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Cracks in the Facade
Last Updated:
2024-11-25 22:26:31
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By Chance, By Fate The Gala 1
40AlexThe Grand Ballroom of the White House was dazzling, as expected. Crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow over the room, illuminating the sea of dignitaries, politicians, and diplomats in their finest attire. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume, champagne, and the subtle tension that always accompanied events like this. I stepped into the room alongside Elena and my father, my shoulders squared and my face set in the practiced mask of calm confidence. Cameras flashed as we entered, the press capturing every angle, every movement. My father led the way, the consummate politician, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with foreign leaders as though the weight of the summit wasn’t pressing down on him like a vice. Elena was right behind him, her emerald gown catching the light as she navigated the crowd with ease. She was a natural at this—graceful, poised, untouchable. Meanwhile, I felt like I was walking on a tightrope, one wrong move away from disaster.
Last Updated : 2024-11-26By Chance, By Fate The Gala 2
41LiamAs soon as the ballroom doors closed behind us, the noise of the gala dulled to a faint hum, leaving only the sound of our footsteps echoing down the marble hallway. The tension between Alex and me was palpable, a tangible thread stretched taut between us, threatening to snap at any moment. He stopped abruptly in front of a small room—a sitting room, maybe, or one of those countless, perfectly decorated spaces that seemed to exist solely for moments like this in places like the White House. Alex opened the door without a word and stepped inside. I hesitated for a second before following him. The room was dimly lit, the warm glow of a single lamp casting long shadows against the cream-colored walls. A plush sofa sat near the center, flanked by two armchairs, the kind of furniture that screamed money and power. Alex turned to face me, his arms crossed and his jaw tight. “Alright, Liam,” he said, his voice sharp. “What do you want to say?” I closed the door behind me and
Last Updated : 2024-11-26By Chance, By Fate The Gala 3
42AlexThe air in the room felt thick, suffocating with unspoken words. I stood there, unsure of what to do next. I couldn’t tell if the frustration boiling inside me was because of what I wanted from him or because of what he wasn’t giving me. The silence dragged on, and just when I thought I might finally crack, Liam’s voice broke through.“Alex…” he said quietly, as if testing the weight of the words. “Do you really think Elena could tell your father—could tell everyone—that she saw us kissing?”His question hit me like a punch to the gut. I froze, trying to hold onto the walls of my composure. Of course, Elena could have told them. She didn’t want this to continue, not for a second. And honestly, I didn’t want it to either—not the way it was. But I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud, not yet.“Liam…” I began, my voice hoarse as I tried to gather the courage to speak. “Honestly, I thought she would. I begged her not to tell anyone. I begged her to let it go.”He narrowed his
Last Updated : 2024-11-26By Chance, By Fate Confrontation and Chaos
43Liam“But why didn’t you say anything? Why did you let this go on for so long? Why did we waste all this time hating each other?”“I don’t know,” I admitted, his voice quiet now, almost resigned. “Maybe because it was easier to hate you than to admit what I felt. Maybe because I was too scared of what it meant, too scared of how it would change everything. But I can’t do it anymore, Alex. I can’t pretend like this isn’t happening. And I can’t keep pretending that I don’t want you.”It was easier to hate him. At least, that’s what I told myself over and over for years. Hating Alex kept things simple. It gave me a reason to avoid the truth, to bury what I felt under layers of bitterness and anger. If I could convince him that I despised him, maybe I’d believe it too. But the truth was messier than I wanted to admit. I had been in love with Alex from the moment I met him. The sharp wit, the confidence he exuded, the way he could cut through my armor with a single word—it all drove m
Last Updated : 2024-11-27By Chance, By Fate Liam's Sacrifice
44AlexThe moment I heard the crash, my heart sank. My body moved on autopilot, rushing toward the door and down the hallway, Liam hot on my heels despite my earlier protest. I barely registered the sound of his hurried footsteps behind me, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. The grand ballroom was a scene straight out of a nightmare. Smoke curled through the air, mingling with the sharp scent of gunpowder and scorched fabric. Guests screamed and scattered like panicked birds, their elegant gowns and tailored suits a jarring contrast to the chaos unfolding around them. “Everyone stay where you are!” a voice bellowed from the center of the room. It was muffled and distorted by a mask, but there was no mistaking the deadly authority in their tone. I skidded to a halt at the top of the staircase, my pulse thundering in my ears. My eyes darted wildly, taking in the scene. A group of masked intruders stood in a loose formation under the grand chandelier, their guns glinting me
Last Updated : 2024-11-27By Chance, By Fate Queen Ingrid's Madness
45AlexThe sharp sting of Liam’s blood on my hands burned hotter than the chaos around me. I sat frozen, my knees pressed against the cold, marble floor as his stretcher disappeared through the double doors. The weight of his sacrifice bore down on me, my breath hitching as I stared at the crimson stains on my trembling hands. “Alex!” My father’s voice cut through the fog of my thoughts. I looked up to see him rushing toward me, his tie askew and his face lined with worry. Elena followed closely, her elegant gown streaked with ash and dirt, her hands trembling as she knelt beside me. “Are you hurt?” my father demanded, gripping my shoulders as his sharp eyes scanned me from head to toe. “No,” I croaked, shaking my head. My voice cracked under the weight of my words. “Liam... he took the shot. It should’ve been me.” Elena dropped to her knees beside me, wrapping her arms around me without hesitation. Her slender frame trembled as she pulled me close, her cheek pressing again
Last Updated : 2024-11-27By Chance, By Fate Unconscious
46LiamThe moment I saw the barrel swing toward Alex, I didn’t think. There was no time for hesitation, no room for logic or self-preservation. All I knew was that I couldn’t let him die. Not Alex. Not the man who had unknowingly stolen my heart in the quiet moments between arguments and stolen glances. So, I moved. The bullet burned like fire as it tore into my side, a sharp, searing pain that knocked the air from my lungs. The world tilted, and the ground came rushing up to meet me. Somewhere in the chaos, I heard Alex scream my name. I wanted to tell him not to worry, to brush it off with a typical quip. But the pain was overwhelming, and all I could do was press my hand to the wound, feeling the hot, sticky blood seep through my fingers. “Liam!” His voice broke through the haze, raw and desperate. Then he was there, his hands trembling as they pressed over mine, trying to stem the bleeding. “Didn’t... didn’t think you cared this much,” I muttered, forcing a weak smile d
Last Updated : 2024-11-28By Chance, By Fate Sacrifice of Love
47 Alex The sharp scent of smoke lingered in the air as the sirens outside grew louder, piercing the heavy silence that had settled over the shattered ballroom. My father stood tall, his shoulders squared and his jaw tight with fury, surveying the chaos like a general on the battlefield. For a moment, no one dared to speak. “Clean this up,” he barked at the nearest Secret Service agent, his voice cold and commanding. “Now. I want this room secured, the guests accounted for, and every last one of those bastards hunted down before the night is over.” “Yes, Mr. President,” the agent responded immediately, snapping into action. Elena and I stood silently as staff and security personnel swarmed the room, righting overturned tables and sweeping away the broken glass. I could still feel the blood drying on my hands, sticky and warm, a horrifying reminder of Liam lying pale and wounded on the floor. “Alex,” my father said sharply, turning to me with a look that made my chest tighte
Last Updated : 2024-11-28
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
