The Dark Side of Fate

Chapter 353

The Beating Of His Heart

~Josphine~

Justin vented his frustration towards Liam, who remained silent and took the blame even though I was the one who convinced him to go to the place in the first place. The guilt weighed heavily on me and I imagined what Justin must have endured when the King called, desperately trying to speak with Liam, and Justin having no idea how to reach him.

The King’s worry was entirely understandable. The circumstances had led to everyone being evacuated from Grizlo for a valid reason. It was only natural for him to be on high alert when something happened, especially since the incident took place at his mother’s house. I recognised the legitimacy of his fear, and I felt awful for causing so much concern and putting Liam in a negative light with Justin.

I couldn’t shake off the feeling of blame, fearing that it might lead to problems between Liam and me. As I made my way to my room, I sternly reminded myself not to act impulsively in the future. Justin’s concerns were entirely justified. What if we had been attacked in that place? Despite being fighters capable of defending ourselves, we would have been overpowered if they came in large numbers.

The possibility that they might have used weapons as well weighed heavily on my mind. I may be immune to Silver, but Liam wasn’t. The seriousness of the situation dawned on me, and I felt an overwhelming sense of remorse for my actions.

While I was in the shower, I heard a knock on the door, and my immediate instinct told me it was Liam. He was the only person who would come knocking at my door this late at night. Covered in soap, I decided that once I finished freshening up, I would head to his room.

The idea of going to his room gave me a rush of excitement, causing goosebumps to prickle my skin. The memories of our time together at the lake and in his room replayed in my mind. The way he spoke and the things he did made my heart flutter. The almost-kiss we had shared at the lake was real; it couldn’t have been a product of my imagination. I was certain of it.

After I finished freshening up and slipped into my pyjamas, I decided to check on Liam to ensure he was okay, especially since Justin’s demeanour had been serious. Gently knocking on his door, I was surprised when Liam opened it and motioned for me to come in.

As I stood in his room, I felt a bit uncertain about what to say or do. Liam looked attractive in his shorts, and not wearing anything on top allowed my mind to wander for a brief moment.

“Sorry about…” I began, but he interrupted me, preventing me from finishing the sentence. He quickly put on a T-shirt and then guided me towards the balcony.

“I had a great time today, and I don’t regret going with you to that place. I’m just relieved that we made it back home safely,” he expressed, stepping out onto the balcony. I watched him closely, unsure of how he felt about the situation.

“So you’re not upset with me?” I inquired, and he shook his head, offering his hand to invite me to join him on the balcony.

“Not at all,” he reassured me, pulling me closer so that we stood side by side, gazing up at the stars in the night sky. In that serene moment, I knew we shared a special connection, and the day’s adventure had only strengthened our bond.

As he gazed at the night sky, I found myself studying him closely. It was surprising to see that he didn’t appear affected by the incident with Justin. It seemed as though he had brushed it off, which I knew was to my advantage.

I gently reached out and touched his arm, prompting him to look at me. “You know you shouldn’t have lied for my sake,” I remarked, feeling grateful for his gesture but also concerned about him getting in trouble.

Liam chuckled and replied, “Who said I was lying? I actually wanted to check it out myself; you just helped me make up my mind faster,” he admitted with a mischievous grin, causing me to laugh along with him. It was a relief to know that we were on the same page, and our adventurous spirits only brought us closer together.

Not ready to leave just yet, I decided to initiate a conversation with him. “What do you think the housekeeper might have done?” I asked, seeking his thoughts on the matter. He gazed at me, pondering the question.

for sure: we need to be extremely cautious from now on,” he responded, his smile fading as he emphasised the seriousness of

“We were under surveillance by those perpetrators. They even sent a video. Our parents have already seen it. The audacity! They

watching us,” I exclaimed, grasping the gravity of the situation. He nodded solemnly

off, my mind racing to the worst possible scenarios, realising the potential danger we had placed ourselves

comforting hug while gently stroking my hair to ease my tension. “We just have to be more careful, Jo. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he reassured,

found solace in each other’s arms, and we chose to savour the moment, relishing each other’s presence. The tranquillity of the night enveloped us, and if there had been music playing, I would have swayed to it. However, I wanted to stay focused and present in that

he softly called my name, and I lifted my head to meet his

and I couldn’t agree more. Despite the incident, it

a promise that stirred emotions I

in my throat. Just as he was about to lean in for a kiss, an unfortunate knock on his door interrupted our moment, and I couldn’t

I heard Liam mutter a curse word under his breath too, which was quite endearing, causing me to chuckle despite the interruption. He looked at me, and I nodded, signalling that he could answer

of sleep, I announced, “I’m going to bed,” making my way toward the door. However, Liam didn’t seem happy with that

he noticed

tone carrying a hint of guilt. I shook my head, trying to appear nonchalant even though my demeanour

quickly to make my way to my room. My heart was still racing from the near-kiss

in my room, I let out a frustrated sigh. “Maybe we should stop waiting

sign, but I remained optimistic. I was determined not to let anything else get in the way of embracing what I was feeling for

eluded me. If only Liam had been there, I thought, I might have snuggled into his arms and drifted off easily. Unfortunately, sleep seemed to be my enemy that night, and it evaded me for most of the night. By the time I

through my morning routine, I managed to get ready by eight-thirty and made my

the far end of the table. When Oliver saw me, he promptly got up from his seat beside Liam, offering it to me. It was a kind gesture, but it made me feel a bit shy

truck? Jo, those dark circles,” Charlotte exclaimed, drawing attention to my tired appearance, as I had completely forgotten to use concealer to hide the evidence of my sleepless night. Now, everyone would be aware

before taking a seat beside Liam. He whispered, “Slept late,” and I nodded, grateful for his understanding. I

me to connect the dots, given my sluggish morning state. Eventually, Justin responded, “We believe the perpetrators were sent to do something at Grandma Stephanie’s house, and the person who sent them blew up the van to

fun with all the danger

though it hadn’t before. The realisation hit me that perhaps

lifted the fork, but I quickly placed it back on the plate, hoping no one noticed my unease. The

able to move on? You’ve already moved heaven and earth, for Sophia’s sake. Aren’t we all here because of her?” Marvin teased, and I found it hard to bear. The emotions inside me threatened to surface, but I knew I couldn’t show weakness. I stayed seated, not wanting

but I forced myself to take deep breaths and regain control. I couldn’t let my emotions overwhelm me, especially not in front of everyone. I mustered all my strength to remain composed and steady, even though it

any romantic connection between him and Sophia. However, Charlotte didn’t let it slide and teased him about the night she went missing,

Liam had practically confessed his feelings for Sophia in

never bothered me before. Yet, this time, it struck

plate away and stood up to excuse myself, pretending that I needed to use the restroom. I calmly walked away from the dining room, but the moment I was out of sight, I hastened up the stairs, desperate to

cheeks uncontrollably. It seemed that this teasing about Sophia and Liam had hit a sensitive nerve, and I needed a moment to collect myself and process these unexpected

the thought that there might be something between Liam and me. It was