The Hide and Seek Game That Lasted a Lifetime novel Chapter 16

Chapter 6

By the time Nora was finally freed from the sack the following morning, she had already slipped into unconsciousness, her body limp and unresponsive.

When the butler came to report the situation, Chase was meticulously applying ointment to the small puncture wound on Camila’s arm.

“She passed out?” Chase’s face immediately hardened. Setting the medicine down with deliberate care, he hurried outside.

Camila bit her lip, a fleeting glint of malice flashing briefly across her features before she followed him.

Nora lay crumpled on the cold ground, her skin marked with dozens of tiny, blood-speckled bite marks. Chase stared in disbelief, momentarily speechless—until a sharp intake of breath from Camila behind him drew his attention.

“Ow… the spot where I got pricked still stings like hell…” she murmured, wincing.

Distracted, Chase turned back to inspect her arm again. “Are you feeling any better, Camila?” he asked gently.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded. “I’m sure Nora didn’t mean to hurt me… maybe she just got upset seeing you treat me so well. It’s okay. I won’t hold it against her.”

Chase’s expression grew colder, the brief flicker of sympathy he had felt for Nora evaporating completely.

“She made the first move. So what if she passed out? Splash her with cold water—once if she doesn’t wake up, twice if needed. If it takes ten buckets, then she’s faking it!” he ordered sharply.

The butler nodded and began pouring water over Nora.

One bucket…

Two buckets…

Three buckets…

It wasn’t until the seventh bucket that Nora finally stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing a dazed gaze as a pounding headache throbbed through her skull.

Chase let out a cold, humorless laugh. “What? Done pretending? You almost had me fooled, you know.”

Camila whispered softly, “She probably figured if she kept faking, the act would eventually fall apart.”

Nora had never been this furious in her entire life.

For a fleeting moment, her sadness vanished completely—only pure hatred remained.

Summoning every ounce of strength she had left, she forced herself upright, each unsteady step bringing her closer to them.

—

Chase glanced over, impatience flickering in his eyes—then he suddenly froze.

There was something in Nora’s gaze that unsettled him deeply.

It wasn’t the longing or warmth she used to show when looking at him.

Now, her eyes were empty—flat and still like a lifeless sea.

A sudden unease crept over Chase.

“Nora, listen to me—”

Before he could finish, her knees gave way.

The world spun wildly around her.

She collapsed back to the ground with a heavy thud.

—

Nora was rushed to the hospital immediately.

Doctors found extensive internal and external injuries, compounded by a dangerously high fever.

She needed to be admitted without delay.

“Her condition is critical,” the doctor informed Chase gravely. “She requires complete rest. No emotional stimulation of any kind.”

With that, the doctor left the room.

—

In the days that followed, Chase remained steadfast by Nora’s bedside, refusing to leave her side for even a moment.

Camila visited a few times, but each time, seeing Chase so distraught, she clenched her jaw tightly and walked away silently.

At the hospital, Chase burst into Nora’s ward without warning.

He grabbed her roughly, yanking her out of bed and throwing her to the cold floor.

“Nora Langston, you’re vile!” he spat.

The shock of the cold floor jolted her awake. Blinking in confusion, she whispered, “What… what’s happening?”

“What’s happening?” Chase roared, his voice raw with anger. “You still have the nerve to ask? I should have never shown you mercy. It’s only made you more arrogant—more disgusting. A woman like you doesn’t deserve to live!”

His rage exploded, words spilling out uncontrollably.

“I want a divorce!”

Those words cut through Nora like a knife, snapping her out of her daze.

Meeting his fury with a chilling calmness, she replied, “Fine. Let’s get divorced.”

—

Somewhere along the way, her heart had gone numb.

Even hearing him say “I want a divorce” stirred no emotion within her.

But her cold indifference only fueled Chase’s anger further.

His breath came fast and heavy, his voice sharp and unforgiving.

“Lock her in the cold storage vault!”

Doctors rushed in, alarmed.

“She hasn’t recovered yet—any more stress could kill her!”

Chase’s voice dripped with disgust.

“Then let her die. It’s exactly what she deserves.”

And so, Nora was thrown into the cold, dark room, left alone to face the chilling silence.