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.

need to be extremely cautious from now on,” he responded, his smile fading as he emphasised

already seen it. The audacity! They

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

to the worst possible scenarios, realising the potential danger we had placed ourselves in due

have to be more careful, Jo. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he reassured, and I couldn’t help but

and we chose to savour the moment, relishing each other’s presence. The tranquillity of the night enveloped us,

my name, and I lifted my head to

we shared it together,” he confessed, and I couldn’t agree more. Despite the incident, it was a day filled

gaze. His eyes held a promise that stirred emotions I didn’t know I craved, leaving me to wonder if I was merely

I managed to whisper, but my voice caught in my throat. Just as he was about to lean in for a kiss, an unfortunate knock

word under his breath too, which was quite endearing, causing me to chuckle despite the interruption. He looked at me, and I

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

a smile that faded when he noticed me. He appeared visibly

something?” Oliver asked, his tone carrying a hint of guilt. I shook my head, trying

room. My heart was still

stop waiting for the perfect moment and

been interrupted, and it wasn’t the best sign, but I remained optimistic. I was determined not to let anything else get in the way of

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.

up at eight, I was aware that breakfast had likely been served. Hastily going through my morning routine,

table. When Oliver saw me, he promptly got up from his seat beside Liam, offering it to me. It was a

completely forgotten to

late,” and I nodded, grateful for his understanding. I noticed that he was helping me serve my food, a sweet gesture that warmed

to the topic of our investigation. It took a moment for 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

girlfriend will be fun with all the danger looming,”

me, even though it hadn’t before. The realisation hit me that perhaps my feelings for Liam were deeper than I

hoping no one noticed my unease. The conversation about Liam potentially reuniting with Sophia weighed heavily on my

you be 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

and regain control. I couldn’t let my emotions overwhelm me, especially not in front of

just friends,” Liam replied, attempting to downplay any romantic connection between him and Sophia. However, Charlotte didn’t let it slide and teased him about the night she went missing, implying that

asserting that Liam had practically confessed

Yet, this

any longer, I pushed my 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 reach my room and let my

to regain composure, but tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably. It seemed that this teasing about Sophia and

help but berate myself for foolishly entertaining the thought that there might be something between Liam and me. It was crystal clear that he cared deeply for Sophia, which was precisely why we were in Grizlo