His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 437

After dinner, Helena suggested they play a few rounds of Mahjong to help digest their food and pass the time.

There was a designated game room on the second floor.

Cynthia went off with Mrs. Higgins to brush her teeth, Edward retreated to his study to catch up on work, leaving Helena, Archer, Virginia, and Miles to perfectly fill the four seats at the table.

The room temperature was perfectly comfortable, filled only with the mechanical shuffling sounds of the automatic Mahjong table.

Virginia was seated directly to Archer's right.

She had never been particularly interested in playing; she had only learned it back then to keep Helena company.

Ever since her divorce from Archer, she hadn't touched the tiles in years.

"A three," Miles announced, tossing a tile into the center.

"I'll take that!"

Helena scooped it up with a delighted smile.

When it was Archer's turn, his long, elegant fingers lightly tapped his tiles before he discarded one. "A seven."

Virginia, who had been just about to draw, paused her hand and took the seven instead. "I need that."

A few rounds later, the stack of chips in front of Miles was completely depleted.

He dragged a hand through his hair, staring at Archer across the table in absolute despair.

"Are you kidding me, Archer? Could you be any more obvious?!" Miles groaned dramatically. "Are the tiles in your hand custom-made for Virginia? You throw out exactly what she needs! Why don't you just take your chips and shove them directly into her pockets?!"

Archer leaned back in his chair, crossing his long legs.

He was wearing a light brown linen casual suit today, his collar slightly unbuttoned, exuding a lazy, aristocratic elegance.

"If you're bad at the game, stop complaining," he shot back effortlessly, tossing out another tile. "Nine."

"......Mahjong." Virginia didn't hesitate, immediately pushing her winning tiles down.

Miles' face turned beet red in frustration as he slumped into his chair, groaning loudly.

Archer sat beside her, his light brown linen suit emphasizing his broad shoulders and long legs.

He turned his head, his eyes landing on her flawless profile.

His gaze darkened. Reaching out, he firmly grabbed the delicate hand resting on her lap.

Virginia's fingers were a bit cold. Feeling the sudden heat, she instinctively tried to pull away.

But Archer didn't let go. Instead, he tightened his grip, enveloping her small hand completely in his broad, burning palm.

"Ginny, don't push me away. Let's make this work from now on, okay?"

Virginia kept her eyes fixed out the window. She didn't turn around, nor did she say a word, but a complex wave of emotion rippled through her eyes.

Seeing her silence, an indescribable feeling washed over him. All he could do was massage her fingers, stroking her smooth fingertips one by one, tracing every delicate knuckle.

......

At the same time, outside a VIP ward at Capital City General Hospital.