His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 299

In the nursery.

The little girl had kicked off her blankets and was lying completely sideways across the bed. Her right leg was thrown over a giant stuffed animal, and her arms were flung above her head in an absolute sprawl.

A fond smile touched Archer's eyes, but his expression quickly turned serious.

He held his breath, gently plucking a single, fine strand of hair from Cindy's pillow, before turning and slipping out of the room.

By the time Virginia woke up, Archer was already gone from the house.

An hour later, in the Vanderbilt Group CEO's office.

The air conditioning was blasting, but Archer couldn't seem to cool his restlessness.

Zachary knocked and entered, standing respectfully before the desk.

Archer's face was dead serious as he slid a clear, sealed plastic bag across the desk—one that held a trace of his own nervous sweat. "Take this to the Capital Genetics Center. Run it as expedited. The second the results are out, bring them straight to me. They do not pass through anyone else's hands!"

Zachary saw what was inside and his expression tightened into absolute focus. "Understood."

The door clicked shut.

Archer leaned back in his leather chair, rubbing the prayer beads on his right wrist. His mind was obsessed with the memory of Virginia's face when she claimed Cindy was adopted.

If Virginia had simply lied to severe ties with him back then, then there was a massive chance Cindy was his biological daughter...

He stopped thumbing the beads, a fierce tide of emotion roaring in his eyes.

At that exact moment, in the underground parking garage of the Capital Genetics Center.

A black SUV sat idling in a shadowy corner.

Liam sat in the driver's seat. The top three buttons of his black shirt were unfastened, and an unlit cigarette dangled from his lips, painting a picture of total arrogance.

The passenger door opened, and a man in a lab coat slid inside, handing over a manila folder.

"Mr. Kendrick. Mr. Vanderbilt's man just dropped off the expedited sample. I swapped it out exactly as you ordered. This is the authentic report we just printed."

Liam snatched the folder and yanked out the stack of papers.

On the very last page, under the conclusion section, the bold text read: Biological father-daughter relationship confirmed.

He stared at the line and let out a chilling sneer.

[Biological father-daughter relationship excluded.]

An absolute, suffocating silence descended over the office.

Even without seeing the contents, the sudden, freezing drop in the room's temperature told Zachary exactly what the paper said.

He didn't dare breathe, keeping his head bowed and his eyes glued to his shoes.

After what felt like an eternity, Archer closed the file.

But instead of the explosive fury or crushing despair Zachary had braced for, a strange sort of release washed over Archer's rigid features.

So what if she was adopted?

As long as it was someone Virginia wanted to protect, blood ties meant nothing. He, Archer Vanderbilt, could afford to raise and shield her anyway!

"Shred this." Archer tossed the report at Zachary. "And make absolutely sure my wife never finds out about this."

Zachary froze in shock before scrambling to catch the folder. "Yes, Boss."