The Hide and Seek Game That Lasted a Lifetime novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Mrs. Davies hurried me back toward the villa, her grip firm yet hurried. From a distance, I caught sight of Dad’s face—grim, unreadable, and shadowed by a coldness that made my stomach churn.

The yard had been cleaned; the blood stains wiped away as if trying to erase the horrors that had just unfolded. Yet, Liam and the other children still looked pale and shaken, their faces drained of color as they struggled to regain their composure.

Dad glanced up as I approached. The sight of my face, heavily bandaged and swollen, caused a flicker of surprise to flash across his features. But it was fleeting, replaced swiftly by his usual indifferent expression.

“Kneel. Apologize to them,” he ordered sharply.

Without hesitation, I dropped to my knees, bowing my head low and murmuring apologies repeatedly, hoping my words would somehow undo the damage.

Mom stepped forward, her face blank and unreadable, clutching a shoe stained with dark, dried blood. The sight of that shoe sent a fresh wave of pain crashing through me—the memory of its sharp toe pressing deep into my eye socket was still vivid and raw.

“Did you dirty this?” she asked coldly.

My face drained of color instantly. “Yes… it hurt my eye,” I whispered, the sting of the wound flaring anew in my mind.

“Lick it clean,” she commanded, her voice low but laced with menace.

I recoiled, eyes flicking to the dark bloodstains. My body trembled instinctively. “Mom, that’s blood,” I protested softly, shaking my head.

Her expression darkened, eyes locking onto mine with a terrifying intensity. “I said, lick it clean,” she repeated, voice harder this time.

Fear rooted me to the spot. “Can I… not lick it? I’ll wipe it clean with my hand, okay?” I begged, my voice barely above a whisper.

Suddenly, Mom let out a piercing scream that sliced through the air. Her face twisted into something unrecognizable as she lunged forward, smashing the shoe repeatedly against my head.

“I said lick it clean, you little bitch! Are you deaf?!” she spat, her rage unrelenting.

One blow, two, three… the buzzing in my ears grew louder, drowning out everything else. Blood trickled from the still-fresh wound on my forehead, staining her clothes with deep red droplets.

“Mom, I know I was wrong, please, just stop!” I cried out, desperation seeping into my voice.

Driven by sheer terror, I raised my arms to shield my head, enduring the relentless assault as best I could.

After what felt like an eternity, Mom finally ceased her attack. Her venomous gaze never wavered from me, cold and unforgiving.

“You little slut. Your bastard father made my life a living hell. Now, I’ll make sure his daughter tastes the same torment,” she hissed.

Tears mixed with blood slid down my cheeks, falling like broken beads. I shook my head desperately, whispering to myself, “Dad saved me… Dad’s not a bastard.”

Dad, who had stood silently until now, suddenly stiffened. In a flash, he was at my side, his hand clamping around my neck with crushing force, lifting me clean off the ground.

Our eyes met, and I saw a wild, bloodthirsty madness burning in his gaze that sent a chill spiraling deep into my soul.

“Remember this: I am not your father,” he snarled.

“You’re a bastard. A waste of space who should never have been born,” he spat, his voice low and venomous.

The pressure around my neck tightened, suffocating me. My will to live surged, and I struggled with everything I had, gasping for breath.

But Dad’s eyes bore into mine, waiting for my response like a predator savoring its prey.

He reached into his pocket and tossed a piece of blueberry cake into the dog dish beside me. The rich, sweet aroma wafted toward me, tempting yet terrifying.

I instinctively recoiled, eyes darting to Liam in fear.

The memory of Mom’s earlier beating was still raw, and I dreaded the thought of disobedience’s consequences.

“What’s with that look?” Liam frowned, his voice hardening again. “Suit yourself.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away.

As soon as he was gone, I hesitated only a moment before reaching out to grab the cake.

“Chloe, is it good?” The familiar voice exploded suddenly in my ear, making my blood run cold. I dropped to my knees, bowing my head frantically.

“Mom! I was wrong! I’ll never steal food again!” I begged, my voice shaking.

Mom approached slowly, her shoe crushing the cake beneath it, flattening it mercilessly into a sticky, ruined mess.

I screamed in horror, but when I dared to look up, my face froze in terror.

“Mom… Mom, what are you going to do?” I whispered, dread tightening its grip.

Her face was twisted with a strange, frenzied madness, a cruel smirk playing on her lips as she grabbed a handful of my hair and began dragging me toward the door.

“If I kill you, that scumbag should show up, right?” she muttered darkly.