The Dark Side Of Fate by Karima Sa'ad Usman novel Chapter 343

~Liam~

Josephine appeared mildly taken aback by my gesture, and I could empathise with her reaction. Going from a nervous and somewhat distant demeanour to intertwining our fingers was a stark contrast. Even I would have questioned my own behaviour. However, I wanted her to understand that I was perfectly fine, just trying to sort out my thoughts.

Gracefully, she withdrew her hand from mine, which brought a small chuckle to Alex. The way she did it was rather endearing, and it brought a smile to my face. Looking ahead, I noticed that Elaine and Oliver were giving me curious looks, as if sensing something was amiss.

Oliver couldn't resist asking, "What's going on between you and Joe?" I was at a loss for words, unsure of how to explain the situation to him.

"Why do you want to know?" I replied, and he averted his gaze. Glancing over to where the triplets were seated, I caught Jewels smiling at me, as though she had some insight. I hoped she hadn't figured anything out, as she was the least likely to keep things to herself among the sisters.

Upon arriving at the venue, I overheard Noah and Sebastien making phone calls to their friends from Mountain, inviting them to join us. I had hoped that our picnic would be more private, but judging by the setup, it appeared to be anything but that. Harper took on the role of the DJ, and as I watched her prepare, it became evident that the music would be quite loud. The triplets and Lilly were in charge of refreshments, while others teamed up to help with the setup. I decided to partner with Josephine and assist her with the mats.

Noticing that Josephine seemed a bit uncomfortable around me, I thought it would be a good idea to strike up a conversation with her.

"May I speak with you, Joe?" I asked, and she looked at me with an expressionless face before nodding, indicating it was okay.

"I am really sorry about my attitude lately. It's just that I have been dealing with a lot mentally," I said, and she nodded in understanding.

"I know. We all know. Hopefully, we will be successful and find Sophia, so you can get back to your serious and playful self," she replied, still maintaining her poker face. I couldn't quite read her emotions, unsure if she had truly forgiven me for my behaviour or if she was being sarcastic.

"Does that mean we are cool?" I asked curiously, seeking some clarity, and she nodded.

"We have always been cool, Li," she said, and with that, the conversation ended. Her responses were concise and to the point, leaving no room for further elaboration.

In complete silence, Josephine and I set up the mats, appearing as though we were being reluctantly forced to interact while everyone else laughed, joked, and formed pairs. Eventually, we ended up sitting separately, much to Alex's dismay. But what could I do when it seemed like Josephine was doing everything in her power to avoid me?

I regretted the comments we had made two years ago; I wish I could take them back. At the time, it felt like harmless fun, as she wasn't present, and we were just having a laugh. However, looking back now, I realise how foolish and insensitive those remarks were. If we had refrained from discussing Josephine at all, she wouldn't be feeling uncomfortable and distant from me now. I couldn't help but feel like a complete jerk.

Justin didn't join us, leaving me with no one to talk to as everyone else was occupied with their dates and friends.

Finally, the guests my cousins invited arrived – four guys and a girl who appeared to be siblings, all with brown hair and brown eyes. They seemed delighted to be hanging out with our group, which was understandable since everyone there came from royalty and would hold positions of power in the future. It was natural for them to want to join in.

The girl, Kelcy, introduced herself and immediately took a keen interest in me, being quite flirtatious, which made me feel a bit uneasy. She always found a reason to be by my side, and I was trying my best to be polite and not outright ask her to leave me alone. Charlotte noticed what was going on and couldn't contain her laughter, which only added to my discomfort. Meanwhile, I glanced at my sister sitting by the jukebox, looking somewhat frustrated as Kelcy's brother, Josh, kept yapping and telling jokes that only he seemed to find amusing.

"Where the fuck did Sebastien and Noah find these people?" Harper linked me, voicing the very question that had been on my mind. We shared a laugh at that moment, both bewildered by the choice of guests.

"Hilarious, right?" Kelcy said, and I looked at her, feeling a bit confused. Unfortunately, I hadn't heard a word she had said, and my laugh mistakenly made it seem like I found her joke amusing. All evening, my gaze had been directed towards Josephine, and now, Kelcy's other brother, Rob, was talking to her. Alex, my wolf, growled with jealousy, but I managed to keep myself in check. I knew I had no right to feel possessive or envious over Josephine's interactions with others.

"What if he convinces her to run away with him, and we never see her again, and she never finds out who we are?" Alex said, and I couldn't help but find it the most paranoid thing I've ever heard my wolf say. Alex was losing his shit, and it was making me incredibly uncomfortable.

Josephine's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I hoped she would come over to join me. However, she looked away and focused on Rob, who was clearly annoying her, but she maintained her polite demeanour. Meanwhile, Noah and Sebastien were hanging out with their friends Roger and Saul, who happened to be Kelcy's siblings too. Observing the situation, I realised that Rob, Josh, and Kelcy had likely tagged along to hang out with us because we were royalty. It wasn't uncommon for people to bring their relatives along to be part of our circle, which is why we had to be selective with our friends. Maya Rivers was all the groupie we needed.