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2024-12-31 11:24:07
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By Chance, By Fate 103
103AlexCharlotte suddenly paused mid-rant, a sly smile creeping across her face. She tossed her phone onto the bed and leaned against the dresser, arms crossed, her expression calm and calculating.“Actually,” she said, her tone shifting to something almost playful, “coming late might not be such a bad thing after all.”I froze, one shoe in my hand, glaring at her in disbelief. “What are you even talking about?”She shrugged, her smile growing wider. “Think about it, Alex. You’re the President of the United States, and I’m the daughter of a powerful billionaire. People *expect* us to make an entrance.”I rolled my eyes and sat back down on the bed, letting the shoe fall to the floor. “Charlotte, this isn’t some kind of power move. It’s a wedding. Prince Liam’s wedding. Do you get that?”She waved a hand dismissively, her expression utterly indifferent. “And why are you so preoccupied with getting there on time anyway? Liam’s supposed to be your *enemy*. So, really, what’s the rush?”
Last Updated : 2024-12-31By Chance, By Fate 104
104LiamAs the grand doors to the ceremony hall loomed ahead, I could feel the weight of every step I took. The golden trim on the marble floor glinted in the sunlight streaming through the high windows, but it did nothing to warm the chill inside me. “Your Highness, would you like a moment before entering?” the servant asked, his voice quiet, almost hesitant. I paused, considering it for the briefest moment, before shaking my head. “No,” I said firmly, though my voice betrayed the tremor in my chest. “Let’s get this over with.” The servant nodded and pushed open the doors. The hall was magnificent—vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate frescoes, rows of pews filled with royalty, dignitaries, and guests dressed in their finest. A massive floral arrangement framed the altar at the front, where my bride-to-be stood, her back to me, speaking softly with her bridesmaids. The string quartet played a delicate melody, but the sound barely registered. My eyes swept the crowd, inst
Last Updated : 2024-12-31By Chance, By Fate 105
105AlexThe room was as silent as a tomb, save for the rustle of whispers that spread like wildfire and the faint echo of my footsteps against the polished marble floor. My heart hammered as I stepped deeper into the grand hall, the towering crystal chandeliers casting fractured rainbows across the walls. My eyes locked onto Liam’s, his face frozen in a kaleidoscope of emotions: shock, disbelief, and simmering fury.His bride—Sophia, yes, that was her name—shifted her wide-eyed gaze between us, her confusion palpable. Her fingers hovered uncertainly near Liam's arm, as though unsure whether to hold on or let go.Around us, the crowd came alive with murmurs, the dignitaries and royals exchanging incredulous glances, their whispers growing louder with every passing second."Is that... the President?""Why would he—here? On their day?""Doesn’t he know how inappropriate this is?"I swallowed hard, the weight of a hundred scrutinizing eyes pressing down on me like a physical force. My pu
Last Updated : 2025-01-02By Chance, By Fate 106
106Alex The tension in the room was palpable as Queen Eleanor made her way toward the front, her presence commanding attention. I felt all eyes on me, the weight of their scrutiny almost suffocating. Charlotte, always the opportunist, squeezed my arm and chuckled softly."You're quite the spectacle, Alex. I can't believe you just walked in like that." Her voice was teasing, but there was something dangerous in her tone."Not the time, Charlotte," I muttered, feeling a headache building behind my eyes."You always say that," she whispered back, her grin widening. "But I think this is the time for you to finally face the music. You can't keep running from this."I shot her a warning glance, but her amusement only deepened. As Queen Eleanor reached the altar, I could feel the murmur of the crowd intensifying. The whispers had now shifted from shock to speculation."What was that about? Did he really just say he didn’t know?""I heard they don't get along. Family politics, maybe?""Is t
Last Updated : 2025-01-03By Chance, By Fate 107
107 Liam I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug into my palms, the sting grounding me just enough to keep my composure. My jaw tightened, and I could feel the heat rising in my face as my thoughts spiraled. How dare my mother invite him without telling me? I stole a glance at her. She stood at the edge of the crowd, her chin held high, her expression regal and impenetrable. But she knew. She had to know what this would do to me. And Alex. Damn him. He showed up here like nothing had happened, like he hadn’t ignored every single one of my calls, like he hadn’t vanished without a word after everything we went through. After I had taken a bullet for him. “Liam.” Sophia’s voice pulled me from my raging thoughts. She squeezed my hand, her brow furrowed with worry. “Are you okay? You’re trembling.” I forced myself to loosen my grip, offering her a weak smile. “I’m fine,” I lied, my voice hollow. “Just a little overwhelmed.” Her eyes searched mine, doubt flickering in
Last Updated : 2025-01-05By Chance, By Fate 108
108 **Alex** The applause had faded into a polite murmur, the sound of it hollow and detached, like it came from another world. My throat was tight, my pulse unsteady, but I kept my face neutral, diplomatic. Years of public scrutiny had trained me well, but even so, standing here under Liam’s searing gaze felt like being on trial.I turned my attention back to Charlotte, who was still smirking, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. Her arm looped through mine, and she leaned in again, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Do you think he’ll throw a punch? Because honestly, I wouldn’t blame him." I gave her a warning look. "Enough, Charlotte." She laughed softly, undeterred, and released my arm. “Fine. I’ll go enjoy the open bar while you clean up this mess. Try not to embarrass yourself.” Before I could retort, she was gone, disappearing into the sea of glittering gowns and tailored suits. I exhaled sharply, scanning the room for Queen Eleanor. She was by the dais now, her sa
Last Updated : 2025-01-07By Chance, By Fate 109
109liam**Liam** The cool air in the corridor barely registered, my chest still tight from the confrontation. Alex’s words lingered, sharp and unforgiving, carving through the carefully constructed barriers I’d built over the years. The sound of his retreating footsteps echoed in my ears, but I didn’t move. Not yet. I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing. This wasn’t how tonight was supposed to go. Sophia’s presence had saved us both from saying something we’d regret, but her soft, knowing gaze as she left had only made the situation worse. She didn’t know—not about Alex, not about the weight of our history—but the tension must have been written all over my face. And Alex... I hated him for showing up. For being here. For still having the power to unravel me with a single look. But more than anything, I hated myself for wanting him to stay. I straightened my shoulders and turned on my heel, heading for the main hall. If Alex thought he could storm out of m
Last Updated : 2025-01-08By Chance, By Fate 110
110Alex### **Alex**The silence of the garden was a fragile reprieve, one I desperately needed after the chaos inside. My mind churned with Liam’s words, his anger, his pain—and my own foolish inability to let him go. The memory of his eyes, sharp and accusing, lingered like a wound I couldn’t stop pressing. I didn’t realize Charlotte had found me until her heels clicked against the stone pathway. "Figured I’d find you brooding out here," she said, her voice light but laced with irritation. I glanced over my shoulder. She stood there in her emerald gown, arms crossed, the moonlight catching the auburn in her hair. Her expression was an artful blend of amusement and exasperation, but I knew her well enough to spot the storm brewing underneath. "What do you want, Charlotte?" I asked, turning back to the fountain ahead of me. She huffed, moving to stand beside me. "Well, you didn’t exactly make it easy for me to enjoy the open bar after that little display with *His Royal Hig
Last Updated : 2025-01-10
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By Chance, By Fate Epilogue
Epilogue Four months later,AlexThe day started like any other, though I had this odd sense that something was off. Liam had been unusually secretive for the past week—whispering into his phone, disappearing for hours, and giving me these coy little smiles that made me both suspicious and amused.“Are you hiding something from me?” I’d asked him over breakfast that morning.“Who, me?” he replied, his face the picture of innocence. “Never.”I rolled my eyes but let it go. If Liam had a secret, I’d find out eventually.The day passed uneventfully, and by the time evening rolled around, I was half-convinced he’d forgotten my birthday entirely.“Get dressed,” he said, popping his head into the bedroom. “Something nice.”“Why?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.“Just trust me,” he said with a grin, disappearing again before I could press him further.---An hour later, we were in the car, heading to a destination he refused to disclose. My curiosity was driving me insane, but I tried to play i
By Chance, By Fate 150
150AlexMoving in with Liam felt surreal, like stepping into a dream I didn’t dare believe I could have. His apartment—our apartment now—was warm and inviting, filled with little pieces of him that I was quickly coming to adore. A framed photo of his childhood dog sat on the mantel, his collection of vintage vinyl records lined the shelves, and a faint scent of cedar lingered in the air.“Home sweet home,” Liam said, tossing his keys onto the counter as we stepped inside.I dropped my bags by the door and glanced around. “It’s still sinking in that this is real.”He grinned, pulling me into a hug. “It’s real, Alex. This is us now.”Just then, the doorbell rang, breaking the moment. Liam sighed, releasing me. “That’ll be Daniel. He insisted on helping us settle in.”“And Sophia?” I asked, half-joking. “Is she coming too?”“Of course,” Liam said, smirking. “Those two are attached at the hip these days.”---Sure enough, Daniel and Sophia arrived with bags of food and a bottle of wine.
By Chance, By Fate 149
149AlexThe morning air was sharp as I stepped out of my car, nerves bouncing in my chest. Daniel was already waiting for me near the café, leaning casually against the doorframe like he had all the time in the world. His calmness was infuriating, especially since I was a mess.“Relax,” Daniel said as I approached. “You’re not going into battle.”“Feels like I am,” I muttered, shoving my hands into my coat pockets. “This isn’t just about me anymore. It’s about Liam… and Sophia, for some reason.”Daniel smirked. “You’ll thank her. Trust me.”I raised an eyebrow but didn’t press. We stepped inside, and there they were—Liam and Sophia, sitting at a table in the corner.They had come here to USA to see us and we took a rendez vous here. Liam looked as tense as I felt, his jaw tight, eyes scanning the room nervously. Sophia, on the other hand, exuded a calm confidence, sipping her coffee like this was a regular Tuesday.When Liam’s eyes met mine, I froze. The weight of everything—the lie
By Chance, By Fate 148
148AlexFew days later,Daniel paced back and forth in my room, a mix of anger and determination etched across his face. His fists were clenched, and I could see he was holding himself back from exploding.“You’re not going to believe this,” he finally said, stopping in front of me.I sat on the edge of my bed, my heart sinking at his tone. “What is it?”He hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, “Charlotte’s lying. She’s not pregnant, Alex.”My stomach dropped. “What?”“She’s lying!” Daniel repeated, his voice louder this time. “I overheard her on the phone with one of her friends. She was laughing about how she tricked you into staying. She said it was the only way to keep you from running off with Liam.”I stared at him, my mind reeling. “Are you sure about this?”“Positive.” His jaw tightened. “I even recorded part of the conversation. I figured you’d need proof.”He pulled out his phone and played the audio. It was Charlotte’s voice, clear as day, bragging about her manipulati
By Chance, By Fate 147
147AlexAfter everything that happened, I could barely think straight—well, no pun intended. I couldn’t shake the chaos of the past few weeks. Liam was miles away in Norway, dealing with his own mess, while I was stuck here with Charlotte, pretending like my life wasn’t falling apart.It wasn’t like I didn’t think about leaving her. I did. Every single day. The problem was, Charlotte knew how to play the game better than anyone. The moment she sensed I was pulling away, she dropped the bomb.“I’m pregnant.”Those two words stopped me dead in my tracks.“What?” I stammered, blinking at her as if I’d misheard.Charlotte crossed her arms, her lips twisting into that smug smile she always wore when she knew she had the upper hand. “You heard me. I’m pregnant, Alex. So whatever you’re thinking about doing, just stop. You’re not going anywhere.”I stared at her, my mind racing. “You’re… how? When?”She rolled her eyes like I was the dumbest person alive. “Do you really need a biology lesso
By Chance, By Fate 146
146Liam After Alex left, I immediately booked a business-class flight to Norway. My head was spinning, and my chest felt tight as I made my way through the airport. The scandal had erupted faster than I could comprehend, and now everything was unraveling.The messages from Sophia, my wife, wouldn’t stop coming. My phone buzzed incessantly in my pocket, and each time her name lit up the screen, I felt another wave of frustration. She knew why I’d gone to the USA. She knew I’d gone to see Alex. But being caught? That was the part she couldn’t handle.Her last message burned in my mind: "You’ve humiliated me, Liam. Fix this. Now."As if fixing this was as easy as flipping a switch.I leaned back in my seat as the plane took off, closing my eyes in a futile attempt to relax. But the stress kept clawing at me. My mother had called too, several times. I refused to pick up. Not now. I couldn’t deal with her fury and the barrage of accusations over the phone. Whatever was coming, I’d face i
By Chance, By Fate 145
145AlexI paced the room, my phone clutched so tightly in my hand that my knuckles had turned white. My breathing was shallow, and my chest felt like it was being crushed under a massive weight. The headlines were everywhere, and the notifications on my phone wouldn’t stop. Every second, there was another call, another message, another piece of my life falling apart.“Alex, you need to calm down,” Liam said, his voice steady but soft. He reached for me, but I stepped away, shaking my head.“Calm down?” I snapped, my voice trembling. “Are you kidding me right now? Do you see what’s happening? My parents are going to kill me! My dad already hates that I’m even remotely involved in politics, and now this? A scandal with a prince? God, Liam, what were we thinking?”“We weren’t thinking,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair. “We were just… feeling. And I don’t regret it, Alex. Not for a second.”“Well, I do!” The words came out before I could stop them, and the moment they did, I
By Chance, By Fate 144
144Alex's POVI was so shocked to see him standing there. Of all the places, of all the nights, Liam showed up here. At first, I thought I was imagining things—the dim lighting of the bar, the soft hum of alcohol in my veins. But no, it was really him. His face, those familiar blue eyes that haunted me for years, the slight stubble along his jaw that hadn’t been there before.To be honest, I’d missed him.Not that I’d admit it, at least not right now. Not after everything. But seeing him in the flesh brought back memories I had buried so deep I thought they’d never resurface. The way he used to laugh at my stupid jokes. The way he’d look at me like I was the only person in the room. And, of course, the way he shattered me when he left.I tried to keep my composure, but my voice betrayed me as I asked, "What the hell are you doing here?"His answer was almost laughable in its simplicity. "I needed to see you," he said, as if that excused everything."To say what?" I shot back, narrowi
By Chance, By Fate 143
143LiamThe moment we stepped through the grand doors of the palace, the heavy aroma of fresh lilies greeted us, mingling with the faint scent of polished marble. Queen Ingrid, my mother, stood at the foot of the grand staircase, her regal demeanor faltering for a moment as she took in our unexpected return. Her icy blue eyes, so much like mine, narrowed slightly, betraying her shock.“Liam,” she began, her voice laced with surprise. “And Sophia. Back so soon? I thought you were supposed to be in Bora Bora for another week.”I forced a smile, trying to keep my composure. “Ah, yes, Mother. There was, uh, an issue with the resort,” I said, fumbling for a plausible excuse. “Something about a mix-up with our accommodations. It wasn’t… ideal.”Sophia, ever the composed partner, chimed in seamlessly. “It was a shame, really. The resort was stunning, but the management couldn’t seem to get anything right. Liam thought it would be better if we cut the trip short.”Queen Ingrid’s brows lifted
