The Dark Side of Fate Novel {Book 3} Chapter 177 – ~Josephine~
I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about going to Mountain at first, until my father informed us that one of us would be assisting Justin in investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding Mike Maguire.
I had briefly met the man during a visit to Lady Stephanie and her husband in Grizlo, but I hadn’t paid much attention to him. Apart from his daughter’s close relationship with Liam, he was just an ordinary person to me.
However, upon discovering that he had committed Familicide and disappeared, I wouldn’t be honest if I said I wasn’t intrigued.
A few months had passed since our graduation, and we hadn’t encountered any significant challenges.
I was certain that this opportunity would be enjoyable. Moreover, I eagerly anticipated working alongside Justin on this case. He was a fun and cool person to be around. Unlike others, he didn’t become uncomfortable in my presence, which made our interactions much smoother.
He displayed a protective nature, akin to that of a brother, despite us not being related. I hoped they would choose me to assist Justin
in the investigation in Grizlo, as working with him promised to be an enjoyable experience.
During the dinner held at Albert’s mansion, I couldn’t help but notice Liam’s discomfort as he continuously glanced in my direction. I was aware that the situation involving Sophia had affected him, but I never anticipated it would make him lose control the way he did.
Throughout the meal, he seemed almost entranced, drifting off during conversations with Luis and stealing occasional glances at me. It was as if he
didn’t want me to interact with his cousin. Regardless of Justin’s relation to him, I believed I had the right to engage with anyone.
I hadn’t done anything to warrant his behaviour, making it completely unwarranted. Interestingly enough, Liam even forgot that we had graduated until Luis reminded him, despite being supposedly close family friends. It made me question whether the Volkovs truly believed the world revolved
around them. I couldn’t help but wonder what challenges lay ahead when Liam ascended to the throne.
While Sebastien, Noah, and Ethan might not face any issues since their father is Liam’s uncle, and they are
technically his cousins, I doubted that I would be warmly embraced within that circle, particularly as the one
he had labelled as the “weirdo.”
After dinner, I made an attempt to talk to Liam about the mission. I knew he was the one who had caught
the King’s interest in the matter. It was evident that Sophia played a significant role, and although I found it
biased, I understood her importance as the crown prince’s friend.
To my surprise, I discovered that Liam and Sophia weren’t dating yet. I had nothing against Sophia
personally, but their potential romantic pairing didn’t quite feel right to me. In my opinion, Liam and Sophia
were better off as friends, but who was I to judge?
“It still isn’t,” Onyx, my wolf, remarked within my thoughts. She had been acting strangely since we entered
the dining room, and even she couldn’t explain why.
I settled onto the couch, observing everyone’s laughter and enjoyment. Marvin and Miles were engaged in
conversation with the Corrigan sisters, while Elaine seemed engrossed in her discussion with Oliver. Luis,
on the other hand, was talking to Harper and Lilly, and I suspected Eleanor Sidorov was the topic of
conversation. My brother had an infatuation with her. Just because our parents were close didn’t mean we
had to be together, but it seemed like fate might have different plans in store.
Charlotte, as usual, was chatting with her sisters, while Justin kept them company. I should have been part
of that circle, but I couldn’t shake off the tingling sensation that lingered after Liam’s hand briefly touched
mine as we made our way to the living room. Moreover, he had asked me a peculiar question about dill,
which struck me as odd.
Despite Liam being eighteen, I was not yet of the same age, which meant there couldn’t be any mate pull
between us. In fact, I highly doubted that the moon would ever connect us. We had absolutely nothing in
common, and Liam’s intense focus on Sophia made it clear that they were destined to be mates in the
future. Furthermore, I knew deep down that I wasn’t his type. I learned that in a rather harsh way, and it
stung a bit because I used to have a crush on him.
To be honest, that crush hadn’t completely faded away. Liam was undeniably handsome, gentle, driven,
and physically strong. However, he had never spared me a second glance. Elaine used to believe that
sparks would fly between us, but it never materialised. As things grew more serious between Liam and
Sophia, I chose to step back and let their relationship take its course.
Sitting on the couch, observing the lively atmosphere around me, I couldn’t help but chuckle at my past self
and the near-miss from two years ago. It was a memory that brought a mixture of pain and relief.
I had been just fifteen years old at the time, foolishly contemplating asking Liam out. Looking back, it was
an embarrassing and naive notion. It had only been two years, but it felt like a lifetime ago.
We were all gathered at the Volkov estate, and it was Elaine who had encouraged me to approach Liam
and confess my feelings. Reflecting on it now, I realised how foolish I had been. Liam was in the company
of Marvin, Oliver, and Miles that day, and I wanted to seize the opportunity to approach him and request a
private conversation. Even though Sophia was present as well, I stubbornly believed that I could somehow
compete for his attention.
I pondered on the source of my courage back then, and I attributed it to Onyx, my newfound companion, as
it was around that time that I had just acquired my wolf.
As I neared their conversation, I overheard Liam voicing his grievances about me. He had taken issue with
my attitude, my choice of clothing, and even labeled me as arrogant. The sound of their laughter only
intensified the negative emotions welling up inside me.
Miles even made a joke about my hair and eyeliner, and it stung deeply. I couldn’t help but feel selfconscious about my eyes, which often appeared almost blind. Though they didn’t explicitly mention it, I had
a sinking feeling that I had missed a significant portion of their conversation. I had never realised they saw
me in such a light until that moment.
In that instant, I made a swift decision to forget about the crush. Upon returning to Gad, I made it a point to
trouble my mother about getting me contacts, feigning the excuse of poor eyesight. The optometrist saw
through my ruse but kindly obliged, prescribing me contact lenses. Everyone assumed they were for
medical purposes, but in reality, they were purely a fashion choice—a way to give people one less thing to
gossip about.
I loved the boldness of my heavy eyeliner; it made my eyes stand out, and I could never bring myself to
regret it. I refused to apologise for being intelligent or for coming across as unfriendly. Whether or not they
were laughing about me, I didn’t bother to find out. I retreated into myself, focusing on my own journey, and
let go of that foolish crush.
“Hey, I noticed you were talking to Liam earlier. Why did he refuse to join us?” Jewels asked as she sat
beside me.
I reminded her of the situation with Sophia and how Liam was struggling to cope. She nodded in
understanding.
“Yeah, he’s really going through a tough time. He hasn’t taken it well at all. You should have seen him that
day; he was absolutely devastated. He’s convinced that she’s being held captive on some remote island.
Hopefully, our investigation in Grizlo will shed some light on the situation,” she said with a hopeful smile,
and I couldn’t help but reciprocate.
“I thought maybe he got upset and left because he seemed so fixated on you during dinner,” she said, her
curiosity evident in her gaze. I hoped she wasn’t trying to insinuate something because I was sure I wasn’t
Liam’s type.
“I guess my eyeliner captured his attention,” I teased, and we shared a laugh.
“Everyone finds it fascinating, and you really know how to rock it,” she complimented my artistic skills.
“It does look even better with your natural eye colour, though. I wish you didn’t have to wear those lenses.
You look just as beautiful as Aunty Amelia,” she added, causing a slight blush to tint my cheeks. I never
saw myself in that light, so her compliment was truly heartwarming.
“By the way, congratulations,” she said to me, and I nodded. Our graduation had been relatively low-ke
due to the specialised classes we attended.
“Thank you, Jewels. So, what are your plans now?” I asked her, genuinely curious. She shrugged in
response.
“I’m thinking of starting a business and maybe finding Mr Right to settle down with,” she replied with a hint
of playfulness, causing me to laugh.
“And what about you?” she inquired, turning the question back to me.
“I’ll likely join my father’s ranks,” I responded, and she gasped in surprise.
“But you’re royalty!” she exclaimed, and I chuckled.
“So are you,” I replied, reminding her of her own noble lineage. She nodded in acknowledgement.
“Well, let’s see how our work in Grizlo unfolds. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your fated mate or meet
someone along the way, settle down, and explore other possibilities,” she teased, and I nodded,
considering the possibilities.
Suddenly, I remembered the questions I had about Mike. Since Liam wasn’t present, I figured I could
approach Marvin, who was engrossed in a conversation with Layla. However, seeing their deep
engagement, I realised it would be impolite to interrupt. I looked around, hoping to find someone else to talk
to, but aside from Jewels, who seemed uninformed, there wasn’t anyone readily available. I would likely
have to wait until tomorrow to speak with Liam about Sophia and Mike.
Sebastien’s announcement caught my attention, drawing me back to the present. It seemed we had been
summoned to the lounge, likely concerning the Grizlo assignment since it appeared that most of us would
be involved in it.
We all paused our activities and made our way to the lounge as a group. I followed behind, taking my place
as the last person to arrive. Liam was already present, and there was an air of tension in the room that I
couldn’t quite comprehend. Uncle Leo appeared displeased, which only added to my confusion.
“I’m sure you’re all aware of the Maguire case,” Uncle Leo began, his voice carrying authority. “The incident
involving the man who committed Familicide,” he clarified, and several of us nodded in recognition.
“Well, Prince Liam is determined to save his girlfriend, Sophia. He believes that she and her mother are
being held captive by dangerous individuals who are using them as leverage to manipulate Mike. It may
sound farfetched, but it’s a plausible theory. While this isn’t directly our business, Liam has made it our
concern. In times of need, we stand united. And as your parents, we hope that you will do the same.”
Uncle Leo’s words resonated, and I realised that there was a select group being chosen to work on this
case. While all of us might end up going to Grizlo, as it was likely the destination, only those directly
involved in the investigation would have an active role.
The prospect of being excluded weighed on me, knowing that Liam would likely prefer to have Luis or
Elaine join him rather than me. I had been eagerly looking forward to going to Grizlo and being part of the
investigation, but if the decision lay with Liam, I knew he wouldn’t choose me.
Lord Vino interrupted the silence by clearing his throat and commanding our attention. He spoke with a
measured tone.
“When you go to Grizlo, your primary task is to investigate and observe. If the situation escalates to
confrontation, you are not to engage. Instead, report back to us, and we will take it from there. While we
would like to assist Liam in rescuing his friend and her mother, we are not willing to put our children in
harm’s way.”
His words hung in the air, and my gaze instinctively turned to Liam, searching for any sign or reaction.
Liam appeared visibly uneasy, and I empathised with his position. If anything were to go wrong, he would
likely shoulder the blame. However, our families were tightly connected, and it was inconceivable to leave
the Volkovs to tackle this alone. Our bond required us to stand together, regardless of the risks involved.
My attention shifted to Queen Tamia, and her distress was evident. The weight of the situation, combined
with the uncertainty surrounding it, made it even more challenging. If there was a way for our parents to
handle it themselves, they would have done so. Unfortunately, their roles and positions didn’t allow for such
direct intervention.
“My beta will dispatch his team tomorrow to check the ports of Kaizen and Braile, conducting inquiries
discreetly. We cannot simply storm into people’s homes and conduct searches unless there is a clear and
urgent need or a state of emergency is declared on those islands. At present, the best approach will be to
circulate their pictures and offer rewards for any valuable information,” Uncle Leo explained. His pragmatic
approach acknowledged the limitations they faced, and it seemed like the most suitable course of action for
the time being.
“The active team in Grizlo will consist of,” Lord David began, capturing our full attention.
“Justin, as the temporary Alpha, Liam as the temporary Beta, Marvin as the temporary Gamma, Oliver as
the temporary Delta, and Noah as the Epsilon. Josephine, Sebastien, and Charlotte, the three of you will
work closely with them and assist in the investigation. The rest of you will join them in Grizlo after four
months once they have settled into their respective roles. It’s essential that all of you collaborate closely
and uncover the truth behind what went wrong. Head Alpha Christian Zakharov has provided some
documents for you to review.”
As Lord David spoke, his gaze settled on me, and I felt a surge of both pride and pressure.
“Josephine, you possess exceptional intellect, and thus, you will lead the investigation. I would like you,
Noah, and Sebastien to employ your brilliant minds to analyse the documents provided by the Alpha and
develop theories. Report your findings to your respective Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon. In more
serious cases, report directly to me,” he instructed, and I nodded in acknowledgement.
Glancing towards my parents, I could sense their approval of the assigned roles. I couldn’t help but feel a
mix of excitement and anticipation, particularly knowing that Uncle Max and his family would be visiting
soon. I hoped we wouldn’t be required to depart before their arrival.
As I shifted my gaze towards Liam, it became clear that he was visibly uncomfortable with the fact that I
was assigned to his team. I could sense his disapproval, but something within me urged me not to let it
affect me. Regardless of his feelings, I knew that I had a role to fulfill and that I was capable of contributing
to the investigation. It was unfortunate for him if he didn’t like the arrangement, but he would simply have to
come to terms with it.
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