Chapter 6

"Archie…" Rosie said, her voice barely above a whisper. 

"Rosie," Archie's deep voice replied, his eyes locked on hers in a mix of surprise and contemplation. They stood there, the air thick with unspoken words, until Rosie finally broke the gaze.

Archie released Liam's hand and slipped his own into his pockets, his eyes cast downward. Rosie struggled to find her voice, but the words wouldn't come. The silence was palpable until Liam broke it.

His small voice filled with apology. "Mom, I'm sorry. I thought he was Dad when he came into the hall, so I followed him here," he explained, his lips curling into a smile. "He's a nice guy, Mom. He promised to buy me chocolate and help me find you."

"Is he your son? Are you... married? When?" Archie's questions came rapid-fire, and Rosie's gaze met his, while Liam looked on curiously.

"Did you know my mom?" Liam asked, his eyes wide with interest.

"Yes, she; " Archie began to reveal the truth, but Rosie swiftly intervened, her tone laced with subtle sarcasm. 

"Yes, Liam. Just a random person from my past. Though I thought I knew him, but it turned out I didn't…" Her words were a veiled jab, meant to convey nothing significant to Liam.

Archie's expression faltered, taken aback by her response. "Huh?"

Rosie turned her attention to Liam, bending down to meet his gaze. "He's someone I shouldn't have crossed paths with," she said, her tone light, but the underlying message clear; this was a topic best left unexplored.

"You–" Archie attempted to speak for himself, but Rosie's piercing question silenced him.

"Will you cause a scene in front of a kid?"

Archie let out a frustrated sigh, his eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment before he reopened them. With a measured calm, he extended his hand for a handshake. "Congratulations on your marriage and child."

Rosie raised an eyebrow, her snicker hinting at her amusement. She was about to decline the handshake, but her gaze caught sight of Phoebe approaching. With a dazzling smile, she accepted the handshake. "Thank you." She said, and held onto his hand a bit longer than necessary; until Phoebe reached their side.

"I'm sorry, dear. It was traffic." Phoebe apologized, her gaze fixed on Archie, completely unaware of the person he was shaking hands with.

Rosie's smile never wavered as she waved at Phoebe. "Hi," she said brightly. 

Phoebe's eyes finally landed on Rosie, and her expression transformed from apologetic to shocked. "You!" She exclaimed, taking a step back in panic.

Rosie released Archie's hand, her smile still plastered on her face. "Yes, me." She said, her tone dripping with malice.

Phoebe pointed at her, still staring at her in disbelief, almost unable to pull out another word. "Ro…"

Rosie's head drooped slightly, a smile playing on her lips. "Yes, it's me. Your ex-friend, Rosie. Surprised to see me?" She posed the question casually, not waiting for a response. "How have you been, Phoebe?"

Phoebe's lips trembled, her expression wavering between shock and fear. But she quickly composed herself, forcing a thin smile. "I've been doing great," she replied, her voice laced with artificial cheer. "And you? How have you been?"

Before Rosie could respond, Phoebe's tone turned snide. "How do I expect you to be? Your life must have been a mess already, right?"

Rosie sighed, her grin twisting wryly to one side. "A mess, you say?" She repeated, her tone dripping with amusement. She scoffed, her lips curving into a smile that Phoebe had always envied. "I've been doing great; more than you can even imagine."

Phoebe wrapped her arm possessively around Archie's neck, a smug smile spreading across her face. "How can I not do great with a wonderful husband like Archie by my side?" She cooed.

Rosie's eyes widened in shock. "Your husband?" She repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes," Phoebe confirmed, her eyes sparkling with triumph. "Archie is my husband. He finds his happiness in me and wants me to stay beside him forever. I'm thrilled to say we're blissfully married," 

She paused, her smile growing even wider. "And our marriage has been fruitful, too. We have a beautiful daughter."

Rosie's gaze locked onto them, her expression frozen in shock. The sting of heartbreak resurfaced, and her heart ached once more, the pain threatening to overwhelm her, but she quickly washed it away with a gentle scoff.

Rosie's face lit up with a dazzling smile; one she'd practiced for this exact moment. She'd anticipated running into her adversary, and now that the opportunity had finally arrived, she was determined not to show weakness. "Wow, congratulations to you both!" She exclaimed, her words dripping with feigned enthusiasm. 

"I'm genuinely happy for you two," She continued, her tone laced with sarcasm, "It's just a shame I wasn't there to celebrate with you. You should've invited me. I would've loved to have graced your wedding with my presence," 

Her smile never wavered as she added, "I might've even made a great bridesmaid, don't you think?"

Phoebe's eyes widened in surprise, her expression morphing from triumph to confusion. She removed her arm from Archie's neck and took a step back, her brow furrowed in suspicion as she gazed at Rosie.

"Huh?" Her grunt was a mixture of shock and uncertainty, her eyes searching for any sign of Rosie's true intentions. "Why are you happy for us? Shouldn't you be angry?"

Rosie's eyebrows shot up, and she chuckled, her head tilting back slightly. "Angry?" She repeated, her tone incredulous. "Why'd I be angry? You know I've always been lucky, and that's why you envied me."

"I didn't envy you!" Phoebe's voice rose in defensiveness, her tone betraying a hint of guilt, and her eyes darted slightly, revealing a crack in her composure. "I never did!"

Rosie's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Oh, really?" She drawled.

Phoebe's expression turned righteous. "Yes, all I did was expose your dirty secrets. I couldn't just stand by and watch you cheat on an innocent guy," she emphasized, "The evidence was clear, and I presented proof."

"Okay," Rosie let out nonchalantly, signaling she was done with the topic. She wasn't interested in rehashing old grievances, so she changed the subject. "Well, that's your problem now, not mine," 

She grabbed Liam's hand. "To be honest, I'm torn about whether it's nice to see you again. Maybe I'll see you around, maybe not," she taunted, and with a dismissive shrug, she added, "Anyway, I'm busy, so I'll leave you two."

"Are you still flirting with men? That's probably what keeps you busy," Phoebe couldn't resist taking a parting shot. "You never change, do you?"

Rosie burst out laughing, unfazed by the jab. "What's the difference between us?" She mused, then quickly corrected herself with a smirk. "No, scratch that. There is a difference. I'm better than you."

"How are you better than me?" Phoebe sneered.

"If I'm a flirt, what does that make you? A husband snatcher, perhaps?" Rosie fired back, her tone dripping with disdain. "You've got all the bad traits; betrayal, lies, treachery... You name it,"

"Let me give you a brief definition of who you are; the most dangerous human, an animal in human skin," she paused, her gaze locked on Phoebe's shocked face. "To be frank, you've got the dirtiest mind I've ever seen. Your heart is filthy. You're not just influenced by darkness; you're the darkness itself. You need salvation before it's too late,"

Rosie's lips curled into a cold smile. "Though I doubt it's already too late for you."

Phoebe's eyes were fixed on Rosie's lips, mesmerized by the venomous words pouring out. This new side of Rosie took her aback; one that was far more ruthless and calculating than the person she thought she knew.

Her face burned with rage as Rosie's words cut deep, unleashing a torrent of fury within her. Without thinking, she took a step forward, her hand flying up in a swift motion, her palm itching to connect with Rosie's cheek.

Just as Archie lunged forward, his hands outstretched to restrain Phoebe, a stronger presence intervened. Dominic's grip closed around Phoebe's arm like a vice, pulling her back with a firmness that brooked no resistance. The sudden movement sent a jolt through the air, and Phoebe's eyes flashed with a mix of surprise and unease as she was yanked away from Rosie.