His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 139

Madeline hadn't expected her to refuse, let alone speak so callously. Feeling thoroughly humiliated, her face darkened instantly. "What kind of nonsense is that!? You know exactly what condition Chloe is in. Toby is her only emotional anchor. Asking him to transfer—are you trying to drive her to her death!?" Virginia lowered her eyes and remained silent, but the hands resting on her lap had started to tremble slightly. "And you call yourself a psychologist! How can you say something so cruel! Setting aside the fact that Chloe is your sister, even if she were a stranger, do you lack empathy entirely!?" The barrage of accusations drained the color from Virginia's face entirely. Sure enough, the people closest to you always knew exactly how to hurt you the most... Seeing her neither speaking nor giving in, Madeline scoffed coldly, grabbed her purse, stood up, and stormed out the door. The cafe continued to play smooth jazz, but Virginia sat frozen in her seat. She raised a hand and picked up her coffee cup, the liquid inside sloshing slightly. It was only then she realized her fingertips had turned pale and were trembling. After what felt like an eternity, a sudden "thump, thump, thump" on the glass startled her. Virginia snapped back to reality and turned her head. Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling window, Valentin Hunter was holding Cindy with one arm. The little girl had her short hands pressed against the glass, grinning widely at her. "Mommy! Mommy!" She could see Cindy's small mouth moving but couldn't hear what she was saying. In an instant, Virginia's throat tightened, and her eyes traitorously watered. The next second, she grabbed her bag, stood up, and strode out of the cafe. "Your assistant said you were grabbing coffee here," Valentin mentioned casually, simply handing Cindy over without prying. As soon as Virginia took the little girl, Cindy snuggled into her chest, whining playfully, "Mommy, can the three of us take a picture?" A gleam flashed in Valentin's narrow eyes. He raised an eyebrow at Virginia, a hint of expectation hidden in his gaze. And so, the three of them captured a photo together. "Uncle Valentin, send me a copy," Cindy pleaded, holding up her pink smartwatch. Valentin ruffled her hair and obediently sent it over via Bluetooth. Cindy tapped away, her big eyes sparkling, her little face radiating absolute satisfaction. A few days later. A Rolls-Royce came to a smooth stop beneath Virginia's apartment building. The driver opened the rear door, and Archer stepped out. The wooden beads on his wrist caught the sunlight, flashing an intimidating, cold gleam. Inside, Cindy was sitting on the living room rug, building blocks. The little girl wore pink floral loungewear, her hair braided intricately into a crown that ended in a long ponytail. Virginia went to open the door and froze for a split second when she saw who it was. "Mr. Vanderbilt?" Archer was wearing a dark gray casual button-down today, the sleeves rolled up a couple of inches. In his hands, he carried two bags—one with a toy flagship store logo, the other looking like packaging from a high-end dessert shop. "Just passing by," he said simply. The Vanderbilt Group was practically across the entire city from Virginia's apartment. Virginia didn't call his bluff. Hesitating for a moment, she stepped aside to let him in. Cindy looked up, a flash of surprise in her eyes. But then she remembered something, her gaze dimming, and she went back to her blocks. Archer placed the bags on the coffee table and crouched down. His eyes were soft, his voice incredibly gentle. "Cindy, this is the new castle set. See if you like it."