chapter 30

Phoebe pulled into the compound, parking her car haphazardly on the wrong side, deliberately blocking Archie's vehicle. She climbed out of the car and stormed towards the house, her anger evident in every step.

Arabella emerged from the house, a welcoming smile spreading across her face as she caught sight of Phoebe's approach. "How–" she began, attempting to initiate a conversation as Phoebe drew near, but Phoebe brushed past her without a word.

Phoebe yanked open the door and slammed it shut behind her, the sudden noise making Arabella jump back in shock.

Arabella's face twisted in distaste, as if she'd tasted something bitter. "What's wrong with her?" She muttered. She shrugged her shoulders in indifference. "Her problem." She said, before turning to walk towards her car in the parking lot.

Meanwhile, Phoebe's voice echoed through the house. "Archie!" She called out, her tone shrill with urgency. She flung her bag onto the sofa and stormed upstairs, her footsteps heavy with anger.

Reaching her room, she burst through the door, the sound of it slamming shut behind her a testament to her fury. "Archie!" She called out again, barely containing her emotions.

Archie's gaze was fixed on his phone screen, but Phoebe's abrupt entrance made him look up. "What is it?" He asked, his tone detached, before returning his attention to his phone.

Phoebe snickered. "Even your phone is more important to you than I am, huh?" She questioned, her voice dripping with hurt. "What exactly have I done wrong? Is it my fault she cheated on you?"

Archie's expression darkened. He dropped her phone, storming to her front. And he grasped her neck, his teeth clenched in anger. "Stop talking about her," he growled, his grip tightening.

Phoebe's eyes widened, and she struggled to breathe, tapping at his hand in a desperate bid for relief. But Archie's grip didn't loosen.

"Stop speaking ill of her, or you'll regret it." He threatened, before finally releasing her.

Phoebe collapsed to the floor, clutching her neck and rubbing it as she coughed, struggling to catch her breath.

"Mess with her again, and I'll make you regret it." Archie warned, his voice low and menacing.

Phoebe's gaze rose to meet Archie's, but his eyes were cold and dismissive, as if looking at something beneath him. "You mean I should stop mentioning your ex? You'll make your... wife regret messing with your ex?" She repeated.

Archie's gaze flicked away, his face turning to the side, and in that moment, Phoebe knew she was losing him. She realized that he no longer cared about her feelings and that she needed to tread carefully to avoid further escalation.

Instead of pushing him further, she should try to find a way to reconnect with him, to appeal to whatever good feelings he might still have for her.

Her eyes welled up with tears, and she wore a pitiful expression. "I didn't mess with her, Archie. She started it," she defended herself in a low, trembling voice.

Archie's snicker was incredulous. "She started it?" He repeated. He strode over to the bed, snatched up his phone, and walked back to her, holding the screen in front of her face.

The video he'd received less than an hour ago played out, and Phoebe's eyes widened in shock. "I… Archie…" she stuttered, her mind racing for an excuse that wouldn't come.

Archie's warning was clear. "Let this be the last time, Phoebe. Otherwise, I'll let her deal with you."

Phoebe's pitiful look vanished, replaced by a venomous smile that curled the corner of her lips. She rose to her feet, her movements stiff, and clapped her hands twice, the sound sharp and mocking. "Let her deal with me?"

She clapped her hands again, the sound sharp and sarcastic, before crossing her arms over her chest. "Are you taking me for a fool because I've been patient with you?"

Archie's response was swift. "I didn't take you for a fool. You've never been patient with me!"

Phoebe's eyebrow arched in skepticism. "Really?" She drawled. "I've never been patient with you, but I've put up with your mistreatment ever since your ex-wife came back?"

Her voice escalated to a yell. "You're maltreating me because of the woman I saved you from! You're punishing me for saving your skin!"

Archie's expression remained unyielding. "I'm not maltreating you, you just don't know your place." He said, his tone firm.

Phoebe's gaze locked onto his, confusion etched on her face. "My place?" She repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "What's my place?" She asked, her eyes searching for answers.

"I seem to have forgotten. Can you remind me, hun?"

Archie's face twisted in anger, and he bit back a retort, swallowing his words. He let out a deep sigh and turned towards the bathroom. "I need to use the bathroom." He said, attempting to sidestep the confrontation. But Phoebe was quick to react.

She chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound, and swiftly dropped her arms, only to block his path. Her eyes blazed with determination. "None of us is moving until you tell me my place," she declared. "I know myself as your wife, but it's clear you see me as someone entirely different. Tell me, who am I to you?"

Archie sighed and his expression softened slightly, as he pleaded with her. "Phoebe, please let me go. I have a lot on my mind right now."

Phoebe's response was immediate and biting. "I'm sure Rosie is the most important thing on your mind right now. She's clouding your judgment!"

Archie nodded slowly, his expression unflinching. "Yes, it's her. She's not just a part of what's on my mind; she occupies every inch of it. Everything I'm thinking about revolves around her."

Phoebe's eyes widened in shock, her mouth agape, and her body trembling with fear and rage. She forced out a strangled yell. "How dare you!"

Archie's tone turned faux-sympathetic. "Don't blame me for being honest. You asked, and as your husband, I wouldn't lie to you. You should've seen this coming, so you shouldn't be surprised." He said, patting her shoulder in a gesture that felt more like a taunt than a comfort.

With that, he set his phone down on the table and walked into the bathroom, leaving her stunned and reeling.

Phoebe shook her head, refusing to accept the truth of his words. "That's not possible. This can't be right," she muttered to herself.

She noticed Archie had left his phone unlocked. She snatched it up, and her heart sank as she saw Rosie's picture staring back at her from the home screen. The image felt like a punch to the chest, leaving her breathless.

Why would Archie dare to use Rosie's photo as his wallpaper, replacing the picture of her and their daughter that used to be there?

Her hands trembled as she opened the gallery app, and her worst fears were confirmed. Rosie's pictures filled the screen, making her heart race with anxiety.

She scrolled through the photos, her eyes scanning frantically for any sign of herself or their daughter, but there were none. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks; Archie had purged their photos from his phone.

"Has Archie deleted all our pictures?" She whispered, her voice barely audible. She scrolled to the last photo, and her heart shattered into pieces. It was another picture of Rosie. "Oh, no!" She screamed, slamming the phone to the floor in a fit of rage and despair.

Archie burst out of the bathroom, his expression tense. "What's wrong?" He demanded, but before Phoebe could respond, his gaze landed on his phone lying shattered on the floor. He rushed to pick it up, assessing the damage.

The screen was cracked, and his anger flared. "How dare you!" He growled, his eyes blazing with fury.

Phoebe's gaze rose slowly, her eyes locking fearlessly with his. "I dare because I'm your wife, and I saw you've filled your gallery with pictures of someone you shouldn't have." She responded, her voice steady.

Archie's anger seemed to simmer down, replaced by incredulity. "You smashed my phone?" He asked, his tone laced with disbelief.

Phoebe's response was unapologetic. "Yes, I did. And I'd do it again if you get another phone and it's filled with the same thing," she declared, her voice firm. "We're living under the same roof, but you're shameless enough to delete family pictures and replace them with your ex's photos. What kind of man does that?"

Archie's response was simple, yet devastating. "The kind of man who regrets leaving his ex."