His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 44

Kian knew perfectly well that the real reason her relationship with her adoptive family had deteriorated to this point was because of that person—Chloe.

Two days later.

Virginia had just escorted a patient out when her assistant, Holly, rushed in looking panicked.

"Dr. Caldwell, there's a woman outside demanding to see you. We can't stop her..."

Before Holly could finish, the clinic door flew open. It was Eleanor.

The moment she spotted Virginia, she started screaming at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing down the hallway.

"Virginia! You think you can just ignore your own parents' calls now?!"

The patients in the waiting area turned to stare, their relatively calm demeanors instantly shifting to agitation.

Virginia kept her face completely blank, but internally, she panicked.

This was a psychological clinic; the patients here were vulnerable. If Eleanor caused a scene, the consequences could be disastrous.

"This is my workplace. Let's take this outside!" Virginia demanded, stepping forward to grab her arm.

"Outside? No way! Since you won't answer your phone, you're not getting rid of me now!" Eleanor sneered aggressively. "Unless you give me a straight answer right here—are you coming home for dinner or not?"

Virginia caught sight of the distressed patients in the waiting room from the corner of her eye. She pinched her fingertips, using the sharp pain to ground herself.

This was classic Sutton behavior: whatever it takes to get what they want.

But Eleanor rarely showed up without a motive. She hadn't come all this way just for a family meal.

There was an ulterior motive, but right now, Virginia just needed her gone.

"...When?"

Eleanor's face instantly lit up with a victorious smirk. "Saturday at six. The usual place, The Emerald Garden. Your dad already booked a table."

Sensing Archer's gaze lock onto Virginia, Chloe set down the teapot and flashed a saccharine smile. "Virginia, you're here. Have a seat, we were just waiting for you."

Virginia had anticipated a difficult evening, but she hadn't expected them to be here.

So this was the real reason they had blackmailed her into coming.

She paused for a fraction of a second before offering a polite, detached smile. She bypassed them entirely and pulled out the chair closest to the door, directly opposite Richard and Eleanor.

Eleanor acted as if Virginia were invisible, fawning over Chloe instead. "Chloe, sweetie, here are your favorite BBQ ribs. Eat up."

Chloe smiled sweetly. "Thanks, Mom."

Eleanor nodded adoringly before finally sparing a judgmental glance at Virginia.

Seeing her casual outfit, Eleanor frowned. "Why did you show up dressed like that? You couldn't bother to look presentable?"

Virginia was wearing a tasteful blue knit sweater and fitted jeans. She looked effortlessly elegant.