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Astrid sirew stronger That s her of the family motto

Together

Everything was possible…together

And maybe, just maybe – because she loved Acheron…

Pippi sed hard, but before she could say a word, Astrid had already reached for hand, saying softly, “The answer is yes”

You love Acheron, and that makes him family

So don’t give up on him

Instead, face your troubles…

Together

Chapter 26

Acheron’s fingers curled around his phone in a tense, hard grip as he waited for Pippi to answer his call And if she refused to talk to him, then that was only to be expected And maybe, it would even be better if it were so –

“Acheron?”

He jerked in his seat, his heart slaainst his chest at the sudden sound of Pippi’s voice

Pippi

She had answered his call—

“Acheron?”

It seemed like forever since he had last heard her voice, and his eyes closed

I love her

The realization should’ve felt sudden, but it didn’t The truth had been there all along – he had turned hi as for a woman he didn’t love, and now he realized that he had loved her from the very start

He loved her

Her

“Pippi”

The sound of his voiceSo, so long Lying on her bed, she could only turn on her side and gaze blindly outside her , pretending that Acheron was one of the stars watching her

“I only called to let you know that ainst those women Rest assured they’ll be dealt in the severest way possible”

Pippi didn’t knohat to say She was glad that the wo made to pay, but was that really the only reason he called?

Acheron waited for Pippi to say a word, to blaht to, but when she didn’t, he took it upon himself to do it for her “I’m sorry, Pippi I know I promised I wouldn’t let you take any risks, and I failed you”

“It’s not your fault—”

“Stop being nice, dammit” Because the nicer she was, the less he deserved her He just wanted to believe that he could one day earn the right to be with her Was that too fucking much to ask?

“You weren’t the one who put that thing online—”

“None of this would’ve happened if you hadn’t gotten in the crosshairs of those bitches, and that wouldn’t have happened either if you hadn’t come to Millie’s defense” A short, hard pause, and then Acheron asked harshly, “Why did you fucking do it?”