His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 45

Virginia ignored the jab and picked up a piece of fish.

The entire table was filled with Chloe's favorite dishes, but the sea bass looked appetizing enough.

Seeing Virginia's icy indifference made Eleanor's blood boil, and she shot her a venomous glare.

Richard raised his glass to toast Archer.

"Archer, knowing Chloe is with you puts our minds at ease. She's always been exceptional, making a name for herself internationally at such a young age. Unlike some people, who study so much they become completely socially inept and can't even greet their own parents properly!"

He didn't name names, but everyone knew exactly who he meant.

Virginia paused mid-bite, then calmly continued eating.

Their strategy was glaringly obvious: humiliate her to elevate Chloe. If she refused to engage, their little performance would fizzle out soon enough.

Eleanor scoffed. "Exactly. Chloe is so gentle and considerate. She's the complete opposite of Virginia, who's been stubborn since she was a kid. You say two words to her and she throws a tantrum. Completely unpresentable!"

Archer looked at Virginia, who was quietly eating her meal. His brow furrowed, and his usually cold demeanor turned downright freezing.

So this was how the Suttons treated her behind closed doors.

Chloe acutely sensed the shift in Archer's mood and quickly played the peacemaker. "Mom, Dad, please. Virginia works long hours and has a lot of pressure. She's doing well for herself. She even managed to get a job as Doctor White's assistant."

It sounded like a defense, but the underlying insult was clear: despite years of medical study, Virginia was nothing more than a lowly assistant.

Catching Chloe's cue, Eleanor quickly checked Archer's expression and offered an awkward laugh. "Right, right, let's just drop it and eat."

For the rest of the dinner, Virginia ate in complete silence, tuning out their mindless chatter. When she finished, she placed her silverware down and stood up.

"Mom, Dad, I'm done. I have other plans, so I'll be leaving now."

Chloe was left standing there, her forced smile crumbling into a grimace.

Sensing the tension, Eleanor leaned in and whispered, "Chloe, what was that about?"

Chloe's nails dug into her palms, her eyes filled with spite.

What was it about? He clearly couldn't stand watching that bitch get bullied!

Archer quickened his pace as soon as he exited the room, but he was a second too late. The elevator doors slid shut right in front of him...

.

That night, in Virginia's apartment.

After putting Cindy to bed, Virginia leaned against her headboard, scrolling through the latest journals on PTSD. Her phone lit up with a message from Echo.