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Last Updated:
2025-01-19 23:12:10
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By Chance, By Fate 118
118liamI straightened my back and adjusted my bowtie as I walked toward the grand ballroom. The muffled sound of music, laughter, and clinking glasses grew louder with every step. Then it hit me. I probably looked like hell. I stopped dead in my tracks, running a hand through my hair, and glanced at the reflection in a nearby window. My eyes were slightly puffy, the redness around them betraying the fact that I’d been crying. My cheeks were flushed, and there was no mistaking the disheveled state of my tuxedo. I cursed under my breath. There was no way I could walk in there like this. What would people think? This was *my* wedding, for God’s sake. I had to look the part. No one could know the mess brewing inside me. Spinning on my heel, I made a beeline for the nearest restroom, ignoring the curious looks of passing staff. Once inside, I let out a shaky breath and leaned over the sink, gripping its edge as I tried to steady myself. The bright, unflattering lights illumin
Last Updated : 2025-01-20By Chance, By Fate 119
119liamThe evening stretched on like an endless performance, each smile I forced feeling more brittle than the last. My head throbbed with the weight of everything I was trying to hold together—the lies, the mask, the unbearable truth that I was standing here, pretending to be the perfect groom when my heart was somewhere else. With someone else. “Liam,” a voice drawled from behind me, dripping with its usual mix of amusement and condescension. I stiffened, instantly recognizing the voice. Anders. I turned to see him standing a few feet away, a glass of champagne dangling casually from his fingers. His smile was as sharp as a knife, his dark suit tailored to perfection, as if he were here to mock me simply by existing. His presence, as always, sucked the air out of the room. And then there was *her*. Clinging to his arm like a queen surveying her kingdom was his wife, Evelyn. Her emerald-green gown shimmered in the light, hugging her figure in a way that was clearly design
Last Updated : 2025-01-21By Chance, By Fate 120
120AlexI stood there, trembling, my breath hitching as Liam’s words echoed in my mind. *This has to stop.* The finality of it crushed me, squeezing my chest so tightly that I struggled to breathe. My legs felt weak, threatening to give out beneath me, but I forced myself to stay upright. I couldn’t break down here. I wouldn’t.I turned towards the exit, wiping at the tears streaming down my face, but it was no use. They kept coming, betraying the turmoil that raged inside me. *Damn it, Alex, pull yourself together.* I couldn’t let anyone see me like this—especially not *her*. Charlotte. The thought of her name sent a fresh wave of bitterness coursing through me. My fiancée. The woman I was supposed to love, to marry. I’d made promises—vows I hadn’t even spoken yet, but ones I was bound to keep. And yet, here I was, a wreck over another woman. Over Alex. I stumbled into the nearest restroom, slamming the door shut behind me. My reflection stared back at me in the mirror, a stark
Last Updated : 2025-01-22By Chance, By Fate 121
121AlexThe sobs wracked my body as I leaned against the cold, unforgiving wall. My mind was a chaotic mess, replaying the kiss over and over like a cruel punishment. My heart begged for clarity, but all I got was pain.“Alex?” a voice cut through the silence, low and hesitant. I froze. That voice. My breath hitched as I turned to see Charlotte standing a few feet away, her brow furrowed with confusion. “Are you…crying?” she asked, her tone a mix of shock and concern. She took a cautious step closer. I quickly wiped at my face, straightening up. “No. I just—” My voice cracked, betraying me. “I’m fine.” Charlotte tilted her head, her green eyes narrowing as she studied me. “You’re not fine,” she said firmly. “What happened, Alex? Why are you hiding out here instead of mingling?” Her gaze felt like a spotlight, exposing every raw emotion I’d been trying to bury. “It’s nothing,” I said, my voice flat. “Don’t lie to me,” she snapped, crossing her arms. “You’ve been acting str
Last Updated : 2025-01-23By Chance, By Fate 122
122AlexQueen Ingrid's voice sliced through the tension like a blade. "Alexander!" she snapped, her tone cold and biting as she stepped into view. Her elegant gown swept the marble floor, her regal demeanor overshadowing everything in the hall. Her icy blue eyes locked on me with unrelenting disdain. "What are you still doing here? I was *very clear* that you were to leave. Your presence has caused enough trouble as it is." I froze, my stomach twisting into a knot. "Your Majesty, I was just—" "You were just *what*?" she interrupted sharply, her voice echoing through the hall. "Sowing more chaos? Disrupting this event? Do you have *any* idea the kind of scandal you’ve caused by showing up uninvited?" Before I could respond, Liam stepped forward, his hand raised as if to shield me. "Mother, please calm down. Alex isn’t here to cause trouble. We were just talking—" "Talking?" Queen Ingrid's voice grew colder as she turned her glare on Liam. "You call this talking? I call it an
Last Updated : 2025-01-24By Chance, By Fate 123
123AlexI stepped out into the cool night air, the weight of the evening pressing down on my chest. People were still milling around, their whispers and sideways glances slicing through me as I walked. My shoulders were tense, my pulse pounding in my ears. Charlotte's footsteps clicked rapidly behind me, her fury palpable. “Alex!” she hissed, catching up to me. “What the hell was that? You weren’t supposed to leave! We were supposed to trash the wedding like we planned.” I turned to her, my jaw tightening. “And cause a massive scene? Really, Charlotte? Do you have any idea what kind of fallout that would’ve caused? My father would’ve been furious.” “I *don’t care*!” she shot back, crossing her arms. “You promised me, Alex. We agreed we were going to make them regret everything—Queen Ingrid, Liam, all of them. And you just walked out like a coward.” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “You’re not listening. If I’d gone through with it, this whole thing would’ve turned in
Last Updated : 2025-01-25By Chance, By Fate 124
The car glided through the cobblestone streets of Oslo, the city lights reflecting off the fjord in the distance. The air inside the car felt suffocating, heavy with the weight of Charlotte’s demands and my reluctant agreement. I stared out the window, watching the world pass by, while my fiancée’s smug smile seemed to grow with every passing second.As we neared the Grand Royal Hotel, the tension between us was palpable. Just as the car rolled to a stop, Charlotte’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out, her perfectly manicured fingers tapping the screen. Her smile faltered for a split second before she quickly composed herself.“Who was that?†I asked, my voice sharper than intended.She glanced up at me, feigning nonchalance. “Just a friend.â€I narrowed my eyes. “Which friend?â€Charlotte rolled her eyes, stuffing her phone back into her clutch. “Why does it matter, Alex? Do you really want to start another argument?â€I stepped out of the car, ignoring her question,
Last Updated : 2025-01-26By Chance, By Fate 125
125AlexThe wind whipped against my face as I leaned on the balcony railing, the distant sound of the fjord breaking the silence of the night. My mind churned, trying to piece together the fragments of betrayal that had just unraveled before me.“Alex!” Charlotte’s sharp voice pierced the cold air, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned slowly to see her standing at the doorway, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. Her eyes were wide with anger—or maybe fear.“What?” I asked flatly, not bothering to mask the edge in my tone.“Don’t play dumb with me,” she snapped, stepping onto the balcony. Her arms were crossed, and her perfectly styled hair fluttered in the wind. “What’s in your pocket?”I raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference. “Since when do you care?”Her jaw tightened. “Don’t turn this on me, Alex. You’ve been acting strange all night. What are you hiding?”I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “That’s rich, coming from you.”“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” she his
Last Updated : 2025-01-27
Latest chapter
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
