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By Chance, By Fate The Invitation
Chapter 1: The InvitationAlex"Come on, Alex. You’ve been tense ever since the summit started. Loosen up a little."Daniel’s voice, smooth like whiskey, drifted over me, coaxing and playful. I stood by the tall windows of my hotel room, staring out over the glittering lights of the city, my mind already clouded by the weight of expectations. The Global Leadership Summit had been in full swing for days, and as the son of the President of the United States, I had made every effort to maintain the polished, perfect image expected of me. But underneath that facade, I was suffocating.I didn’t turn to face him, but I could feel the heat of his presence at my side. He was persistent, annoyingly so, and I wasn’t sure whether it was more because of his position as my best friend or because of his rebellious nature.Either way, we’d somehow ended up spending more time together during this summit than I anticipated. Officially, we were supposed to be working together on some leadership panel,
Last Updated : 2024-10-16By Chance, By Fate The One Nightstand
Chapter 2:AlexAs I stood there, heart still racing from the impact of the collision, I barely registered my surroundings. The guy I’d bumped into was nothing short of breathtaking—tousled dark hair, sharp jawline, and piercing blue eyes that seemed to burn right through me. But his expression? Furious. The kind of anger that made him even more striking in a dangerous, unsettling way.“What the hell is wrong with you?” he snapped, his voice low and edged with irritation. “Do you not know how to watch where you’re going?”I opened my mouth, ready to apologize, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I stared back at him, trying to shake off the shock. “I—I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—”“Sorry?” he scoffed, stepping closer until he was towering over me. “You think ‘sorry’ cuts it? Maybe next time, try paying attention instead of wandering around like you own the place.”His arrogance hit me like a slap, and suddenly, my embarrassment morphed into irritation. My brows furrowed as I tr
Last Updated : 2024-10-16By Chance, By Fate A new dilemma
Chapter 3: A New Dilemma AlexAs I was buttoning up my shirt, the remnants of the evening’s chaos still clinging to my thoughts, my phone buzzed loudly on the nightstand, breaking the eerie silence in the room. My hand froze over the fabric, eyes snapping to the screen.It was Daniel.My heart leaped in my chest, then sank just as quickly. I’d completely forgotten about him. After the incident at the bar, I had bolted, leaving him in the midst of laughter and attention that he thrived on. I hadn’t even texted him since I’d returned to the hotel, my mind too jumbled to think straight."S***," I muttered under my breath, staring at his name flashing on the screen.I hesitated, fingers hovering over the phone. I didn’t know how to explain myself. I didn’t know how he’d react if he knew what I’d done. The weight of my actions was still fresh in my mind.My thumb hovered for a second longer before I sighed, knowing I couldn’t avoid him forever. I swiped the screen and brought the phone
Last Updated : 2024-10-16By Chance, By Fate The Weight of Royal Secrets
Chapter 4: The Weight of Royal SecretsI couldn’t believe my eyes. Prince Liam Brightmore, standing across the ballroom like he owned the world—because, in a way, he did. The man I’d met at the bar, the one who had completely upended my thoughts and thrown me into a whirlwind of confusion, was royalty.I felt like the room had started spinning, the opulent chandeliers and finely dressed guests blurring around me. My heart pounded in my chest, and my palms were sweating despite the coolness of the ballroom.How the hell had I not recognized him? Prince Liam—his piercing blue eyes and sharp features were identical to Leo’s. My mind scrambled to make sense of it. I should’ve known. The confidence, the air of authority, it all made sense now.But why had he hidden it? Why pretend to be someone else?I shifted my gaze, trying to avoid looking at him directly. The last thing I needed was for him to notice me now, standing there like a deer caught in headlights. But it was too late. I could
Last Updated : 2024-10-16By Chance, By Fate A dangerous meeting
Chapter 5: A Dangerous MeetingAlexI paced the dimly lit corridor, nerves prickling beneath my skin as I debated whether to go. Liam’s words echoed in my mind, the invitation laced with something darker. Meet me later. Despite the fear twisting in my stomach, a flicker of curiosity drew me in. I needed answers, even if it meant risking a scandal.I glanced at my watch. If I didn’t go now, I might lose the chance. With a deep breath, I slipped out of the ballroom, casting a quick look over my shoulder to make sure no one was watching. The halls were silent, and I made my way to the secluded terrace where Liam had said he’d be waiting.He was already there, standing by the railing with his back to me, shoulders tense, as if lost in thought. The night breeze tousled his hair, and for a moment, he looked almost vulnerable—a side of him I hadn’t seen before.I cleared my throat, and he turned, his face lighting up briefly before settling into a more guarded expression.“You came,” he murm
Last Updated : 2024-11-01By Chance, By Fate A threat in shadow
Chapter 6: A Threat in the ShadowsAlexThe instant I saw him, my stomach twisted. Daniel was standing there, half-hidden by shadows, his face a mix of fury and disbelief. He'd heard everything—enough to leave questions in his mind, enough to destroy any trust we had.“Daniel…” I breathed, stepping forward, but he held up a hand, stopping me cold."Don’t," he snapped, his voice tight. “Just… don’t. I knew you were hiding things from me, Alex, but this?” His gaze shifted to Liam, eyes narrowed. “What exactly is going on here?”Liam stepped forward, his stance calm but wary. "It’s not what you think, Daniel," he began, but Daniel scoffed.“Oh, I’m sure it’s exactly what I think,” he shot back, anger flashing in his eyes. "All this secrecy, sneaking around. Alex, do you have any idea what this looks like?”I tried to steady my voice, to keep the guilt from showing. “Daniel, just listen to me for a second. I can explain—”“Explain what?” he interrupted, looking between us. “How long has t
Last Updated : 2024-11-01By Chance, By Fate Confused and Trapped
7LiamThe morning after our encounter on the terrace, I found myself pacing the ornate sitting room of the presidential suite where my family was staying. So much had happened in such a short time, and I replayed it all in my mind, trying to untangle the mess of emotions swirling within.Daniel discovering us had been bad enough, but the look on Alex's face as he walked away—hurt, betrayed, disappointed—cut deeper than I cared to admit. I never meant to hurt him, yet that's exactly what I seemed to keep doing. "Liam, must you wear a hole in the carpet?" My mother's voice cut through my thoughts. "You've been pacing for ages. What on earth is troubling you?" I glanced up to see my parents watching me expectantly from their seats by the window. With a sigh, I ran a hand through my hair. "It's nothing. I'm just...thinking about last night."My father scoffed. "Yes, that dreadful summit dinner. I don't know why we're always expected to socialize with those pompous Americans. They act l
Last Updated : 2024-11-02By Chance, By Fate What? work with him?
8AlexI had barely slept, my mind racing with thoughts of Daniel and the look on his face as he walked away. I needed to talk to him, to explain everything. As I stepped into the hotel lobby, the polished marble underfoot felt like a gauntlet of judgment, each step echoing my anxiety. Part of me couldn’t believe he’d reacted so intensely, almost like he was overreacting.Finding him was easier than I expected. He was in a quiet corner, his back to me, hands shoved into his pockets. I took a deep breath and approached, my heart pounding.“Daniel?” I said, my voice tentative.He turned slowly, his expression unreadable but hurt evident in his eyes. “What do you want, Alex?”“I wanted to explain—”“Explain what?” he interrupted sharply, his voice almost bitter. “How you’ve been lying to me? How you’ve been sneaking around with Liam?”“It’s not like that,” I pleaded, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. “I didn’t mean to keep things from you. I just… I didn’t know how to tell you.”He s
Last Updated : 2024-11-03
Latest chapter
By Chance, By Fate 83
83AlexDuring the day, even the maids couldn’t stop whispering about Liam Brighmore’s engagement to his best friend, Sophia. Their voices floated through the corridors, stinging my ears every time I overheard their chatter. I clenched my jaw, trying to block out their words, but they echoed in my mind nonetheless. Marrying her? Liam? The same Liam who used to tell me I was the love of his life? The same Liam who swore he’d stand by me when we exposed our relationship? I rubbed my temples, pacing my room as the weight of his betrayal pressed down on me. “It doesn’t make sense,” I muttered to myself. “He’s gay. He told me... he told me he loved me.” Lie. All of it. Lies. The realization hit like a punch to the gut. Liam had lied about everything. About us. About the future he told me he dreamed of. And now, he was engaged to her? My throat tightened as I thought of Sophia, with her perfect smile and flawless reputation. The world adored her. Of course, they did. She was everyth
By Chance, By Fate 82
Alex The next day, I was brooding in my room when there was a soft knock at the door. I stiffened, knowing it could only be one person. After our last argument, I wasn’t exactly thrilled to face her.“Come in,” I called out flatly, my voice still tinged with bitterness—not just from last night, but from our previous clash.Elena poked her head in, her brow furrowed with concern. She hesitated at the doorway, as if gauging whether I’d throw her out. “Alex? Can I talk to you for a minute?”I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms defensively. “What is it, Elena? Come to tell me again how I should marry Charlotte and save the family's reputation?”Her expression faltered, a flash of guilt crossing her face before she closed the door and stepped inside. “Alex, I didn’t come to argue. I heard about the news... about Liam Brighmore’s engagement.” She studied me carefully, her voice soft. “How are you holding up?”I scoffed, shaking my head as I turned away. “Why do you care? I’m sure yo
By Chance, By Fate 81
81Alex "You've got to be kidding me," I mumbled under my breath, still staring at the screen.Liam Brighmore. The words on the screen felt like a slap to my face. Prince Liam Brighmore... marrying Sophia Belleville in three days. I sat frozen, staring at the screen, my mind struggling to wrap around what I was seeing. This wasn’t just news—it was a punch to my gut.Liam? Marrying her? My fingers trembled as I gripped the remote tighter, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away. His smiling face, so composed, so damn perfect, was plastered all over the screen. The same Liam who had once begged me to be with him, the same Liam who’d whispered sweet promises into my ear like he was the only one who could make me feel alive. And now? Now he was getting married."Unbelievable," I whispered, my voice raw with disbelief. How? How could he do this? How could he go from swearing he was in love with me to... this? It was as if everything he'd said to me had been a lie.A tight knot formed in my ches
By Chance, By Fate 80
80AlexWeeks had passed since I walked out on Charlotte and Damon, and now the weight of the situation was beginning to settle heavily on my chest. The tension in our family had only grown, each day making me feel like a bad son. The guilt gnawed at me like an insistent pest, threatening to swallow me whole. I could barely sleep without the nagging thought that I had somehow failed them all. But I couldn’t undo what I had done, no matter how much it haunted me.I was walking through the hallway of the mansion when I heard my father's voice booming from the study. His words were sharp, and the anger behind them was unmistakable. I paused for a moment, feeling the tension build, knowing I had to face him."You've put me in a hell of a position, Alex!" My father's voice rang out, his tone like a whip, crackling with fury. "I had everything under control until you decided to act like a damn child!"I could feel my heart race in my chest as I approached the door, the air in the house thic
By Chance, By Fate 79
79LiamThe silence stretched so long it felt like it could suffocate me. I turned to my mother, my jaw tight as I tried to keep my frustration from boiling over.“Mother,” I said sharply, my voice trembling with the effort to stay calm, “how could you plan a wedding without even asking me? Without—without us?”She raised a perfectly arched brow, clearly unimpressed with my outburst. “Liam, don’t be dramatic. The two of you have been together for months. The entire kingdom expects this. It’s what’s best for all of us.”I scoffed, pushing my plate aside with a loud scrape. “Best for all of us? I haven’t even proposed to her! I haven’t given her a ring, a proper engagement—nothing! And now you’re telling me we’re to marry next week? How does that make sense to you?”Sophia flinched at my words. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, and for a split second, I saw it—the fear she wasn’t showing to anyone else. Her hands were clasped so tightly in her lap her knuckles had turned whi
By Chance, By Fate 78
78LiamWeeks had passed, and I could feel myself getting better. The wound had healed completely, though the emotional scars from everything that had happened were far from fading. But now, there was something else weighing on me—something even more pressing and annoying.My mother had been relentless in her insistence that I marry Sophia. We’d been pretending to be a couple for months now, all so I could keep my secret—my real identity hidden from the world. She had warned me about the consequences if I didn’t comply, but I had begged her, and as always, she couldn’t refuse me. So here I was, stuck in a game I didn’t want to play.Today, we were all gathered around the grand dining table in the palace. My mother, ever the queen, was seated at the head. Anders, my wicked brother, sat beside his equally wicked wife—Evelyn. She had a name that seemed to fit her too perfectly, like the kind of name you’d give to someone who knew how to make your life miserable with just a smile. And the
By Chance, By Fate 77
77 Alex Turning to Damon and Charlotte, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. "I'm not going to marry her. I don't care what you say or what happens to my family's reputation. This isn't my problem, and I'm not going to fix it." Damon's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing. "You don't have a choice, Alex. This is the only way to save your family." "Then let them burn," I spat, my voice dripping with venom. "I'm done with this. I'm done with all of it." I turned and headed for the door, my heart pounding in my chest. I could hear Charlotte's voice behind me, her tone shrill and demanding. "Alex! Where do you think you're going? You can't just leave!" I didn't turn around, my pace quickening as I made my way towards the exit. But just as I reached for the door, I heard her voice again, this time laced with a hint of desperation. "Alex, wait! You can't leave without a car. How do you plan to get home?" I paused, my hand on the doorknob, and turned to face her. Her e
By Chance, By Fate 76
76Alex The tension in the room was palpable. The fire crackled and popped, casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. But the warmth it offered couldn’t soothe the chill running through me. Damon Nightshade, as smug and composed as ever, sat in his chair, his dark eyes gleaming with quiet amusement.Beside him, Charlotte leaned back in her seat, a glass of red wine in hand, her smile far too pleased. I stood there, arms crossed, trying to keep my emotions in check. I had been dragged here under duress, but there was no way in hell I was going to make it easy for Damon or Charlotte.Damon leaned forward slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. “Alex, I know this isn’t easy for you. But sometimes, life forces you to make hard decisions.”“Hard decisions?” I scoffed, my voice filled with disbelief. “What the hell are you talking about? You think I’m just going to roll over and play your game?”He didn’t flinch, his lips curling into a smile. “I don’t think you have much of a choice,
By Chance, By Fate 75
75AlexThe fire crackled softly, its warmth doing nothing to ease the icy tension in the room. Damon Nightshade leaned back in one of the leather chairs, exuding a relaxed authority that made my skin crawl. He studied me like I was some pawn on a chessboard, waiting for me to make a move he could exploit. “Have a seat,” Damon said, gesturing to the chairs opposite him. His voice was smooth, calm, but it carried an undertone of command that left no room for argument.I stayed standing, crossing my arms. “We’re not here to make ourselves comfortable.”Damon tilted his head, a faint, amused smile on his lips. “Suit yourself. Though, I find negotiations go smoother when everyone’s relaxed. Charlotte, what will you have to drink?”Charlotte, who had made herself at home on the chair beside him, smiled like she belonged there. “A glass of red wine, Damon. Something bold.”“Of course,” Damon said, nodding toward one of the silent attendants who stood in the shadows near the door. The man d
