The Dark Side Of Fate by Karima Sa'ad Usman novel Chapter 349

~Liam~

Josephine and I lingered outside, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the ambulance. The woman's condition was critical, and though the odds seemed bleak, we clung to a glimmer of hope that the medical team would save her life.

My mind couldn't escape the haunting question: why would anyone want to harm a mere housekeeper? It baffled me as we stood there, trying to make sense of the senseless act.

Throughout the traumatic ordeal, Josephine tightly held onto me, seeking comfort and solace. I wished I could shield her from the gruesome scene we had just witnessed, sparing her the burden of such a disturbing sight.

With heavy hearts, we both knew our plans for the evening were shattered. The experience was too overwhelming to carry on as if nothing had happened, so we decided it was best to call a cab and return to the safety of the pack house, where we could process this unsettling event together.

"I apologise for how everything turned out, Jo. I truly wanted us to enjoy ourselves," I expressed as we strolled toward the road. She interlocked her hand with mine, offering a comforting touch.

"Putting the housekeeper incident aside, I genuinely had a great time, Li," she confessed, and the sincerity in her voice brought a sense of relief to my troubled mind.

I hailed a cab, and we entered. I was determined not to let any distance come between us. Pulling her close to my body, she nestled in, and a wave of calm washed over me. In that moment, holding her close, everything else seemed to fade away, and I cherished the connection we shared.

The drive to the packhouse was brief, and we soon arrived. It being late at night, my assumption was that everyone would be asleep. To avoid encountering or disturbing anyone, Josephine and I quietly made our way toward the staircase, intending to head to my wing. However, our path was unexpectedly blocked by Justin, whose expression revealed clear anger—undoubtedly related to the incident at my grandmother's house.

"What the Fuck, Li!" he exclaimed, causing Josephine to flinch slightly. Josephine wasn’t an alpha, so she couldn't help but feel intimidated by Justin's imposing presence. She clutched my arm tightly, seeking reassurance, and I glanced at Justin.

"Please, let's keep it calm," I linked him, hoping to diffuse the tension. His gaze shifted to Josephine, and he realised his mistake, acknowledging her vulnerability in this situation.

"Why would you jeopardise both your lives like that? What if the assailants were still there in that house? Why did you even decide to go there in the first place? When did you leave this place?" he questioned, clearly agitated and concerned. He resembled my grandparents whenever they feared for my safety.

"You know this isn't a game, and you're not supposed to take matters into your own hands. Why involve Josephine in all of this, Liam?" he pressed, leaving me speechless as I had no valid response. He was the one in charge, not me.

"Taking Josephine along was reckless. What if something had happened to both of you? You were just a toddler back then, but I still vividly recall our parents hurriedly hiding us in a safe house when the Stepanovs clashed with the Volkovs. It was precisely because of situations like this.

Do you honestly believe Lord Alexei will take it lightly that his daughter died while trying to solve a case you brought to the table? Do you think he will consider the bond between our families? This kind of behaviour is what I expected from Noah and Sebastian but not from you, Li," he expressed, his gaze shifting to Josephine.

"You should have stopped him. Just because he's an alpha and the crowned prince doesn't mean you have to unquestioningly obey his orders," he added, his anger evident in his words.

"Your father tried calling seven times, desperately wanting to speak with you. I had to lie, claiming you had locked yourself in your room and were asleep. Unfortunately, I was caught in the lie when it turned out you had actually called your grandma to ask her to postpone her trip.

You should have informed me about such matters. You were meant to come home. I can't help but feel disappointed in you," he conveyed, his disappointment sounding sincere.

I remained silent, choosing not to respond. Taking the blame for the situation was fine with me because, in truth, it was all worth it.

"It's not his fault, Alpha Justin," Josephine asserted, pulling away from me to face Justin directly. I tried to signal her to refrain from saying anything that might lead to trouble, as the last thing I wanted was for Justin to report this incident to Lord Alexei and risk Josephine being sent back to Gad.

"There's no need to cover up for Liam," Justin replied sternly, but Josephine shook her head firmly. "Liam has never been the impulsive type, and you know it," she countered, and I saw a glimmer in Justin's eyes, suggesting he believed her.

"We were at the fellowship park when we heard the sirens. Liam wanted us to return, but I got curious and ran toward the event. It was all my fault," she confessed, taking responsibility. Justin fell silent, seemingly processing the information.