His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 135

"Sorry, traffic was bad," Valentin Hunter said gently, naturally reaching out to ruffle Cindy's hair. Cindy hugged the bunny, sniffing. Her sorrow was instantly soothed by the new toy. "Well, did our little Cindy wait too long?" Valentin chuckled. Standing back up, he cast a glance around the area before lifting the other gift bag toward the surrounding kids. "Uncle Valentin brought some little toys here. Since you're all Cindy's good friends, how about I give everyone a gift?" "Yay!" "I want one! I want one!" "Valentin, I want one too!" The kids immediately swarmed Valentin, effortlessly dissolving the awkward tension from moments ago. Some oblivious parents even started whispering among themselves. "Is that Cindy's dad? He's so handsome..." "Their family genes are amazing. No wonder Cindy is so pretty." On the other side. Archer stood rooted to the spot, watching the scene unfold from halfway across the playground. He watched Valentin take Cindy from Virginia's arms, and he watched Cindy wrap her arms around Valentin's neck, giggling. Then, holding the bouquet of roses, Virginia leaned in and whispered something into Valentin's ear. Valentin's smile widened. The two of them were standing... very close. Archer's eyes darkened. His Adam's apple bobbed. His clenched fists loosened, then tightened again. "Archer," Chloe, unwilling to be ignored, tugged at his sleeve, her lips pursed. "What's wrong?" "Nothing." He pulled his gaze away, his face returning to its usual stoic mask. The family sports day began with a series of events—hula hoop relays, piggyback ball runs, and ring tosses. Over the first few rounds, the scores remained incredibly tight. The grand finale was the "Family Obstacle Course." The adults had to carry the child on their back through obstacles, the child would complete a puzzle independently, and finally, the family would navigate the remaining obstacles to cross the finish line. Valentin carried Cindy on his back while Virginia led the way. The three of them worked together with flawless coordination. Archer's side was equally impressive. Carrying Toby with one arm, he used his free hand to vault over the inflatable pillars, his long legs easily clearing the hurdles. Chloe followed closely behind, but her dress got caught on an inflatable obstacle. It took her an immense amount of effort to scramble over. She looked miserable but had to force a smile. Both teams reached the puzzle zone at almost the exact same time. Cindy and Toby simultaneously reached out with their chubby little hands to start assembling the pieces. The air was filled with the sounds of people cheering for them. The two children finished almost simultaneously, instantly scooped up by Valentin and Archer to dash toward the finish line. Both men had long strides and ran fast. At a normal pace, it was impossible to tell who would win. But Chloe's outfit and shoes were completely unsuitable, and with the obstacles on the track, even using all her strength, she fell behind. In contrast, Virginia was dressed in a tracksuit and sneakers. She ran lightly and powerfully, keeping the gap between her and Valentin tight. The finish line was right in front of them. The first member of any team to cross would claim victory. From the corner of his eye, Archer glanced over. He saw Cindy clinging to Valentin's back, her short arms wrapped tightly around his neck, her little face glowing with an excitement and joy he had never seen before. His eyes grew heavy. He stumbled slightly. His pace, which had been neck-and-neck with Valentin's, faltered, causing him to fall behind. Valentin, carrying Cindy, and Virginia crossed the finish line first.