All Chapters of By Chance, By Fate: Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

92LiamThe kingdom was alive with excitement for my upcoming wedding with Sophia. Every corner of the palace was adorned with flowers, silks, and banners in shades of gold and cream, the official colors of our union. The cheerful buzz of servants, musicians, and decorators filled the air, but none of it could drown out the suffocating weight in my chest.I avoided Sophia as much as I could. She had tried calling me a few more times after our last conversation, but I ignored her. Each time her name appeared on my phone, my stomach twisted in guilt and dread. She didn’t deserve this—didn’t deserve me, a man who couldn’t love her the way she deserved. And yet, I was trapped.Mom, on the other hand, was practically glowing with excitement. She spoke of the wedding plans incessantly, debating between seating arrangements and flower choices with a fervor I couldn’t match. I nodded along during conversations, pretending to care while my mind drifted to Alex—his laugh.But now, he was gone.

94AlexThe next morning, I woke up with a plan. I’d pack light, leave early, and avoid Charlotte entirely. If all went well, I’d be on a plane before she even realized I was gone. Simple. Foolproof.Or so I thought.By the time I tiptoed into the living room with my bag slung over my shoulder, Charlotte was already there, perched on the couch like a cat that had just caught a mouse. She was sipping her coffee and scrolling on her phone, looking impossibly smug.“Good morning, Alex,” she said sweetly, not even glancing up from her mug.I froze mid-step, my heart sinking. “Uh… morning.”Her eyes flicked to my bag. “Going somewhere?”“Just the gym,” I said, attempting to sound casual as I gestured vaguely to the bag.“With a suitcase?” she asked, arching an elegant eyebrow.I hesitated, feeling the weight of her gaze. “It’s, uh, for extra weights,” I said weakly.Charlotte set her coffee down slowly, deliberately, as if savoring the moment. “Extra weights?” she repeated, her voice dripp

96Alex The northern lights faded into the background as the waiter cleared away our plates. Charlotte sipped her wine thoughtfully, clearly still in planning mode.“So, tomorrow,” she began, setting her glass down carefully as if she were presenting a royal decree, “the ceremony starts at noon sharp. That means we need to be at the chapel by eleven. Hair and makeup at eight. And don’t forget—”“Charlotte,” I interrupted, rubbing my eyes with exaggerated weariness. “It’s late, and I’m exhausted. Can we just... go to bed and figure it out in the morning?”She frowned, her lips tightening in that familiar way that signaled an argument was brewing. “Go to bed? It’s only—” she glanced at her watch, and her lips parted slightly before pressing together in a firm line. “Okay, fine, it’s late. But there’s so much to—”“Nope,” I said firmly, pushing my chair back and tossing my napkin on the table. “This is non-negotiable. We’re calling it a night.”Her gaze hardened, and she leaned forward

98LiamThe next morning came too quickly. I barely slept—every time I closed my eyes, I saw Alex’s face. Not smiling, not happy, but the way he’d looked the last time we’d spoken: distant, cold, like I was just another face in the crowd. My chest ached as the thought repeated itself: *He didn’t care. He never cared.*But what if I was wrong? What if he *did* care and didn’t know about the wedding? What if he’d tried to call and I missed it? Or worse, what if he *knew* and just… didn’t think it was worth stopping?I rolled over, grabbing my phone from the nightstand. It was almost noon, and the maids were already bustling outside my door, waiting for me to summon them or let them in. But I ignored them, swiping to Alex’s contact.I stared at his name for what felt like hours.*One last time,* I told myself. *Just try one more time.*With trembling fingers, I hit the call button. The line rang. Once. Twice. Three times. My heart pounded louder with each ring, the hope building even tho

100AlexCharlotte led the way out into the freezing night, her shoulders hunched against the cold. The streetlights above cast a dim, flickering glow, making her look even smaller. I followed silently, my thoughts a whirlwind of resentment and reluctance. The last few days had been nothing but one disaster after another, and this was no different. Alec’s mess had turned into mine, and now I was stuck dealing with it.As we walked, I broke the silence, my voice a low murmur. “So, who’s this dangerous friend of Alec’s?”Charlotte hesitated, glancing at me over her shoulder, her eyes clouded with uncertainty. “His name’s Viktor. He’s... well, let’s just say he’s not someone you call unless you’re desperate.”I frowned. “You mean he’s a loan shark.”She didn’t answer immediately. Her pace slowed slightly, as though she were reconsidering her words. But when she spoke, her voice was tight, forced. “Something like that. He’s more than just a loan shark, though. He’s connected. Dangerous.”I