The Dark Side Of Fate Chapter 919

We stepped into the cafeteria, Justin and I, purchasing some food upon entry. Hospital cuisine wasn't exactly my preference, but I was prepared to make do. The meagre offering of sandwiches and water hardly constituted a satisfying meal.

Opting for a table tucked into a corner, we settled into our seats.

"I'm sure you're aware of the reason I asked to speak with you," Justin inquired calmly, and I feigned a lack of understanding.

Truthfully, beyond the matter concerning Sophia, I hadn't committed any wrongdoing. It left me puzzled as to why others weren't receiving similar inquiries about their choices. Oliver's attachment to Elaine was evident, and he was almost always by her side when she was around. Miles and Marvin were frequently seen with the Corrigan sisters. So why was my situation treated differently? Was I not allowed to form a connection as well?

"What is with you and Jo?" he asked, and I did not know how to answer.

"She is like family, Li. Lord Alexei and his siblings are like family, Li. Our parents forged that friendship and alliance through fire and blood; why would you want to act irresponsibly?

I understand you are hurting and miss Sophia so much, but relying on Josephine for emotional support and bandage is wrong.

What do you think is going on in her head? The both of you went from not being able to stand each other and never speaking to each other to this. Do you think we can't see it?

It is wrong to use people like that.

What do you think will happen when we find Sophia Li?

Do you expect to revert seamlessly?

How do you think that will impact Josephine? She holds affection for you; it's evident in her eyes. You do a convincing job of showing her she matters, but we both know that Sophia is your sole priority. That's why we're all in Grizlo.

My advice is that you end this now before it escalates and jeopardises our unity. Believe me, if we encounter conflicts, they will extend to our parents.

I trust you've studied history well, including the Volkovs and Stepanovs, especially the actions of our great-great-grandfather, Dimitri. He falsely accused Adrik of treason to eliminate competition. It was Lord Alexei, his siblings, Eric, and ten Stepanov families who resolved that crisis. Let us not create another problem because you were looking for a substitute," he warned, and that word 'substitute' echoed once more.

The term 'substitute' had surfaced thrice that day—first from Josephine in the morning, then Noah at my grandparent's home, and now Justin. I pondered how this word had become linked to my relationship with Josephine.

I shook my head and directed my gaze at my cousin.

"Justin, I understand your concern, but you can trust that Josephine's well-being is genuinely important to me. My intentions are sincere, and my feelings for her are authentic," I asserted, and he let out a chuckle.

"Much like how they were sincere the last time we discussed Sophia?" he questioned, and I averted my eyes.

"Yes, Justin. I admit I did say I would reject my fated if the situation ever arose," I responded, knowing that those words had indeed escaped my lips and had crossed my mind. However, circumstances have since shifted.

"Those words weren't spoken in haste, Li. You meant them. Josephine has been a constant presence, and yet you never pursued her. Meanwhile, Marvin, Miles, and Oliver have been upfront about their intentions. You were with Sophia throughout. Now that Sophia is missing, you suddenly start spending time with Josephine. Do you truly believe people won't notice?" he pressed, causing me to shake my head in response.

"I genuinely care for Josephine, Justin. I truly do. I understand if you have doubts, and it's your prerogative not to believe me, but I'm speaking the truth. It took me some time to untangle my feelings concerning Sophia. I never had the opportunity to express those sentiments, but I believe my emotions for her were born out of familiarity and the expectation of the next logical step. It felt like a natural progression. At that point, I didn't grasp the intricacies of relationships or love. I thought I had a concept of what they entailed, but I was mistaken. I misinterpreted my infatuation as love.

Sophia is an incredible person, and being around her was enjoyable. This might have misled me into believing I had deeper feelings," I conveyed, meeting his gaze.

“All this time, I refrained from pursuing Sophia or asking her out because I held out hope of meeting my fate. When I reached eighteen and still hadn't found her, my plan was to wait until Sophia turned eighteen before making any moves. However, something changed during graduation week, and the notion of waiting didn't feel right anymore.