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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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Lahat ng Kabanata ng His Substitute Bride : Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 55

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