Archie let out a coldugh. “Well? What''s your version of events, then?”


    Ss didn''t flinch. "Believe it or not, I would never betray Callie. She means everything to me."


    He paused, unwavering. "Yes, the person in those photos is also important to me, but not at all in the way Callie is."


    “Archie, you really don''t have to jump to conclusions just because of a few pictures.” He met Archie''s gaze, steady and unapologetic. There wasn''t even a hint of guilt. Archie had expected him to squirm, maybe stammer through a weak excuse-some sign of a guilty conscience. But the calm confidence in Ss''s eyes caught him off guard. For a moment, Archie actually believed him—there was nothing false there, no shiftiness at all.


    "So you''re saying this has nothing to do with hurting Callie?" Archie narrowed his eyes, studying Ss as if searching for a crack in his mask. "If that''s truly the case... fine. I''ll take your word for it. For now."


    Ss just shrugged, indifferent.


    Archie hesitated, but let it go. He''de back for two reasons: to check on Mavis, and to get to the bottom of whatever was going on with Ss. He hadn''t said anything to Calliope about it—he wanted to protect her, and honestly, he was hoping he wouldn''t discover anything that could hurt her. He didn''t want Calliope to get hurt not if he could help it.


    If Ss really was innocent, Archie was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Still, uncertainty gnawed at him. He could only hope Ss was telling the truth; otherwise, Callie would be the one to suffer.


    They headed back together toward the patient''s room.


    Calliope nced up as they walked in, her eyes flicking from Archie to Ss, surprise flickering across her face. "So, what were you two talking about? she asked. Uriah had told her the men were off together and she knew Archie wasn''t exactly Ss''s biggest fan. Contént


    Archie tried to y it off with a smile. "Nothing major—just some work stuff." But the smile faded, reced by a look of concern. "Callie, there''s really nothing we can do to wake Mavis up faster?"


    Calliope let out a weary sigh. "If there were, have done it already." She shook her head, helpless. "Her physical injuries are all treated i by all rights, she should be awake! Since she isn''t, it must be something psychological."


    She''d already asked every doctor she knew, and Uriah had pulled in every specialist. They''d alle to the same frustrating conclusion: there was no way to predict when Mavis might wake up. The only thing everyone could agree on was that the sooner she woke the better her odds. The longer this dragged on, the less likely a full recovery.


    "You''re right. I know you''re the one most worried about her," Archie said, ncing at Mavis, who looked so peaceful it was hard to remember how uncertain her future


    was.


    "All we can do is hope shees back to us soon."


    Archie drew in a breath, then turned to Calliope. "I have a few things to handle, so I can''t stay much longer. I''m catching a flight back tonight. But if you need anything— anything at all—you call me, understand? Never forget that."


    Calliope couldn''t help but smile, exasperated and touched all at once. “I know, I know. But if you keep worrying like this while you''re still so young, you''ll be an old man before your time!"


    He smiled back, teasing, "I don''t care about that."


    As he turned to leave, Archie threw a pointed look at Ss, his tone sharpening. “Mr. Myers, I hope you treat your wife the way she deserves. You married her, which means you''re responsible for her-don''t forget it."