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2024-12-29 20:58:14
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By Chance, By Fate 92
92LiamThe kingdom was alive with excitement for my upcoming wedding with Sophia. Every corner of the palace was adorned with flowers, silks, and banners in shades of gold and cream, the official colors of our union. The cheerful buzz of servants, musicians, and decorators filled the air, but none of it could drown out the suffocating weight in my chest.I avoided Sophia as much as I could. She had tried calling me a few more times after our last conversation, but I ignored her. Each time her name appeared on my phone, my stomach twisted in guilt and dread. She didn’t deserve this—didn’t deserve me, a man who couldn’t love her the way she deserved. And yet, I was trapped.Mom, on the other hand, was practically glowing with excitement. She spoke of the wedding plans incessantly, debating between seating arrangements and flower choices with a fervor I couldn’t match. I nodded along during conversations, pretending to care while my mind drifted to Alex—his laugh.But now, he was gone.
Last Updated : 2024-12-29By Chance, By Fate 93
93LiamMy mother swept into the room moments later, a whirlwind of excitement and authority. “Oh, there you are! Look at this fabric!” She gestured dramatically to the outfits being brought in by servants—my wedding suit and Sophia’s gown. My suit was even more elaborate than the one laid out earlier. The jacket alone was a masterpiece, with diamond-encrusted buttons and gold filigree swirling around the sleeves. The trousers were made of the same luxurious fabric, tailored to perfection, while the shoes gleamed with golden accents. Sophia’s gown was breathtaking. The bodice was covered in intricate beadwork, diamonds catching the light with every movement. The skirt flowed like liquid gold, with layers of sheer fabric that gave it an ethereal quality. A tiara of diamonds and sapphires completed the ensemble, making her look every inch the royal bride. My mother clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. “Isn’t it magnificent? You two will be the picture of perfection, the
Last Updated : 2024-12-29By Chance, By Fate 94
94AlexThe next morning, I woke up with a plan. I’d pack light, leave early, and avoid Charlotte entirely. If all went well, I’d be on a plane before she even realized I was gone. Simple. Foolproof.Or so I thought.By the time I tiptoed into the living room with my bag slung over my shoulder, Charlotte was already there, perched on the couch like a cat that had just caught a mouse. She was sipping her coffee and scrolling on her phone, looking impossibly smug.“Good morning, Alex,” she said sweetly, not even glancing up from her mug.I froze mid-step, my heart sinking. “Uh… morning.”Her eyes flicked to my bag. “Going somewhere?”“Just the gym,” I said, attempting to sound casual as I gestured vaguely to the bag.“With a suitcase?” she asked, arching an elegant eyebrow.I hesitated, feeling the weight of her gaze. “It’s, uh, for extra weights,” I said weakly.Charlotte set her coffee down slowly, deliberately, as if savoring the moment. “Extra weights?” she repeated, her voice dripp
Last Updated : 2024-12-30By Chance, By Fate 95
95Alex The moment we stepped out of the airport, I was hit with a blast of icy air. Norway in winter was no joke. Snowflakes swirled around us, and the icy breeze nipped at my face, making me tug my jacket tighter. Charlotte, however, seemed unfazed. She pulled her fur-lined coat snugly around herself, her heels clicking against the cobblestones as she surveyed the area like a queen inspecting her kingdom."Are you not freezing?" I asked, already shivering.She gave me a sidelong glance. "You call this cold? Try a gala in Vienna during a snowstorm. Now that’s cold."“Our driver should be here any second,” she added, glancing at her watch."Of course he is," I muttered. "Wouldn't want to keep Queen Charlotte waiting."She shot me a pointed look but didn’t bother responding. Sure enough, a sleek black car pulled up moments later. The driver stepped out, his gloved hands opening the back door with a practiced bow.“Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan,” he said, his accent crisp and polite.“W
Last Updated : 2024-12-30By Chance, By Fate 96
96Alex The northern lights faded into the background as the waiter cleared away our plates. Charlotte sipped her wine thoughtfully, clearly still in planning mode.“So, tomorrow,” she began, setting her glass down carefully as if she were presenting a royal decree, “the ceremony starts at noon sharp. That means we need to be at the chapel by eleven. Hair and makeup at eight. And don’t forget—”“Charlotte,” I interrupted, rubbing my eyes with exaggerated weariness. “It’s late, and I’m exhausted. Can we just... go to bed and figure it out in the morning?”She frowned, her lips tightening in that familiar way that signaled an argument was brewing. “Go to bed? It’s only—” she glanced at her watch, and her lips parted slightly before pressing together in a firm line. “Okay, fine, it’s late. But there’s so much to—”“Nope,” I said firmly, pushing my chair back and tossing my napkin on the table. “This is non-negotiable. We’re calling it a night.”Her gaze hardened, and she leaned forward
Last Updated : 2024-12-30By Chance, By Fate 97
97Alex I leaned against the wall, pinching the bridge of my nose. My head throbbed, exhaustion crawling over me like a heavy blanket. My plans for a quiet night of mindlessly scrolling through my phone and ignoring the fact that Liam—*Liam*—was getting married tomorrow were now shredded to pieces. Instead, I was stuck here with Charlotte, her shaking brother, and a ticking time bomb of fifty thousand kroner’s worth of debt.“This is insane,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else, my voice low and sharp.Charlotte’s head snapped toward me, her expression hardening. She was pacing the room like a caged tiger, silk robe billowing behind her. “It’s not insane—it’s urgent,” she snapped back. “Alec’s life is in danger. Do you even comprehend that?”I barked out a humorless laugh. “Do *you* comprehend that I just wanted one night—*one night*—without you pulling some new crisis into my life?”Her eyes narrowed, lips pressing into a thin line. “Don’t make this about you,” she said, gla
Last Updated : 2024-12-31By Chance, By Fate 98
98LiamThe next morning came too quickly. I barely slept—every time I closed my eyes, I saw Alex’s face. Not smiling, not happy, but the way he’d looked the last time we’d spoken: distant, cold, like I was just another face in the crowd. My chest ached as the thought repeated itself: *He didn’t care. He never cared.*But what if I was wrong? What if he *did* care and didn’t know about the wedding? What if he’d tried to call and I missed it? Or worse, what if he *knew* and just… didn’t think it was worth stopping?I rolled over, grabbing my phone from the nightstand. It was almost noon, and the maids were already bustling outside my door, waiting for me to summon them or let them in. But I ignored them, swiping to Alex’s contact.I stared at his name for what felt like hours.*One last time,* I told myself. *Just try one more time.*With trembling fingers, I hit the call button. The line rang. Once. Twice. Three times. My heart pounded louder with each ring, the hope building even tho
Last Updated : 2024-12-31By Chance, By Fate 99
99LiamThe grand doors of the ceremony hall loomed ahead, intricately carved with scenes of royal history. Every detail was immaculate, from the golden handles to the red carpet unfurled before me. But none of it felt real. The weight of the crown on my head, the layers of the ceremonial robe—it all felt like chains dragging me toward something I couldn’t escape.“Liam!” my mother called from the side of the hall. She stood near Sophia, who looked as radiant as ever, dressed in her breathtaking gown. My mother’s smile was tight, her eyes scrutinizing every detail of me as if I were a piece of art she needed to perfect.Sophia caught my eye, her expression soft, almost apologetic. She looked beautiful, yes, but her beauty didn’t stir anything in me other than guilt.“Come now,” my mother said sharply, motioning for me to stand beside Sophia. “Everything must be perfect. No time for nerves or hesitation.”*No time for love either,* I thought bitterly, though I kept the words to myself.
Last Updated : 2024-12-31
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
