Where Destiny Forgot Us 13

Where Destiny Forgot Us 13 Summary

The chapter begins with Chase arriving to pick up Nora from the garage, immediately teasing her about having spent the night reflecting on her mistakes. Nora, feeling hollow and resigned, admits she knows where she went wrong—chasing after Chase despite knowing he never truly loved her and clinging to a marriage that was merely transactional. She silently vows to leave him completely in five days, both physically and emotionally.

 

Upon arriving at Peninsula Manor, Chase hands over the keys and reminds Nora to behave if she wants to be treated well, assuring her that Camila poses no threat to her position. However, Nora’s unease grows when she finds Camila casually lounging in the house, claiming she came early to welcome Nora with a housewarming gift. Chase insists Nora act as the hostess and not get caught up in petty conflicts, but Nora feels the role is a cruel joke.

 

During dinner, Camila taunts Nora by revealing how Chase tenderly cared for her bruised knees, contrasting it with the way he has treated Nora. Camila’s smugness stings Nora deeply, though she tries to hold her composure. When Nora attempts to respond, Camila theatrically throws water on herself and feigns humiliation, drawing Chase’s sympathy.

 

The situation escalates quickly as Chase violently slaps Nora for her reaction and accuses her of still playing the victim despite the Langston family’s support of his business. In a fit of rage, he shoves Nora, causing her to fall over the edge of a six-foot-high sunken pool ledge, highlighting the dangerous and volatile nature of their relationship.

Chapter 4

The following morning, Chase arrived at the garage to pick Nora up. The moment his eyes landed on her, a smug grin curled at the corners of his mouth.

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

Nora’s face drained of color, her expression vacant as she nodded slowly.

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

“Good,” Chase said with a nod, clearly pleased.

During the drive back, Nora found herself fixated on the back of his head, feeling nothing but a cold, empty calm where love once resided. The grueling ten hours of agony had brought one undeniable truth into sharp focus: she had been wrong. Wrong to chase after him when she knew he never truly loved her. Wrong to throw herself at him, fully aware their marriage was nothing more than a transaction. Wrong to cling to him, even though his heart belonged somewhere else entirely.

She vowed to correct every misstep—starting now.

She would leave him.

Completely.

Both in body and spirit.

Just five more days, she whispered to herself, counting down the moments.

When they reached Peninsula Manor, Chase handed over the keys without hesitation.

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

Noticing the faint look of surprise on her face, he offered a smug smile.

“I told you to behave, and I’d treat you right. Camila isn’t a threat to your position,” he assured her.

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

“That is… if you behave,” he finished.

Nora forced a smile, but it never quite reached her eyes.

She stepped inside the grand house. The space was expansive, flooded with natural light, adorned with luxurious, tasteful furnishings. It should have felt perfect—if only Camila wasn’t lounging casually on the leather sofa, looking far too at ease.

“What’s she doing here?” Nora asked, her tone icy.

Chase’s brow furrowed in mild surprise.

Camila quickly rose, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

“I heard you’d be moving in today, so I came early to welcome you, Nora. I even brought a housewarming gift…” she said, attempting a warm smile.

Chase’s expression softened immediately.

“She meant well. Don’t be upset with her,” he said gently.

“I invited some friends over for dinner. Let her stay. Nora, you’re the hostess here. Act like one. Don’t get caught up in petty things,” he instructed.

The notion that she was supposed to be the “hostess” now felt like a cruel joke to Nora.

She gave a faint, bitter smile but remained silent.

At dinner, Camila slid quietly into the seat beside Nora. Her dress rode up just enough to reveal bruised knees.

“Chase saw my bruised knees,” Camila whispered conspiratorially. “He applied ointment himself, gently massaging them until he felt better. He said even the smallest scratch on me makes his heart ache. Has he ever said anything like that to you?”

Her eyes flicked pointedly toward Nora’s knees.

“Oh, I forgot,” she added sweetly, “he probably hasn’t. Otherwise, why would he have shattered yours?”

Camila grinned triumphantly, all teeth and smug satisfaction.

Nora had already given up on Chase, but those words still hit a raw nerve.

“You—” she started, but before she could finish, she caught a sly glint in Camila’s eyes.

In the next instant, Camila grabbed a glass of water and with a perfectly timed screech, flung it across her own face.

“Aaah!” she shrieked dramatically.

“Nora, what was that for? I only asked about your knee because I was worried—why humiliate me like this?” she wailed, throwing herself into Chase’s arms, sobbing with exaggerated emotion.

Nora’s mouth opened to protest.

“I didn’t—”

Smack.

Chase’s hand struck her sharply across the face, knocking her to the floor.

“That’s your idea of repentance?” he roared, furious.

“Still playing the victim? Do you think just because the Langstons saved the Whitmore Group, you can trample over Camila now? I’m not going easy on you this time!”

Without warning, he shoved her hard, sending her tumbling over the edge of the sunken pool.

The ledge was nearly six feet high.