Fate's Dark Side Chapter 926

"Because you are my friend, and he is my cousin, and I know of Sophia, so I want to know why you will allow yourself to get carried away," she responded, her tone genuinely concerned. I offered her a smile, touched by her sincerity.

"There's nothing between him and Sophia," I reassured, to which she shook her head.

"You weren't there, Jo. When she went missing, he was devastated. I'd never seen Liam that shattered before. His emotions ran incredibly deep, and those kind of feelings tend to linger," she explained. This revelation caught me off guard, as I had never been privy to this information.

"Was it really that intense?" I inquired, genuinely surprised, and she nodded.

"Worse. I can't share all the details because they might have an impact on you, but you need to tread carefully, Jo. It would be painful to witness your heart getting broken. Emotions like that don't just fade away," she warned, her words sinking in. I nodded, choosing to keep my unease hidden. There was no point in arguing; she had firsthand experience and likely had a better grasp on Liam's connection with Sophia.

"Why didn't he ever ask her out?" I managed to inquire, seeking to understand more. Charlotte shrugged in response.

"Liam was always focused on his studies and his future. There wasn't time for that sort of thing; none of us really had the luxury. But I think now things might be different, and then you came along," she offered, injecting a note of hope.

Perhaps my situation was distinct. Despite the emotions they said he felt for Sophia, he hadn't taken any steps in that direction. Yet, with me, he had acted differently. He had made a move on me, and that was what truly counted.

"Well, I don't need to worry about Sophia then. Liam has been upfront about his intentions with me, and we're officially dating now," I stated with a touch of pride, causing her to gasp in surprise.

"Not a chance," she disputed, clearly taken aback, and I affirmed her surprise with a nod. Her realisation seemed to widen her eyes.

"Liam actually asked you out?" she inquired, seeking confirmation.

"Yeah," I responded.

"When?" she pressed for details.

"Two mornings ago, right after breakfast. He assured me there was nothing romantic between him and Sophia, they were just friends. He admitted he used to have feelings for her, but that's all in the past now. My guess is he's kept quiet about us because he doesn't want the search for her to halt. After all, she's his friend, so it's understandable," I explained, and her astonishment was palpable.

"They've known each other for so long," she commented, and I felt the need to clarify.

"We've known each other our entire lives," I corrected, and a silence followed.

I had always held an affection for Liam, even from my earliest memories. My heart had always held a special place for him, though not necessarily in the realm of love or infatuation. Our collective memories included countless gatherings and playing in the garden's sands. It felt unjust for them to overlook these facts and insinuate that I had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. In reality, Sophia was the newcomer.

"I'm sorry, Jo. I realise my words stung," Charlotte apologised, sensing my emotions.

"I've been there all along," I managed, close to tears because it seemed they just forgot that I was there. I had always been there. Charlotte reached out to hug me. Embracing each other tightly, our arms formed a bond of understanding and support.

"I apologise, Jo. I won't mention Sophia in that context again. I realise how insensitive that was. Just know that I'm cheering for the both of you," she conveyed, releasing me from the embrace.

"As everyone else was forming pairs, we were secretly hoping for you two to come together. We sensed that it would be a fantastic match, but Sophia was always in the picture. It's reassuring to see that Liam now recognises what's right in front of him," she added, and in that moment, my heart found complete comfort.

"Oh, and one more thing. How would the two of you handle it if a fated shows up?" she asked, posing the famous question.

While once an infrequent phenomenon, fated connections have become more common over the years. Though still unusual, the likelihood had increased compared to the past. I hadn't contemplated this scenario and didn't have a well-defined answer.