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"What?!"

Half a minute later, Noah's incredulous voice rang through the cabin. "You want to adopt these two little girls as your daughters?!"

"Shh, keep your voice down. Don't wake them."

Bell-mère hurriedly put a finger to her lips. Guilt filled her face as she met Noah's gaze, and she said softly:

"I know it's selfish of me to ask, but... I really can't leave them behind..."

Noah said nothing. He merely pinched his chin, frowning as his gaze moved between the two girls.

"If you really can't agree, Noah..."

Bell-mère gritted her teeth and looked him in the eye. "I'll retire and raise them by myself on Raccoon Dog Island. I promise they'll never, ever cause you any trouble..."

"Ah..."

Noah sighed and rubbed Bell-mère's head. "Think this through, Bell-mère. You're only nineteen. Becoming a mother at your age means taking on a lot of responsibility..."

"I'm not afraid. I thought it through last night."

Bell-mère's expression was resolute, though a faint plea entered her voice. "Please, Noah? Let me be selfish this once. They can't do without me, and I can't bear to stand by and watch them get sent to an orphanage..."

"..."

Their eyes met. After a long silence, Noah's frown finally eased, and he spoke with a rueful smile. "If you feel that strongly, what can I say?"

"You mean..." Bell-mère's breathing quickened, and her eyes lit up.

"Yeah. I agree to adopt them."

Noah's expression turned serious. "But I don't agree with what you said earlier, so there's something I need to make clear first."

"What?"

Bell-mère's face fell, and she grew anxious again.

"If we're adopting them, they won't just be your daughters. They'll be mine too."

Noah bent down and gently kissed her forehead. When he straightened, he couldn't help laughing. "How