His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 435

Mrs. Gable wiped her hands as she walked out of the kitchen to open the door. A moment later, she led someone inside.

It was Evelyn.

She was holding a dark gray premium shopping bag.

She wore a plain white cotton dress devoid of any embellishments, her long hair simply held up by a claw clip. She had on flawless 'no-makeup' makeup, looking the absolute picture of pure innocence.

"Ms. Caldwell."

Evelyn stood in the center of the living room, her gaze sweeping over Virginia's exquisite silk dress and the understated luxury of the Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Collection jewelry around her neck and wrist. She unconsciously tightened her grip on the shopping bag.

Why did this kept woman have it so easy? What gave her the right to enjoy the most luxurious lifestyle without ever fighting for it?!

Virginia looked up from her tablet, her eyes landing on the woman's face.

Noticing Evelyn's dramatically toned-down appearance compared to last time, Virginia paused for a fraction of a second.

"Can I help you? Archer went to the office."

"I'm here to return Mr. Vanderbilt's suit jacket." Evelyn lifted the bag and offered it to her, her tone laced with just the right amount of shyness. "He lent me his coat at the club a few days ago. I had it dry-cleaned and brought it over today."

She acted bashful and timid, conveniently omitting the context of why Archer had lent her the jacket, or the fact that Zachary Cole hadn't had a coat on him, leaving Archer with no other choice.

Virginia remained seated. Her gaze rested on the shopping bag for two seconds, her razor-sharp mind instantly dissecting the woman's motive for showing up at her door.

"Mrs. Gable," she called out coolly.

"Yes, Ms. Caldwell?"

"Take that and throw it in the trash."

Mrs. Gable blinked in surprise, while Evelyn's head snapped up in sheer disbelief. "Ms. Caldwell, this is Mr. Vanderbilt's jacket. How could you..."

He leaned back in his massive leather chair, his expression indifferent as he listened to Zachary report on the project timelines for the second half of the year.

Just then, Evelyn knocked and entered, carrying a financial report that required his signature.

Once Zachary finished his report and stepped out, she slid the file across the wide desk but made no move to leave.

Archer signed the document and looked up. "Is there something else?"

Evelyn kept her head down, her eyes slightly red. "Mr. Vanderbilt, I'm so sorry. I went to South Hill this morning to return your jacket, but I must have said something wrong because I upset Ms. Caldwell. She... she actually had the housekeeper throw your clothes away..."

She was doing this on purpose.

Though her head was bowed, a secret thrill raced through her heart.

She was certain that once Archer heard his wildly expensive, custom-tailored suit had been trashed, he would be furious. He would undoubtedly realize this kept woman was arrogant and completely unreasonable.