My Substitute CEO Bride (Nash Calicraft) novel Chapter 2329

That was when Chuck realized he could not get out of the room.

"W-What's going on?" It was no wonder the night had been so unnaturally quiet. Chuck's room was sealed off by a barrier!

He pounded desperately on the door, but it was useless. He did not know how to handle this kind of situation. If only there was a more experienced fighter…

Of course—Zoe! She would know what to do!

Chuck hurried to Zoe's side, gently shaking her and calling her name softly.

"Zoe? Zoe?" Yet despite his efforts, Zoe remained motionless. Chuck touched her face and was stunned.

"She's burning up!"

Chuck was in disbelief. Zoe had been fine just moments ago, so why was she suddenly like this? Could it be an effect of the barrier? Zoe had likely curled up next to him earlier because her high fever made her feel cold.

Now, facing this predicament, Chuck was at a loss. Zoe's condition was worsening, so he quickly moved her onto the bed, covering her with a thick blanket. He then returned to the door.

"I'll just have to take a chance!" Chuck activated his true energy shield, hoping to force his way through the barrier. However, it was unlike anything he had ever encountered.

The barrier would not budge, blocking his every attempt. Was it specifically designed to keep him in?

His mind raced. What was happening outside? Were his family members safe? If they were sleeping too deeply, they might not even sense the danger.

Chuck's face lit up with relief. "Is there a way to break it now?"

Zoe nodded. "Barriers like this are always easier to disrupt from the outside than from within. I’ll go outside. The level of this one isn’t particularly high, so I should be able to dismantle it easily."

Zoe swayed slightly as she spoke, still feeling dizzy. The conditions outside were bad, with smoke likely seeping into the house. Zoe knew she had to act quickly.

Despite her weakened state, she was determined to break the barrier.

"Be careful," Chuck urged.

Zoe nodded before stepping outside. Once outside, the scene that met her eyes left her stunned—the entire Calhoun residence was engulfed in flames. Zoe could feel the life forces around her starting to fade one by one.