His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 31

“Your father is only saying this for your own good, and Cindy needs a complete family.” Madeline Caldwell pulled Virginia's hand and added, “Why don't you find some time to invite Valentin over to the house? Your father and I can help you vet him.”

Vet him?

Virginia suddenly found it a little laughable.

Were they just worried she was still hung up on Archer Vanderbilt, so they wanted to verify if this 'Valentin' even existed?

“Mom, Cindy is still young. Mr. Hunter and I are just friends.”

With a single sentence, she defined her relationship with Valentin.

But Madeline refused to give up. She softened her voice and coaxed, “Don't overthink it. I just feel like you carrying everything on your own isn't a long-term solution.”

“Since you and Mr. Hunter are just friends, I'll ask some people to set you up on a few dates. Just get out there and mingle. If it works, great. If not, no harm done. People eventually have to settle down and build a life.”

Virginia fell silent.

Just then, Cindy's clear laughter drifted in from the yard, audible even through the closed door.

Regardless of everything else, Madeline was right about one thing: Cindy needed a proper home, and Valentin was actually quite wonderful with her.

“...I know, Mom. I'll think about it.”

Madeline and George Caldwell exchanged a subtle look, both breathing a synchronized sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, in the shadows just around the corner of the yard, Archer stood with an unreadable expression on his face.

He leaned sideways against the wall, an unlit cigarette pinched between his fingers.

His mind kept replaying the exact words Cindy had just said to Toby: “I'm only going to like Valentin from now on. I don't want to like Mr. Vanderbilt anymore.”

He had heard every single syllable loud and clear.

His normally stoic heart felt as though it had been violently struck, throbbing with a suffocating wave of despair.

She couldn't help but think: Archer and Chloe really did have a perfect relationship. He cared so deeply about her every little issue.

Compared to their own bleak, lifeless marriage back then, this kind of absolute devotion was clearly what true love looked like.

Silence lingered on the other end of the line for a moment, followed by the rhythmic tapping of his fingers against a desk. “She doesn't have insomnia, but she just can't keep food down. She's lost quite a bit of weight.”

“...I've made a note of it. I'll report this to Doctor White tomorrow. It absolutely won't interfere with her session the day after tomorrow.”

“Mhm.”

With the necessary information exchanged, Archer still didn't hang up. Both ends of the line fell completely silent.

Virginia pressed her lips together tightly. Her finger hovered over the end-call button, then slowly pulled back.

She hesitated for several seconds before finally asking, “Your hand... how is it?”

On the other end of the phone, Archer was leaning back in his study chair, trying to make sense of his own unusual behavior. Hearing her question, a flicker of emotion passed through his dark, predatory gaze.