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048

Author: Cranium
last update Last Updated: 2025-12-02 23:02:22

Chapter 48

North’s POV

I barely slept that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, Finn’s face appeared behind my eyelids; he looked furious, hurt and desperate.

Then like that wasn't enough torture already, Liam’s voice echoed in my head, smooth and dangerous in a way I didn’t want to admit.

By the time dawn bled into the sky, I felt wrung out and hollow, like someone had drained me with a siphon.

Dragging myself around my apartment to get ready, I managed to get dressed in a numb silence.

When I was done, I pulled my hair into a low ponytail, grabbed my bag, and headed for the restaurant where Liam had insisted we meet.

He had picked a place downtown, one with brick walls, low lighting, and a reputation for hosting secret liaisons or high-profile breakups.

All I could say when he sent the address was: Fitting.

By the time I arrived, Liam was already there. He was seated by the window with a cup of something dark and steaming.

He looked annoyingly perfect in his tailored suit. His w
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  • His Substitute Bride    055

    North’s POVThe aroma of cocoa drifted through the kitchen before I even reached the doorway. It was warm, soothing, familiar and it was supposed to calm me down because it always did. But this morning, it only made my heartbeat spike because the last thing I expected was to walk in and see Finn already there, leaning against the counter in grey joggers and a black T-shirt, stirring a steaming mug.He looked up the moment I stepped in and our eyes met for a heartbeat too long. It was long enough to remind me of last night, of how he had pulled me back, how he had tried to stop me from leaving and how I had walked out anyway.Pushing my hair behind my ear, I cleared my throat. “I… I just wanted some cocoa.”Finn’s knuckles tightened on the countertop as if he couldn’t decide whether to move toward me or stay exactly where he was. His voice came out calm, but something underneath it sounded strained.“Do you want a cup?” he asked.I hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. Please.”He reached

  • His Substitute Bride    054

    North’s POVI yanked my arm out of Finn’s grip with more force than I thought I had. The moment his fingers slipped away, a rush of anger surged through me. It was hot, sharp and cut through the confusion I had been drowning in since last night.“How dare you,” I snapped, my voice trembling more from emotion than fear. “How dare you act like this is… like I belong to you.” I snapped, trying to keep my anger in check but it was to no avail. His jaw tightened as he pushed his hand forward. “That’s not what I…”“No.” I raised my hand sharply, stopping him as I did “I begged you, Finn. I begged that we don’t fight for the rest of our deal. I asked for peace, I asked for space. I asked for something simple, why are you finding it hard to give me that?” My throat ached, but I pushed through it. “Finn, the least you can do is stick to it.” I drawled. He didn't reply, he just stood there, staring at me. His eyes were burning and his chest was rising and falling like he was holding back

  • His Substitute Bride    053

    North's POVSwaying lightly to the music playing from the speaker, I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing my palms down my deep-blue bodycon dress.The neckline dipped lower than what I normally wore. It was elegant and bold as the fabric hugged me in a way that felt both terrifying and empowering. It had accentuated my curves and shape in a way that I wouldn’t stop gushing over. It had been forever since I had the chance to dress this way. Mind you, I wasn’t dressing like this for Curtis, not really.I was dressing like this because I needed to feel something other than confusion, guilt, and the lingering echo of Finn’s silence that morning.Now humming the music alongside with the artist on air, I slipped on my earrings, grabbed my purse, and was reaching for my heels when a knock echoed sharply on my door.I paused, leaving my hand hanging in the air as my heart found its way to my throat because I already knew who it was. Somehow I could always sense him before he appeared.

  • His Substitute Bride    052

    North’s POVAfter Finn left for work, I spent the next few minutes staring into space as I desperately tried to piece together the reason for his reaction. But my head was blank; I couldn't think of anything that would warrant such a reaction from him. With this thought making rounds in my head, I got ready for work, hoping something else would take over the thoughts but that didn't happen. Because every time I closed my eyes, all I saw was Finn’s face when I mentioned the three months left in our agreement. The way he went quiet, the way his eyes darkened and the way he walked away from me like my words had carved something out of him.By the time I got to work that morning, I felt like a ghost wearing my own clothes.I tried to keep my head down, hoping no one would pick up on the gloom radiating off me, but Kora was waiting at my desk with a cup of tea and her eyebrows were raised suspiciously high.“You look like someone told you Saturdays have been canceled permanently,” she

  • His Substitute Bride    051

    North’s POVThe first thing I felt when consciousness slowly pulled me upward was warmth. It was heavy, solid, and wrapped around me like a claim. My lashes fluttered open, and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the soft morning light pouring into Finn’s bedroom.My body tensed on instinct, not because I regretted anything, we both knew I didn’t but because reality had a way of feeling sharper in the morning, like everything you did in the dark suddenly wanted to be acknowledged in daylight.After eating dinner last night, he did eat me like he said. I shifted slightly, trying to ease out of the bed without waking him.But that was a big mistake.The arm around my waist tightened immediately, pulling me back toward him with surprising strength. His breath brushed the back of my neck, warm and heavy with sleep.“Don’t,” he murmured.His morning voice was low, rough and raw in a way that sent a shiver down my spine.“I didn’t want to wake you,” I whispered.“You didn’t.” His h

  • His Substitute Bride    050

    Finn’s POVI tried. God, I genuinely tried to stay calm but the more days passed, the more I felt like something inside me was tearing open.When I left North’s building earlier that morning, a part of me hoped that she would step out, call after me and give me even the smallest reason not to walk away. But she didn’t and I had no right to expect that from her. Still the silence gutted me more than I thought possible.Instead of heading for work, I drove straight to her place. I told myself it was just to check, to see if she was okay, to see if she needed anything. But when I unlocked the door and stepped in, the stillness hit me like a punch. Her shoes weren’t there, her bag wasn’t by the couch like usual and the air felt cold and untouched.She was gone.Numbed, I stood there for a long moment, hands on my waist and jaw clenched hard enough that it hurt. I wanted to break something, scream, run after her and drag her back just to ask why she was avoiding me. Why the hell the t

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