His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 133

The three words slipped from Archer's lips, his tone so flat it betrayed no emotion. Virginia didn't overthink it, lowering her eyes as she prepared to resume eating. Just then, she faintly noticed the subtle scent of oud and bergamot growing stronger. She looked up, suddenly realizing how absurdly close they were. His nose was almost brushing hers. In his deep, dark eyes, she saw her own reflection, mingled with something she couldn't decipher. As if a thought had occurred to him, Archer's Adam's apple bobbed. His gaze slowly drifted downward, finally landing on her red lips. Virginia's breath hitched. The memory of that alcohol-laced, gentle kiss from the previous night crashed into her mind. For a moment, she forgot to move. She forgot to push him away. And right now, Archer was completely sober. He was looking at her with total clarity as he leaned in... His scent invaded her space as fiercely as it had five years ago. Her mind went blank for a second, her thick lashes fluttering as her eyes slowly closed. The next second, his hot breath swept over her face. Virginia nervously clenched her fists. "Archer." Right before his lips could touch hers, she suddenly turned her head, leaning back a half-step. She stood up, putting distance between them. A flush still lingered on her cheeks, but her eyes were clear, and her voice steady. "You have a wife and a son." Archer paused, a stormy, unreadable emotion swirling in his dark eyes. "And..." she lowered her gaze, her hands at her sides slowly clenching into fists. "She is my sister in name." Instantly, the temperature in the dining room plummeted. Archer remained motionless, still holding his slightly forward-leaning posture. After an indeterminate amount of time, he pulled his hand back, gripping his wooden bracelet and slowly rubbing the beads with his well-defined fingers. "Sorry," he said, his expression unchanged, though his voice held a trace of hoarseness. Virginia took a deep breath, avoiding his gaze, and turned toward the kitchen. Inside, Helena was helping Cindy shape the dessert. Neither of them noticed her walk in. Leaning against the cold wall, Virginia let out a silent, shaky breath. No one knew that despite her calm facade, her heart was racing far too fast to calm down anytime soon. The next afternoon. Virginia received a call from Cindy's lead teacher while organizing patient files in her office. "Cindy's mom, our kindergarten is hosting a family sports day this Friday afternoon. We need both parents to participate, so please clear your schedule." "...Okay, Ms. Montgomery. We'll be there on time." After hanging up, Virginia stared at the screen for nearly a minute. A family sports day. Both parents... The world of children seemed simple and pure, but in reality, it could be crueler than the adult world in some ways. For instance, the concept of a whole family. Some remarks, though spoken without malice, could inflict permanent scars on young ones. She wasn't afraid of people gossiping about her, but Cindy was only four. She didn't want Cindy's background or family situation to be judged by others. After much deliberation, Virginia found a name in her contacts and dialed the number. Friday brought beautiful, clear weather. The playground of Starwood International Kindergarten was decorated with large and small colorful balloons, alongside artwork created by the kids. The children wore matching sporty uniforms—blue and white striped tops with trousers for the boys, pink and white striped tops with pleated skirts and white tights for the girls. There were fifteen children in Cindy's class. Most parents had already arrived, the kids clinging to them, presenting a picture of perfect, whole families.