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He laughed ‘He hted to knoe’d fallen apart’

‘No,’ she said thoughtfully ‘When he realised I was actually in love with you, the chip he’d been carrying went He becaain’

His lips were so close to hers She craned her neck forward, suddenly desperate to feel theripped her neck at the side, gently but with enough fir

‘So, you do love me?’ For the first time she saw his vulnerability

‘Yes I love you With everything I have’

She’d hardly finished speaking before hisher with such sweetness the tears really did fall

‘Oh,her tears away ‘I never want to see you cry’

‘They’re happy tears,’ she said with a sniff ‘You’re not the only one who’s always felt unworthy—I’ve spentlike a poisoned chalice, put on Earth to destroy anyone who gets close to me’ She stroked his cheek ‘I wanted you to eht she was the perfect woman for you’

Incredulity spread over his face ‘You were trying to engineerwith her?’

‘I thought she could make you happy You wouldn’t have to compromise your time or sacrifice’

Her words were cut off by a hard, possessive kiss

‘You’re perfect for aze into her eyes ‘Just you We’ve both ain a thousand tiainst hers ‘I love you You’re ,’ she answered softly

For the first tie of syone so off the rails when he’d lost the love of his life After a fortnight without Christian, she had a little insight into what he ive him, not for the way his actions had so hurt Rocco—and they had hurt her brother more than her because Rocco re man who had adored his small family—but a whole chunk of the bitterness she felt towards him fell away

‘I love you, Christian’

‘Always’

‘Always’