Lahat ng Kabanata ng By Chance, By Fate: Kabanata 121 - Kabanata 130

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

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

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

Chapter 127AlexA few hours later, the private jet descended smoothly onto the tarmac. The soft hum of the engines slowly faded as we taxied to a stop at a secluded section of the airport. Outside the cabin window, a sleek black car waited, its polished surface gleaming under the bright morning sun.I leaned back in my seat, my fingers gripping the handle of my carry-on bag. Every passing moment felt like an eternity, the tension in the air suffocating. Across from me, Charlotte adjusted her oversized sunglasses, her movements too precise, too calculated.“Alex,” she said, finally breaking the silence. “You’ve been sulking since we boarded. Are you going to keep this up, or are you planning to act like an adult today?”I didn’t respond immediately, staring out the window instead. “And you’re going to pretend you didn’t bring this on yourself?” I asked, my voice low but cutting.Charlotte sighed dramatically, pushing her sunglasses up onto her head. “For God’s sake, Alex. Are we reall

129LiamSophia's words hung in the air like a challenge, her gaze unwavering and sharp as it met mine. Her confidence lit a fire in my chest, and I nodded slightly, swallowing the lump in my throat. If Anders and Evelyn thought they could ruin this night, they were in for a surprise.“Are you ready for whatever stunt he’s planning next?” Sophia asked, her voice calm but laced with steel.“Always,” I replied, forcing a small smile. “You?”Her lips curved into a smirk. “Born ready.”The tension between us broke for a brief moment, replaced by shared determination, but before we could move, the song transitioned into something slower, filling the hall with a soft melody. That’s when a loud crash echoed from the other side of the room, cutting through the music like a knife.Heads turned in unison, whispers rippling through the crowd like wildfire. My chest tightened as I spotted Anders standing near one of the tables, his drink spilled across the floor. The waiter beside him stood froze