His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 482

Without love, there was naturally no hate.

The version of Virginia who had once craved affection, who had tiptoed around the Caldwells trying to please everyone, had died long ago amidst countless disappointments.

Now, all she felt toward Madeline and the Caldwell family was the emotional detachment of a bystander.

Madeline didn't catch the underlying meaning of her words.

Looking at her daughter's calm face, she assumed that saying it was in the past meant her attitude was softening.

She reasoned that after everything they had been through, expecting her daughter to accept her immediately might be difficult. She needed to give her more time.

At this thought, Madeline smiled through her tears. She stood up, clutching the jewelry box. "Alright, alright, it's all in the past... I'll leave for now. I'll come visit you two another day."

Without waiting for Virginia to see her out, she turned and quickly walked away.

Pushing open the heavy front doors of the villa, a wave of heat immediately washed over her.

In the shade of the courtyard, Cindy was crouched on the ground, poking at ants with a small twig while the housekeeper watched her affectionately.

The little girl was dressed in a pink cotton princess dress, her hair in twin buns. She looked incredibly adorable.

Madeline paused, her heart melting. She softened her footsteps and walked over.

"Cindy." She pulled a beautifully wrapped imported chocolate from her handbag. "I brought you your favorite chocolate."

The little girl stopped what she was doing and tilted her head up.

She looked at the chocolate in Madeline's hand, then up at Madeline's face. Her small mouth formed a pout as she stood up.

"I don't want your chocolate," the little girl said, her crisp voice sounding fiercely defiant. "Grandma Helena and Archer told me that you were mean to Mommy and helped the bad woman bully her."

The smile froze on Madeline's face. Her hand hovered in midair, caught in an awkward limbo.

Having known Archer for decades, he understood the man's ruthlessness better than anyone. If no one intervened, Chloe would likely be locked away for the rest of her life...

At the thought, Liam's hand paused, the ash from his cigarette tumbling to the floor.

He snapped his head up, a murderous rage surging in his dark eyes.

"Archer Vanderbilt!"

Liam ground the name out through clenched teeth.

Ever since his first crush at sixteen, Chloe had been the only light in his life.

Now that Archer and Virginia had completely snuffed out that light, he was never going to let them get away with it!

He crushed the cigarette out on the metal desk beside him, grabbed an untraceable satellite phone, and dialed a number.