Love's Ashes, Archer's Regret

n her heart extinguish completely. He thought he could replac

as a stranger. The boy she had loved, her Archer, had

e bed as if she were a doll. The gentleness of his to

e back to its cool, business-like tone. "The doctors say

ust stared out the window

e?" he

said, her

you two to get along." He saw the look on her face and quickly added, "She

. Another p

rancesca

stared at her, a flicker of suspicion in his

ed, her voice tired. "Yo

of emotion. "I won't lay a hand on your precious Amelia."

e sleeve of her hospital gown. "Besides," she added, a hint of

, she saw a flicker of unease in his eyes as he looked at her, as if he sensed that

iven directly to a high-end bridal boutiq

sharp, tailored tuxedo, and she was in a stunning white gown that looked sus

iends stood nearby, ra

"To Archer and Amelia! Has there

n't you know Archer is engaged to Frankie?" She sai

," another friend said with a wi

ound Amelia, silencing his friends with a look. He didn't want th

d calm settling over her. She

ke I'm crashing someone else's party. Perhaps we should change the invitations

"Frankie, don't be like that! We were just helping y

ong. Francesca tried to pull

elia gushed, grabbing Francesc

ger was a ring that was identical to Francesca's, only t

She remembered the day Archer proposed. He had told her the ring was a one-o

r voice barely a whisper. "

aned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "He gave this one to me

e ceremony. For t

he symbol of her ten-year love an

eal promise, had alw