong,” she admitted quietly.

“Good,” Chase replied, nodding with a sense of satisfaction.

During the drive back, Nora’s gaze remained fixed on the back of his head. Her heart, once filled with hope and love, was now an empty, icy void. Those grueling ten hours had made one painful truth undeniable:

She had been foolish to chase after him, fully aware that he never truly loved her.

She had been wrong to throw herself at him, knowing their marriage was nothing more than a transaction built on convenience and profit.

She had clung to him desperately, even though she knew his heart belonged to someone else.

Determined to make things right, she promised herself she would correct every mistake—starting immediately.

She would leave him.

Completely.

Both emotionally and physically.

Just five more days, she told herself silently, counting down the moments.

When they finally arrived at Peninsula Manor, Chase handed her the keys without a hint of hesitation.

“A promise is a promise,” he said firmly.

Noticing the flicker of surprise on her face, he offered a sly smile.

“I told you—behave yourself, and I’ll treat you right. Camila doesn’t threaten your position.”

“Once I’ve had my fun with her,” he added with a smirk, “I’ll come back and play the role of a good husband.”

“That is… if you behave,” he finished, his tone laced with amusement.

Nora returned a faint smile, though it never reached the depths of her eyes.

She stepped inside the grand house. The space was expansive and flooded with natural light, decorated with luxurious furnishings and tasteful art. It should have felt like home.

But it didn’t.

Not with Camila lounging casually on the leather sofa, her presence impossible to ignore.

Nora had long since given up on Chase, but those words still cut deep, striking a nerve she wasn’t ready to admit was raw.

Before she could respond, she caught a sly, calculating glint in Camila’s eyes.

Suddenly, Camila grabbed a glass of water and flung it across her own face, letting out a perfectly timed shriek.

“Aaah!” she cried dramatically.

“Nora, what was that for?! I only asked about your knees because I was worried—why would you humiliate me like this?” she sobbed, throwing herself into Chase’s arms.

Nora’s mouth opened, ready to protest.

“I didn’t—”

Before she could finish, a sharp, stinging slap landed across her face, knocking her to the floor.

“Is that your idea of repentance?” Chase growled fiercely.

“Still playing the victim? You think just because the Langstons saved the Whitmore Group, you can trample over Camila now? Not this time—I won’t go easy on you!”

With a harsh shove, he pushed her hard, sending her tumbling over the edge of the sunken pool.

The ledge was nearly six feet high, and Nora’s heart pounded as she fell into the cold water below.