The Dark Side Of Fate by Karima Sa'ad Usman novel Chapter 341

~Liam~

I had never been so uncomfortable in my life. Normally, I should have been overjoyed that we were finally going to investigate the matter, and I should have been grateful for Uncle Leo's determination to explore the islands in the east. However, an unsettling thought lingered in my mind—I would be spending more time with Josephine than I had expected. Being away from her would certainly make dealing with the bond a lot easier. I couldn't trust myself to behave appropriately with her close by. As our parents assigned roles for the investigation, I stood there silently, unable to voice my concerns. I knew I should simply be thankful because they were all going above and beyond for my sake.

When my father dismissed the rest of us and asked Justin to stay, I wanted to remain too, but it seemed I wasn't meant to be privy to their private conversation. Justin, being the oldest, would be responsible for all of us, and I assumed there would be additional instructions that we wouldn't be informed about.

"Come on, Li," Charlotte exclaimed, her excitement evident. She seemed thrilled about being drafted into this endeavour.

I was tempted to decline, but I knew it would be impolite. They were all going out of their way to assist me, and I genuinely appreciated their efforts. Even Josephine had the right to refuse, yet here they were, willing to help me unravel this mystery. Perhaps we could become as close as our parents had hoped.

"It's not fair that our fated is assisting us in the search when you might end up rejecting her for the person she is helping us find," Alex whispered in my mind, causing a pang of guilt to wash over me. I hadn't planned on rejecting Josephine, but I wanted to get to know her better first to see how things would unfold. I couldn't make a snap decision about such an important matter.

In agreement with Charlotte, I followed the group to the living room. It was evident that Miles wasn't too thrilled about not being officially on the team, given the gloomy expression on his face. Sarah stood by his side, attempting to lift his spirits. I decided to connect with him telepathically.

"Look at the bright side; you get to do whatever you like and join us in four months. I'm sure you won't miss out on too much," I linked him, but he shook his head in response.

"I'm coming with you guys; my father said it's okay," he replied, which left me puzzled by his lingering gloom.

"So what's with the face?" I asked, seeking to understand his emotions.

"Alpha Devin won't allow Sarah and Layla to visit," he revealed, and I sympathised with his predicament. I wasn't entirely sure about the depth of Miles and Marvin's feelings for the Corrigan sisters, but I hoped everything would work out for them and they wouldn't end up in a situation like mine. For so long, I had been infatuated with Sophia, only for fate to introduce Josephine into my life. I wished that wouldn't be the case for them.

"I'm sure we can work something out," I reassured him through our telepathic connection before finding a seat on one of the couches.

I couldn't really immerse myself in the celebration or engage in mingling. Thoughts of the mate bond still lingered, and the scent of dill stung my nose. Thankfully, Alex seemed to be handling it better than I was, but I knew coping with this on a daily basis would be a real challenge.

Amid my contemplation, Josephine came to sit beside me. I sensed Elaine's stare, and when I glanced in her direction, she quickly averted her eyes back to Oliver.

"Our father said the three of us can go to Grizlo," Josephine mentioned, referring to her siblings. I nodded in response, not wanting to engage in a full conversation with her to avoid saying something foolish.

Josephine stayed silent for a moment; then, she touched my shoulder. The sensation was overwhelming, and I gently shrugged her hand off. I could tell from her expression that my action wasn't well-received, as she realised I didn't want her touching me.

"Sorry," she said, withdrawing her hand to her lap. I felt like a jerk, aware of how my actions must have seemed to her. If only she knew the turmoil I was going through at the moment, she wouldn't be upset.

"No, it's not what you think," I tried to explain, feeling guilty for my behaviour. "It's just that I'm not in a good frame of mind," I added, which was genuinely true. She nodded, gazing ahead.

"I know you don't want me on the team, Li," she unexpectedly said, leaving me stunned. How did she reach that conclusion?

"Well, that's not..." I began to respond, but she shook her head and locked her eyes on mine.

I found myself drawn into a trance, noticing her features more closely than ever before. I had often wondered why she wore contact lenses. In truth, she had Aunt Amelia's stunning eyes, and perhaps transparent lenses would have been a better option.