Archer Quinn swallowed back the confession that was on the tip of his tongue, feeling a sour ache in his chest.
Bella clung tightly to his clothes, sobbing quietly for a while before suddenly turning around to vomit into the trash can.
Archer suppressed his emotions and gently patted her back.
After Bella finished retching a second time, she looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.
Archer fetched another cup of water and softly said, "Rinse your mouth."
"Oh." Bella responded in a daze, her gaze somewhat unfocused.
She took the water to rinse her mouth. Looking at her thin profile, Archer couldn't hold back his anticipation any longer. Hesitantly, he probed, "Bella, that person makes you so upset. Have you ever thought about leaving him and starting a new relationship?"
Bella seemed to pause with the cup in her hands, then quietly said, "I can't. I can't forget him." After years of being together and the feelings they've shared, how could they be forgotten so easily?
