chapter 11

Phoebe's eyelids drooped, heavy with sleep, but she refused to give in, her mind stubbornly fixated on Archie's return. She'd been waiting for what felt like an eternity, her anger and hurt simmering just below the surface. 

The more she thought about the event, the more she convinced herself that Archie had been involved; he'd deliberately set out to hurt her. And yet, he'd made no effort to reach out, to apologize, to explain.

As the hours ticked by, her anxiety grew, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. She'd tried calling Archie repeatedly, but he'd ignored her calls, his phone eventually switching to voicemail. The silence was deafening, her imagination running wild with fears and doubts. 

'What if Archie is with Rosie?' The thought sent a pang of jealousy and fear through her chest.

Just as she was starting to lose hope, the sound of Archie's car horn pierced the night air, followed by the soft crunch of gravel beneath his tires. Her head snapped up, her eyes narrowing as she watched him step into the living room. 

Her voice was low and even, but laced with a challenge. "Where are you coming from?" She demanded, her eyes boring into his as she waited for an answer.

Archie's eyes met Phoebe's, his expression unreadable as he walked past her, ignoring her question. 

"Where have you been, Archie?" Phoebe asked again, her voice rising, her breathing quickening. "Why are you just returning home?"

Archie paused, his gaze piercing as he turned to face her. "Since when did you begin to monitor my movement?" He asked the question without waiting for an answer, walking past her as if dismissing her concerns.

Phoebe's anger flared, and she stormed to his front, blocking his path. "It started tonight," her response was direct. "I never monitored your movement before because there was no reason for it. You never came home late before."

Archie's laughter was low and menacing. "Phoebe, it seems you forget things easily, so let me quickly remind you," he said. "It's so usual of me to return home... Have you really forgotten, Phoebe?"

The air thickened as Archie's words hung in the air, Phoebe's eyes widening as she sensed the direction of his argument. "What are you talking about?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Archie's words cut deep, his tone laced with a mix of amusement and accusation. "It's my old habit to return home late at night, and I think it starts again. Though I don't know how long it will last." He informed her, his eyes glinting with a knowing look.

"You-"

She tried to speak, but he cut her off, his voice taking on a consolatory tone. "Don't take this to heart. This started with you. You taught me to get home late. You loved it when I stayed out late then. Don't change your preference now."

His words were like a slap, and Phoebe's eyes flashed with hurt. "Remember what happened on my wedding night with Rosie? I spent the night with you instead of her, and it was like that for years."

"Was it my fault you found happiness in me?" Phoebe asked, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes.

Archie's response was immediate, his voice rising in anger. "Okay, is it now my fault I find happiness in staying out till late hours!"

He sighed, his voice dropping to a lower tone. "Phoebe, your era has gone. I think I now find happiness in parking at the roadside and sleeping in it till I feel okay."

A single tear rolled down her cheek. "Archie, I didn't force you to stay with me then. You chose to stay with me because I helped kill your pain." Her voice was barely above a whisper, her words laced with pain.

"Either of the two doesn't matter. What happened has happened," Archie said, his voice devoid of empathy for her tears. "Phoebe, what matters now is your understanding. You've got to accept and embrace my old habit. I've always been like this. Don't act like it's new."

"Why did you defend her instead of me?!" She finally let out what had been bothering her, her eyes reddening with rage as she stepped closer to him,  her voice trembled with fury.. "You watched as Dominic humiliated me in front of everyone, and you did nothing?"

"I didn't think it was necessary to intervene." He said.

She chuckled softly. "Not necessary? You call standing up for your wife unnecessary? You call protecting me from embarrassment necessary?" She muffled, amazed. She took a step closer, her voice rising. "You know what really bothers me, Archie? It's not just that you didn't defend me. It's that you seemed to enjoy watching me get humiliated."

Archie's expression didn't change. "Is that what you think?"

"I know what I saw, Archie. I saw you standing there, watching me, doing nothing. And I know why. It's because you don't care about me. You don't care about my feelings or my dignity…"

Her voice cracked. "You only care about yourself, Archie. You only care about your precious Rosie and your own desires. I'm just an afterthought to you. A mere convenience."

Archie's gaze dropped, and he let out a soft breath as he slipped his hand into his pocket. "You did everything alone, and it's fair you pay for it," he said, his voice low and even."You followed me into the hall on condition, and since you didn't fulfill your promise, there's nothing wrong with letting you suffer the consequence,"

He shrugged and continued, his tone matter-of-fact. "Besides, no one embarrassed you. You embarrassed yourself."

Phoebe's laughter was tinged with bitterness. "If Rosie isn't involved, you wouldn't have–"

Archie cut her off, his voice rising, frustrated. "If she wasn't involved, would you act like that as well?!"

Phoebe's eyes locked onto Archie's, her gaze searching for answers, for a glimmer of understanding; or apology. But Archie's expression remained closed, his eyes flashing with defensiveness. 

Archie's gaze dropped, and he sniffed, his voice taking on a slightly irritated tone. "Why isn't your mind at rest? Why are you acting suspicious?" 

He pushed her out of his way, heading toward the stairs. As he placed his left foot on the first stair, Phoebe's question sliced through the air.

"Do you still love her?"

His leg froze, and he turned to glance back at her. "Do you really want to know?" He countered, his tone measured. He took a step back down, his eyes locking onto hers. "Are you sure you'll still be happy if I tell you the truth about how I still feel about her?"