All Chapters of By Chance, By Fate: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

51“What?” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve been in love with you since we were kids,” he said, his tone raw. “But I kept it to myself because I thought you were straight, or—hell, I don’t know. I didn’t think I had a chance.” I stared at him, my mind racing. “So what, you just decided to spring this on me now? After everything?” “No.” He shook his head. “I didn’t plan for this to happen. I came here to fix things between us, to be your friend again. But seeing you like this… I couldn’t keep it in anymore.” I took a step back, putting distance between us, my heart pounding in my chest. "You had no right, Daniel. No right to kiss me, to say this now." His eyes narrowed, frustration and something else flickering in them. "Why? Because of Liam? Because you’re in love with him?" The words hit harder than I expected, and I flinched, as if they'd physically struck me. My stomach twisted, but I didn't want him to see how badly his words hurt. "That's not the point,"

53AlexAs the car glided through the bustling city streets, Elena turned to me, her expression soft yet probing. “Alex,” she said quietly, her voice barely audible over the hum of the engine. “I know you’re grateful I dragged you out today, but this—this isn’t enough. You can’t just bury yourself in your room forever. What’s really going on?” I leaned back against the plush leather seat, my gaze fixed on the world outside. Neon lights blurred past, the city alive and unbothered, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me. A part of me wanted to brush her off, to change the subject like I always did. But Elena wasn’t one to back down. If I didn’t give her something, she’d push until I cracked. I sighed heavily, running a hand through my hair. “Fine. You want to know what’s been going on?” I muttered, my voice tinged with frustration. She nodded, her green eyes unwavering, waiting for me to spill my secrets. “I’ve been trying to contact Liam,” I admitted finally, my chest t

55AlexI strode toward the door, each step heavy with determination, but Charlotte’s voice sliced through the air behind me like a whip. “Stop right there, Alex!” I froze, my back to her. My shoulders stiffened, fists curling at my sides. Her words held the kind of authority I’d grown to resent. I didn’t turn around. I didn’t have to. “What now, Charlotte?” I asked, my tone calm, though the exhaustion seeped through every word. “You think you can just walk out like that?” Her heels clicked sharply on the marble floor as she closed the distance between us. “After everything I’ve done for you? After everything I’ve sacrificed?” I glanced back at her over my shoulder, my patience worn thin. “I apologized. I said I’d try. What more do you want from me?” Her eyes glistened with tears, but there was nothing soft about her expression—only anger and desperation. “You think a forced apology is enough? You think you can just check a box and leave? I’m your fiancée, Alex! Your partner

57Alex As the words left his mouth, a part of me wanted to laugh. Not because it was funny, but because it was exactly what I expected him to say. My father, the President of the United States, master manipulator, king of ultimatums. I should’ve been used to it by now. But hearing it—feeling the finality of it—still hit me like a punch to the gut.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his icy gaze. I wouldn’t let him see how much it hurt. Not this time. “This isn’t about crawling back,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil in my chest. “This is about finally living for myself. For once.” He arched an eyebrow, his face unreadable, but I could see the faintest flicker of disbelief in his eyes. My father didn’t believe in people walking away from him. He didn’t believe in losing. “And what exactly does ‘living for yourself’ look like, Alex?” he asked, his tone dripping with skepticism. “Running off to some cabin in the woods? Disappearing from the public eye while the w

59AlexThe next morning, the buzz of my phone jolted me awake. My head ached, my body heavy with exhaustion. The long flight, the late night with Francesca’s family—it had all caught up to me. I groaned and buried my face in the pillow, ignoring the insistent vibration.The phone kept ringing.“Ugh, stop…” I mumbled, blindly reaching out toward the nightstand. My hand hit the edge of the small table, fumbling for the phone. It slipped from my grasp and clattered onto the floor.I let it ring again. And again.Finally, I gave in, dragging myself up and grabbing the phone from the ground. I didn’t even check the caller ID. Pressing the answer button, I slurred into the receiver, my voice heavy with sleep. “Hello?”“Alex.”The voice on the other end froze me in place. It was cold, sharp, unmistakable. My father.All traces of sleep vanished instantly. I sat up straight, my heart pounding. “Dad? What…? What’s going on?”His tone was clipped, business-like. “I need you to come back to the