His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 386

For the entire morning, the atmosphere in the top-floor conference room was dreadfully oppressive.

Several department directors were torn apart over minor errors in their proposals, leaving everyone walking on eggshells.

"Mr. Vanderbilt, this is the R&D budget for the smart home robots for the second half of the year," the marketing director said, wiping cold sweat from his forehead as he handed the file over with both hands.

Archer, seated in his broad leather chair, flipped through two pages before slamming the folder onto the table.

"This is what took you a week to put together?" His long fingers drummed against the table. His voice wasn't loud, but it sent chills down the spines of everyone in the room. "The data is full of holes, and the market research is completely useless. Redo it all!"

The director grabbed the file and bolted out of the room without a second's delay.

With the eyesores finally gone, Archer pinched his throbbing temples. He pulled out a cigarette, holding it between his fingers without lighting it. His gaze dropped to a proposal on his desk, but it looked as if he was staring right through it, lost in thought.

His phone buzzed against the table.

The caller ID flashed "Mother."

He set the cigarette down and answered the call.

"Archer, how are things going with you and Virginia lately?" Helena's voice came through the receiver. "It's been so long, why hasn't there been any news? Yesterday, I went to Mrs. Layton's house, and you have no idea—she kept showing off her grandchild right in front of my face..."

"...Mom, stop pushing," Archer said, his frustration mounting.

"How can I not push? You're almost thirty! With a corporate empire as massive as ours, you need an heir, don't you?"

Archer's grip on the phone tightened instinctively, his gaze darkening further. "She doesn't want to have a child."

He slumped back against his chair, his voice heavy. "It looks like she and I will never have a child of our own in this lifetime."

A brief silence descended on the other end of the line.

A moment later, Helena hung up, severely disappointed that he couldn't get the job done.

That evening, at Cloudcrest Estate.

Setting the bowl down, she dabbed her lips with a napkin.

Unsure of how to respond, she opted to stay silent instead.

Seeing her evasive reaction brought an ache to Helena's heart.

The girl had endured so much hardship with the Suttons and the Caldwells growing up, which molded her aloof personality. Once she made up her mind about something, it was nearly impossible to change...

Not wanting to force the issue, Helena swallowed the rest of her words.

"Alright, I'll stop talking. Let's eat."

A few days later, in a VIP suite at the city hospital.

Virginia had been completely caught off guard by the phone call. Without even bothering to tidy up, she gave her assistant, Holly, a few brief instructions, left the clinic, and rushed straight over.

Pushing the door open, the faint smell of antiseptic hit her face.