His gaze turned distant for a second before refocusing on her.
"I let those words get to me... just long enough. I called Neil that night and told him to pull our men off you and your siblings. I didn't want Arthur thinking I was still watching you, using you."
"And?" Avery questioned.
Archie looked down, exhaling. "I almost filed the divorce papers too."
Avery's lips parted, but no words came out.
Archie turned to her again, his eyes raw. "But I couldn't. I was so deep into it, Angel. I knew pulling myself out of this... out of you... would kill me."
He let that confession linger between them, heavy and quiet.
"I decided to leave the country for a while. Clear my head. I had my bags packed, car waiting. Got all the way to the airport."
He paused.
"Then the news of Arthur's accident broke and everything else that followed." He looked at her, voice barely above a whisper. "So, I drove back."
