The Dark Side Of Fate by Karima Sa'ad Usman novel Chapter 342

~Liam~

As the time approached for our picnic on the mountain, Miles and Marvin had already gone ahead to help Noah and Sebastien with the preparations, leaving Oliver and me in our room. We were planning to catch up with them soon. I watched as Oliver meticulously tried on three different shirts, putting in a lot of effort to look good for Elaine. His fashion dilemma amused me, and he joined in on the laughter when he noticed me chuckling.

Out of the blue, Oliver asked, "What's going on between you and Josephine? Did you guys have some kind of disagreement?" I was taken aback by the question.

"Not really; why do you ask?" I responded, trying to hide any unease in my tone.

"I've noticed that she usually keeps her distance now. She used to be friendly—giving a little hi or hello and laughing at our jokes. However, she's been rather cold this week," Oliver explained, expressing his observations.

I couldn't hide the truth and told him, "She mentioned that we made fun of her two years ago at the mansion."

Oliver's eyes widened in surprise, "You mean she brought that up? That was in the past, and we certainly didn't mean any harm by it. We were just casually talking."

Realising that Oliver remembered the conversation too, I asked him, "So you do recall the conversation?"

"Yes,” He confirmed.

“ Elaine said she overheard us talking about her. But we never intended any harm by it. I think she might be taking it a bit too personally."

His words made me feel awful. Whatever Josephine had overheard must have hurt her deeply, and she kept it to herself for so long. It became clear that her exterior toughness didn't mean she was impervious to hurtful words. I regretted my actions and wished I had been more careful with my words back then.

After getting dressed, we made our way out to join the others. On my way, I happened to bump into Uncle Leo.

"Having fun?" he asked with a playful smile, and I instinctively dodged when he reached to tussle my hair. My reaction amused him, and he chuckled warmly.

"You're a grown man now, huh?" he teased, and his laughter was infectious. I couldn't help but laugh along with him. He then paused and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"You should enjoy life, Liam. I wish I were eighteen again. Don't let Mike's mistakes steal the joy and laughter of your youth. I admire what you're doing for your girlfriend, but remember to live a little too. No matter the outcome, don't let it weigh you down," he advised, echoing the same wisdom I had received from various people. I nodded, appreciating his words, and smiled at my uncle.

As I looked at him, an overwhelming urge to ask about the mate bond took over me. I felt like I was going crazy with all the uncertainty and emotions tied to it.

"Uncle Leo, can I discuss something with you?" I asked, and he raised an eyebrow, giving me a nod. Sensing my unease, he understood my need for privacy and guided me away from the hallway into a nearby room.

Closing the door behind him, he looked at me with a kind smile. "I'm all ears," he said, offering his full attention. I swallowed nervously, wanting to inquire about the mate bond, but cautious not to reveal that it was specifically about Josephine.

Curiosity and uncertainty filled me as I finally asked, "What does the mate bond feel like? Can you tell me about what happened when you met Aunt Amelia?" I asked him.

To my surprise, he suggested, "Actually, let me tell you about Amanda instead." It was a rare topic, as we seldom discussed her, despite her being the biological mother of Charlotte, Gemma, and Jewels.

"I'll share about Amanda because that was the first time I experienced the mate bond. By the time I met Amelia, I was already filled with apprehension and resistance due to the bad luck it had brought me with Amanda. So, my experience with Amelia might not give you an accurate representation," he explained, sighing softly.

"We were at a dinner party, and her scent caught my nostrils. I was in a trance, you see, and I couldn't control myself or my wolf. The pull was powerful, almost impossible to shake off," Uncle Leo recounted, and I nodded in acknowledgement, as I was already familiar with that part of the mate bond experience.

Curious, I asked, "What would have happened if you could feel the mate bond, but Amanda couldn't because she wasn't yet at the mating age?" His puzzled expression showed that he needed a moment to process the question. Eventually, he grasped the implication.