The Dark Side Of Fate Chapter 889

"Have you heard from Sophia since the last time she spoke to you?" My father inquired, and I shook my head in response.

"She hasn't reached out since then," I admitted, and he nodded before turning his attention to Max.

"Well, we spent three days investigating Kaizen and Braile, but nothing substantial came up. I doubt they'll be forthcoming with information; their alphas seem to be quite tight-lipped. We can't forcefully search the islands or prevent people from travelling there, so we need to find a more subtle approach to our investigation. At this point, we're not entirely sure, but we plan to check other islands in different regions," Max explained.

"That means the only thing that could potentially provide a proper lead on the matter is your investigation in Grizlo," Lord Alexei stated, looking directly at Josephine. She nodded, smiling. I knew there was a possibility that her father had linked her on the matter.

After discussing our strategy with our parents, they dismissed us so that we could start packing and preparing for our journey to Grizlo. Once we resumed our positions, our belongings would be sent there as well.

While everyone else moved ahead to get ready, I walked a bit more slowly. Josephine walked beside me and reached out to hold my hand, causing me to come to a stop.

"I understand how you're feeling right now, Li; we will do everything within our power to find her," she assured me, and I looked at her. She had a beautiful smile on her face, and somehow, the eyeliner had grown on me. Strands of her hair fell across her face, and I wanted to gently brush them aside, but I restrained myself. As she was about to release my hand, I held on tightly, surprising both of us. She then surprised me even more by hugging me, resting her head against my chest. I wasn't sure how to touch her or respond to the gesture.

"I know you need a hug right now, Li, so consider this one a sign of hope. We will find her and her mother," she said, breaking away with a smile.

"I don't want to see you looking gloomy. You look better when you're happy," she added, and I managed to muster a smile, though I was still trying to keep my emotions in check. Her comforting presence meant a lot to me in that moment.

As we walked back to the mansion together, we eventually parted ways, each heading to our respective rooms. Once I entered my room, I noticed Oliver was already packing.

"What's going on between you and Joe?" he asked me as I brought out my bag. I frowned at his question.

"What do you mean, Oliver?" I replied, trying to play it off, but he had a knowing look on his face.

"Don't lie to me, Li. You're always staring at her, touching her hand whenever you can, sitting next to her during dinner, and you haven't mentioned Sophia in a while until today's meeting," he said, pointing out the obvious. How much longer could I hide this?

"I want to know what's really happening between you two because I'm having a hard time figuring it out. Are you crushing on her too? Are you trying to be her friend out of guilt for what she heard us saying about her, or is there something more going on?" Oliver pressed, and I sighed. It was getting increasingly difficult to keep it all hidden.

"She's an amazing person," was all I could manage to say, but Oliver shook his head.

"You lost your composure during the picnic last week when that guy was talking to her. You whisked her away and never returned. I've seen you caress her hand several times, even during today's meeting. Have you changed your mind about Sophia, or are you just confused?" he asked with genuine concern, and I found myself staring at him.

It became evident that Oliver was genuinely looking out for Josephine. He seemed concerned that I might unintentionally hurt her, and I could see it in his eyes. Our close friendship meant I couldn't deceive him.