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Chapter 21: Chasing the shadows

Author: glorypens
last update Last Updated: 2025-04-22 01:38:47

Caroline’s POV

I woke up to strings of sunlight that brightened the room. Bringing with it warmth and something else.

Last night was a rollercoaster of emotions. Xavier had opened up about his mother and the real reason for our contract. Xavier’s quiet admission, the soft look in his eyes when he spoke about his mother, it had made me believe something had shifted. Maybe, just maybe, we were beginning to peel away the layers of tension and rivalry between us.

Maybe he was seeing me as a real human being rather than a vessel to actualize his plans.

I should have known better.

Because a soft cough caught my attention, I turned my attention to see Xavier already up, but there was something about his expression. It was different from the man from last night.

He stood at the edge of the bed wearing a crisp suit, with his expression carved like stone. Eyes unreadable. Lips pressed in a flat line.

“Good…”

“You’re going to see your mother today,” he cut short my greetings. Not a question. A
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