All Chapters of By Chance, By Fate: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

21AlexThe weight of days pressed heavily on my shoulders as I made my way through the dark, cobblestone paths winding through the palace gardens. The summit had taken every ounce of willpower to endure, with Liam’s voice—full of anger, hope, and betrayal—still echoing in my head. My chest felt like it was caving in, a silent reminder that I was the architect of this chaos between us. I needed air. I needed space where the silence wasn’t filled with unsaid words and the presence of Liam’s pain. The night breeze carried the faint scent of jasmine, but it did little to calm the storm inside me. I found myself pacing along the edge of the garden, the rough bark of the ancient oaks brushing against my fingertips.That’s when I heard it—a voice, sharp and biting, cutting through the night. I froze, instinctively stepping back into the shadows, holding my breath.“Anders, do you even understand what’s at stake?” Queen Ingrid’s voice was cold, the kind of cold that made the hair on the bac

23LiamThe summit was already strained when the latest alert came through. I was in a side room, reviewing talking points for an upcoming session when an aide rushed in, pale-faced and whispering frantically to Sophia. Her expression darkened immediately, and she nodded before dismissing the aide with a clipped, “Handle it.”“What’s happened now?” I asked, setting my notes aside. Sophia turned to me, her lips pressed into a thin line. “There’s been a security breach. A suspicious package was found near the main venue. They’re investigating now.”My stomach churned at the thought. “A bomb?”“Possibly,” she admitted. “President Morgan’s team isn’t taking any chances. Protocols are tightening across the board. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”I nodded, already feeling the tension ramping up. When things like this happened, everyone became a suspect, and alliances frayed. It was the perfect storm for whoever was behind the threats. Later That EveningThe ballroom buzzed

25LiamThe moment the door creaked open, I immediately noticed Charlotte standing there, her eyes wide with panic as she took in the scene before her. She froze, her gaze flicking between Alex, Sophia, and me. I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers trembled as she clasped her hands together. There was something off about her, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.Alex, ever the composed one despite his exhaustion, was the first to speak. “Charlotte? What are you doing here?”Her voice faltered as she tried to come up with an explanation. “I... I was just checking the breakroom,” she said quickly, though I could hear the cracks in her voice. “I—just needed to make sure everything was... okay.”Her excuse was weak, too rehearsed, and her face betrayed her, the flicker of guilt barely hidden behind her feigned innocence. I watched as Alex took a step forward, his expression softening despite his confusion. “Is everything all right?” he asked, his voice sur

27Alex I woke up once again to find yet another damning headline in the newspaper. This time, it wasn’t just speculation or vague insinuations. No, this one was personal: *“Alex Morgan’s Erratic Behavior Casts Shadow Over Summit.”* My jaw tightened as I scanned the article, the blood draining from my face. They had cited “anonymous sources” about my “volatile moods” and my “lack of decorum.” I slammed the paper down on the table, my fingers curling into fists. Was it Charlotte again? Damn it! It *had* to be. Before I could spiral further into my thoughts, my phone buzzed on the bedside table. I snatched it up, already bracing myself for whatever was coming. “Alex.” My father’s voice was sharp, cutting. No pleasantries. “Have you seen the papers?” “Yes, sir,” I said, forcing my voice to stay level, though my pulse was hammering in my ears. “This is the second time, Alex!” he barked. “The second time in one week that you’ve embarrassed this family and jeopardized my position. Do

29LiamThe silence between Alex and me was unbearable as we worked in the conference room. The air felt charged, filled with everything we weren’t saying. His focus was glued to the document on his laptop, his fingers typing occasionally, but there was an edge to his movements. I was still rattled by my argument with Anders and my mother. Their voices lingered in my head like an echo, sharp and relentless. My brother’s taunts, my mother’s cold dismissal, and Alex’s earlier accusations... it was all too much. Every time I tried to push the thoughts away, they surged back, demanding attention.Alex’s voice finally broke the silence, startling me. “Hey, Liam, are you even paying attention?” I blinked, realizing I’d been staring blankly at the same sentence in my notes for several minutes. “What?” I asked, my voice flat. He sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Never mind. Forget I asked.” I wanted to say something—anything—but the words got stuck in my throat. The truth was, I wasn