He licks his lower lip, perfect black brows knitted. “I just— I can’t stand the sight of you crying.” I snort. “Let me guess? Because I look ugly?” Azeer’s voice is strained with agony as he speaks. “Because it tore my fucking soul apart, Alina.” He pauses and locks his flickering eyes with mine. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t cry at all, but please, please, don’t do it because you feel guilty. Don’t do it while you’re apologizing for something that’s out of your control. Especially when that someone is me.” There is a gentle, almost tender quality to how his knuckles skate across my cheeks. I
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