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The Gala 1
Last Updated:
2024-11-26 23:57:46Related chapters
By 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 : 2024-11-28By Chance, By Fate Shadows of Betrayal
48Alex The phone in my hand felt like a block of lead, its faint glow casting an eerie light across the darkened room. My thumb hovered over the screen, trembling as I stared at the message for the third—no, fourth—time, hoping that somehow the words would change or that I’d wake up from this nightmare. "Luckily for you, that imbecile Liam took the bullet. You should’ve been dead by now. You’re lucky, but your luck won’t save you forever. I’ll strike again, and next time, nobody will help you. You’ll die, Alex."Each word was sharp and venomous, carrying an almost tangible malice. My breath hitched as I reread the message, the weight of its threat pressing down on my chest. A cold, clammy sensation spread through my body, my heart hammering like it was trying to escape my ribcage. Liam’s face flashed in my mind—his bloodied, pale face as he collapsed into my arms, gasping for breath. That bullet had been meant for me. The thought twisted my gut, a sickening combination of guilt
Last Updated : 2024-11-29
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
