His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 11

Noticing her pale complexion, Kian Shaw didn't ask any questions. He simply stood up and headed to the breakroom.

A few moments later, he placed a perfectly warm mug of tea on her desk.

"You don't look so good. Why don't you wrap up early and head home to rest? I can take over your remaining appointments."

"No need." Virginia Caldwell picked up the mug, took a slow sip, and casually flipped open the case file on her desk. "I have one more patient at two-thirty. Once I'm done with this one, we'll call it a day."

Kian didn't push the issue. Instead, he casually brought up a new therapy method from a recent journal, eventually steering the conversation toward the follow-up treatment plan for the patient they had dealt with on the rooftop earlier.

Virginia responded absently, her turbulent emotions gradually settling down as she focused on the work.

Sensing the shift in her mood, Kian lowered his voice, offering a gentle reminder. "Ginny, don't try to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."

The steam from the tea had already dissipated. Virginia stared down at the rim of the mug, remaining silent.

After a few seconds of quiet, Kian opened his mouth to say something else, but his phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen and stood up. "I need to take this. Your two-thirty appointment should be arriving soon. I'll let you prepare."

With that, he turned and left, pulling the door shut behind him.

Virginia sat alone in the quiet clinic for a moment. She quietly finished the rest of her lukewarm tea before opening the file to review the notes.

Just then, her assistant, Holly, pushed the door open. "Dr. Caldwell, your patient is here."

"Alright, send them in."

She gathered her thoughts, her expression instantly shifting back to her usual sharp, professional demeanor.

...

Virginia greeted him pleasantly and took a seat with effortless grace. She casually clicked her voice recorder on, speaking as if they were just catching up. "Mr. Hunter Sr., let's hold off on the tea for a second. Why don't we start by talking about how you've been sleeping lately?"

"You kids, always rushing straight to business..."

Franklin chuckled softly, but he readily opened up, guided flawlessly by her prompting.

Halfway through the session, the smile in Virginia's eyes deepened.

"The fact that you're actively inviting your friends over for chess and experiencing emotional shifts based on winning or losing is a fantastic sign. It shows your interest and vitality are steadily returning. The improvement in your anxiety is remarkable."

She jotted down a few key notes while speaking in a soothing, analytical tone. "As for the occasional trouble falling asleep you mentioned earlier, I recommend tweaking your bedtime routine."

"For instance, if you find your mind racing right before bed, we can try muting your phone an hour prior. Lie down, take a few deep breaths, and let your body fully relax."