The Hide and Seek Game That Lasted a Lifetime novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Once more, I found myself gazing up at the cold, sterile blue of the hospital room ceiling. The ache radiating through my entire body was so intense that I couldn’t help but let out a soft moan.

“Chloe, don’t move,” came a voice I recognized instantly. My eyes flew open at the sound, and without thinking, I pleaded, “Dad, I know I was wrong. I really do. I was wrong!”

Dad’s smile, which he had clearly forced onto his face, suddenly froze. He looked at me with a helplessness that reminded me of a child who had just made a terrible mistake.

“It’s Dad. Don’t be afraid,” he said softly, his voice trembling with concern.

Slowly and carefully, he reached out, trying to take my small hand in his. But I recoiled as if struck by an electric shock, curling into myself in fear.

“Dad, I didn’t do anything. I really didn’t…” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

In my mind, I could see the countless times Dad had reached out to me, and every single one of those moments had ended with me covered in bruises and scars.

The guilt shining in Dad’s eyes was almost something I could touch. His arm hung stiffly in the air before he slowly lowered it, defeated.

“If you don’t want to talk to Dad, maybe it’s okay with Mom,” he said quietly, stepping aside to let Mom come into view.

When Mom’s eyes met mine, all the words she had been holding back melted into silent tears. It had been so long since she had truly looked at me.

She took in the ragged clothes I wore, the hollow cheeks, and the empty, wounded eye socket.

I lifted my gaze, meeting Mom’s swollen, red eyes with a seriousness that seemed to break through the silence. Then I said something that made the tears fall harder from everyone present.

“Mom, I won’t be a burden anymore. I can go home right now.”

Mom’s heart seemed to shatter into pieces. She broke down with loud sobs, her voice trembling as she cried, “Chloe, Mom hurt you… I’m so sorry!”

After a few choked sobs, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed right there.

Dad, standing nearby, turned pale with shock. He rushed over, shouting, “Honey! What’s wrong!?”

—

“Somebody, help! Please, someone!”

I had never seen Dad like this before—so frantic, so desperate. The flood of memories from the past surged uncontrollably through my mind.

Fear gripped me tightly. I was certain that everything happening was because of me.

So, I believed that admitting fault before anyone else could would somehow ease the pain.

—

Five days later, I was discharged from the hospital.

Liam stood at the door, his eyes fixed on me, a mixture of surprise and confusion written plainly across his face.

“Mom, why is this little bastard back?” he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

“Didn’t you send her away?”

For the very first time, Dad slapped Liam because of something he said.

The sharp slap echoed through the room, and tears welled up in Liam’s eyes.

But Dad, his face dark with fury, roared into Liam’s ear with a voice so loud it was almost deafening.

“She is not a bastard!” he bellowed.

“She is your sister! Your biological sister!”