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Coet it”

“You do?” Pippi was rather skeptical

“You didn’t want to tell him about the loan”

Pippi nodded “He would’ve insisted on settling the loan, and I didn’t want that”

“Because it would er,” the older woman concluded

“Exactly” Pippi was relieved that Mairi readily understood her sentie row over it, too”

“Have you told him the truth since then?”

“Well, that’s the thing…” Pippi looked down and started stirring her juice again “When things becaet rid of all the lies and be open about our feelings”

“That’s a good plan,” Mairi murmured

“You would think so, right?” The girl’s smile was pained “But when I tried to tell him the truth, he said it didn’t matter” Blue eyes filled with innocent entreaty turned to Mairi “What do you think he meant by that?”

Mairi’s lips parted, but no sound cahtforward to anyone hearing it, but they both knew that what the girl was asking for without the words was so entirely

Help me believe there’s still hope

Please

Please

The silence stretched between them, ruthless and unbroken, and Pippi could feel herself cracking under its weight

It see could break her these days

She felt her hands start to tremble and quickly hid them under the table She tried to smile but stopped when she felt her face start to crack as well In the end, all she could do was look at Mairi

Please say so Please Please Please

Mairi’s eyes started to sting, and when she saw Pippi’s own eyes begin to shine, it became harder to hold back her own tears

Her silence was her answer, and Pippi heard it loud and clear

“I’m sorry,” Mairi whispered

Pippi shook her head “It’s not your fault”

It was no one’s fault

Not even Acheron’s

Because all he pro any risks

And he had kept his word

But he never promised not to hurt her