The next afternoon, Veronica was immersed in wedding planning, her phone glued to her ear as she made arrangements for the restaurant and BBQ catering. She was particularly excited about adding Carolina Reaper sauce to spice things up, imagining the surprised reactions of their guests. She jotted down notes, checked the menu options, and dialed the caterers to confirm the new addition.

"Yes, I'd like to add the Carolina Reaper sauce to the BBQ options," she said, her voice brimming with excitement. "I think it'll be a great twist!"

After finalizing the details, she looked around the apartment, wanting Archie's opinion. "Archie!" she hollered, but there was no response. Puzzled, she walked through the rooms, calling his name, but he was nowhere to be found.

Growing concerned, Veronica pulled out her phone and texted her bridesmaids: Tabitha Tate, Olivia Baker, Emily Cooper, and Mindy Chen.

Veronica: "Hey guys, has anyone seen Archie? He's not in the apartment, and I wanted to get his opinion on adding Carolina Reaper sauce to the BBQ catering. Thoughts?"

The responses came quickly.

Tabitha: "Haven't seen him, V. But the sauce sounds intense! Might be fun!"

Olivia: "No idea where he is, but Carolina Reaper? Wow, you're really going all out! Love it!"

Emily: "Archie's MIA? That's odd. But yeah, the sauce sounds like a great twist!"

Mindy: "No clue about Archie. The sauce sounds spicy, though! Hope he's okay with it!"

Veronica sighed, hoping Archie would be back soon. Later that night, just as she was about to call it a day, the front door opened, and Archie walked in. Relieved, but also concerned, Veronica approached him.

"Archie, where have you been? I've been trying to reach you all afternoon," she said, her voice laced with worry.

Archie gave her a tired smile. "Sorry, V. I just needed some air. Went for a long walk."

Veronica studied his face, sensing something off. "You weren't with Betty, were you?"

Archie shook his head. "No, I wasn't. I promise."

Veronica's expression softened slightly, but she still felt uneasy. "Okay, well, I need your opinion on something. I'm thinking of adding Carolina Reaper sauce to the wedding catering. What do you think?"

Archie's eyes widened. "Carolina Reaper? That's some serious heat! Are you sure our guests can handle it?"

Veronica laughed lightly. "That's the fun part! It'll be a memorable twist. What do you think?"

Archie chuckled. "Alright, sounds like a blast. But maybe we should have a milder option too. How about a garlic sauce for those who can't handle the heat?"

Veronica nodded, smiling. "That's a great idea. I'll call the caterers tomorrow and add that to the menu."

Feeling a bit more at ease, Veronica kissed Archie on the cheek. "Thanks for your input. And please, next time, let me know if you're going out. I was really worried."

Archie pulled her into a hug. "I will, I promise. Sorry for making you worry."

As they settled in for the night, Veronica couldn't shake the feeling that something was still off with Archie. She hoped it was just the stress of the wedding getting to them both. But for now, she focused on the positives, like the exciting new addition to their wedding menu and the support of her friends and fiancé.

The next morning, Veronica drove to a local BBQ restaurant to finalize the catering details, including the Carolina Reaper and garlic sauce, and to discuss the logistics of shipping the catering internationally to Paris. Meanwhile, Archie was left alone in the apartment, focusing on the next stage of the wedding planning, which involved organizing tables and chairs for the reception.

Feeling a mix of anxiety and curiosity, Archie decided to text Betty Cooper, inviting her over since Veronica was out of the apartment.

Archie: "Hey, V's out. You can come over now."

A few minutes later, Betty arrived with a small overnight bag. Archie let her in, and she quickly changed into something lingerie and sexy.

"Wow, Betty," Archie said, his eyes widening in appreciation. "You look amazing."

"Thanks, Archie," Betty replied, smiling coyly. "Just don't tell Veronica about this."

She leaned in and kissed him, then began to give him a spicy surprise by performing a lap dance, channeling her inner Dita Von Teese. Archie, though nervous, couldn't help but react to the intensity of the moment.

As Betty continued her seductive dance, the front door suddenly opened. Veronica walked in, carrying a bag of BBQ samples, and froze when she saw Betty lap-dancing on Archie.

"What the hell is going on here?!" Veronica shouted, her face turning red with anger and betrayal.

Archie jumped up, pushing Betty off his lap. "V-Veronica, it's not what it looks like!"

Betty stood up, straightening her lingerie. "Hey, Veronica. Long time no see, bitch."

Veronica's eyes blazed with fury. "Get out of my apartment, you slore!"

Betty raised an eyebrow. "What the hell is a 'slore'?"

"A slut and a whore combined," Veronica spat. "And that's exactly what you are!"

Veronica then began gaslighting Betty, accusing her of trying to ruin her relationship with Archie. "You just can't stand that Archie chose me over you, can you? You're pathetic!"

Betty fired back, her face flushed with anger. "Oh, please, Veronica. You've always been jealous of me. You think you're so perfect, but you're just a spoiled little brat."

Veronica, having had enough, pulled out her phone and called the police. "I'm done with your games, Betty. You're trespassing, and I'm calling the cops."

Within minutes, Tom Keller, the town's sheriff, arrived at the apartment. Veronica explained the situation, and Tom escorted a still-defiant Betty out of the apartment.

Once Betty was gone, Veronica turned to Archie, her eyes filled with hurt and anger. "Why did you invite her here, Archie? Do you like her more than me?"

Archie, looking guilty, shook his head. "No, Veronica. I like you, I love you. It was a stupid mistake. I'm sorry."

Veronica took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "We'll talk about this later, Archie. Right now, I need some time to cool down."

She walked to the bedroom and slammed the door, leaving Archie standing alone, feeling the weight of his poor decision and the damage it had caused.