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I can't.

And she found herself breaking into a run.

Acheron caught sight of Pippi's tearstained face just as she flew up the stairs, and his heart clenched.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.Why couldn't he stop hurting her? He glanced at Astrid, torn between his need to apologize and go after the woman he loved—-

"You're forgiven," the older woman said softly.

"Thank you."

Pippi heard Acheron's footsteps, and in her panic she locked herself in the first room she could reach -

And it just happened to be the Monarch Room.

Which washisroom.

Omigodomigodomigodomigod.

His things were everywhere, and so were the memories - God, there were too many memories, and she sank to her knees with a sob.

Pain ravaged Acheron's heart at hearing Pippi cry. "It's not what you think, baby."

Pippi squeezed her eyes shut against the hoarse sound of his voice.

"You were right all along. Amelia...had feelings for me, and she set the whole scene up. She wanted to keep causing trouble between us—-"

And she succeeded, Pippi thought dully.

"She's gone now."

But for how long?

Because it was completely clear to her now.

She was wrong about him.

"Pippi, I love you."

A hysterical laugh escaped her. "You don't."

He loved Amelia, not her.

"I love you. I've always loved you—-"

"Stop lying."

"I'm not. I love you—-"

"How can you love me," she choked out, "when all of the risks you've taken in your life were for her?" And just like that, all her pain came pouring out. "Anthony Nolasco could've killed you just for wanting her, and yet you still ended up falling in love with Amelia. She nearly cost you your whole business, but you still took her back in!And I...And I..."

God, just thinking about it hurt so damn much.

"I g-gave you e-everything, and you left me—-you couldn't even take a single risk—-"

The pain in her voice devastated him. "I was scared. I thought I was doing the right thing, leaving you so you wouldn't suffer the way Millie did. I didn't want others to hurt you—-"

"So you decided it was better for you to hurt me instead?"

"I'm sorry."