Lahat ng Kabanata ng By Chance, By Fate: Kabanata 81 - Kabanata 90

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

84AlexI took a deep breath, steadying myself as the words formed in my mind. Finally, I lifted my head, meeting their expectant gazes.“I’ve decided,” I said, my voice firm but hollow. “I’ll marry Charlotte.”The room fell deathly silent. Even the faint clinking of cutlery stopped as everyone froze in place.“What did you say?” my father asked, breaking the silence. His voice was sharp, yet there was an undertone of disbelief.“I said I’ll marry her,” I repeated, squaring my shoulders. “If that’s what it takes to make things right, to live up to your expectations, then fine. I’ll do it.”For a moment, my father simply stared at me, as if he couldn’t quite believe his ears. Then, slowly, his lips curved into a rare, satisfied smile.“Well,” he said, leaning back in his chair with a triumphant look, “it’s about time you came to your senses. I knew you’d finally see reason, Alex. This is the right decision—for you and for this family.”My mother let out a soft gasp, her eyes welling up

86LiamThe next morning, I woke up with a single thought: *Call Alex again.* The sun had barely risen, casting long shadows across the room. Sophia had left late last night, emotionally drained but resolute. We’d agreed to tell my mother the truth together, but for now, I had another battle to fight. I grabbed my phone and dialed his number without hesitation. My heart pounded in my chest, anger simmering just beneath the surface as I listened to the rings. One ring. Two. Three. And then—voicemail. My jaw clenched so hard it hurt. “Are you fucking kidding me?” I muttered, throwing my phone onto the bed. I stood up, pacing the room as fury bubbled over. It wasn’t the first time. This was *always* how it went with Alex. Me reaching out, him hiding behind silence. Weeks of unanswered questions, of waiting for him to show up, of hoping he’d care enough to call me back—and now, I’d hit my limit. Without thinking, I picked up the phone again, scrolling to his number and h

88LiamI clenched my fists, my heart hammering in my chest. The room suddenly felt suffocating, her piercing gaze locking onto mine. She stood there, regal and terrifying, waiting for an answer, her lips pressed into a thin, disapproving line. “I said it’s nothing,” I repeated, my voice cracking slightly under the weight of her interrogation. Her eyes narrowed further, her tone dripping with suspicion. “Don’t play games with me, Liam. You’ve been acting strange for months. Ever since you took that bullet for Alex Morgan.” She paused, her eyes searching mine. “What is it about him that has you so… tangled?” The air in the room grew heavier. My throat felt dry as I scrambled for something to say—anything that wouldn’t give me away. I couldn’t let her see through me, couldn’t let her discover the truth that I was desperately trying to bury. I forced a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “What? You think I’m mad because he’s getting married? I nearly died for him, Mother! And now he’s

90AlexThe next morning, I was informed by one of the house staff that Charlotte would be arriving soon. Apparently, she and my mother had conspired to start planning the wedding. I groaned, rolling out of bed, already feeling the headache coming on. By the time I reached the sitting room, she was already there, perched on the edge of the cream-colored sofa like she owned the place. Dressed in a tailored white blouse and an expensive-looking pencil skirt, Charlotte looked every bit the polished, perfect fiancée my parents envisioned for me. “Alex,” she said brightly, standing and striding over to me. “Finally. I was beginning to think you’d sleep the day away.” I forced a tight smile. “Good morning to you too, Charlotte.” She ignored the obvious lack of enthusiasm in my tone and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the sofa. A thick leather-bound planner sat on the coffee table, surrounded by fabric swatches, floral arrangement samples, and invitations. “Your mother and I got