His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 367

Inside the VIP ward at City General Hospital.

Chloe leaned against the pillows, scoffing coldly at the silent chat interface.

She opened her photo album and selected the picture she had taken—a carefully angled shot designed to spark misunderstandings.

In the photo, she appeared to be resting against a man's shoulder. His profile was obscured in shadow, but the red sandalwood prayer beads on his wrist were unmistakable.

She added a caption: [You said that whenever I need you, you'll always be there.]

She tapped post, sending it to her social media feed.

...

Three in the afternoon, at a high-end cafe downtown.

The AC hummed comfortably, and the rich aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans hung in the air.

Virginia sat by the window, an iced Americano resting in front of her.

She wore a sharply tailored black silk blouse paired with matching wide-leg trousers. The Patek Philippe watch on her wrist caught the light with a cold glint. She exuded an unapproachable, chilly elegance.

Her phone screen was glowing, parked on her social media feed. Chloe's latest post was sitting brazenly at the very top.

Virginia stared at the photo, her eyes darkening.

There was no way to verify when the photo was taken, but the red sandalwood beads on his wrist were piercingly obvious.

A sharp ache pierced her chest, the dull pain rippling out through her veins.

"Virginia."

A gentle male voice sounded from across the table.

It was Kian Shaw.

He wore gold-rimmed glasses and a light gray casual t-shirt.

Virginia quickly locked her phone, picking up her iced Americano to take a sip in a poor attempt at self-deception. "Kian. About that international medical forum next week... I'll need some more time to think it over."

Chloe stared at her phone screen, breathing heavily, her fists clenched white.

Beneath the post she had just uploaded, a glaring new comment had appeared.

It was from Clementine Sherwood.

[You think a couple of flimsy test results and playing the lunatic are going to tie Archer to you for the rest of his life? Have you no shame?]

Gritting her teeth, Chloe hit delete, wiping the entire post from her feed.

Clementine was good friends with Virginia. Clementine had already humiliated Chloe at her birthday banquet before, and this comment was blatantly just her sticking up for that bitch!

"Chloe, what's wrong?" Madeline asked as she walked in, carrying a bowl of freshly washed fruit slices.

"Mom..." Chloe's eyes instantly reddened, summoning tears on cue. "Is Archer annoyed with me? I had a terrible headache earlier and texted him, but he never replied..."

Looking at her pale, frail face, Madeline sighed, set the fruit bowl down, and pulled out her phone. "Mom will call him."

Half an hour later, the door swung open, and Archer walked in.