His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 490

"According to our local contacts, since her return, she has been extremely private and rarely attends social events. Dominic Harrington guards her fiercely. He even relocated her parents, the Wentworths, from overseas just to keep her company."

On paper, the investigation yielded nothing outwardly suspicious, but the timing of her reappearance...

It almost perfectly aligned with the timeframe of Virginia's abduction by Liam.

Could it really be a coincidence?

Just then, his private phone vibrated on the coffee table.

The screen lit up with the caller ID: 'Baby girl'.

Archer immediately reined in his hostility, answered the call, and put it on speaker.

"Daddy," Cindy's sweet, crisp voice chimed through the speaker.

It sounded like the little girl had just finished her bath; in the background, Helena could be heard gently speaking to Mrs. Higgins.

"Cindy." Archer's throat bobbed, his usually rigid tone softening entirely.

"Did you find Mommy and Toby?" Her voice hadn't changed much over the past year and a half, though it was now laced with heavy anticipation.

Archer's jaw tensed. He squeezed his eyes shut. "Not yet, but I'm getting close."

He decided to keep the details of this mysterious Mrs. Harrington from his daughter for now. The higher her hopes, the more devastating the disappointment would be if he was wrong...

"..." The little girl went quiet for a moment before replying, "I know Daddy will find Mommy. You can do it, Daddy."

She missed her Mommy so much she wanted to cry.

But Grandma Helena had told her that her dad was just as heartbroken, and she couldn't make him feel worse...

"I will."

"I'm sleepy. I'm going to sleep with Grandma now. You should go to bed early too, Daddy."

"...I will. Goodnight."

Since he suspected her identity, he needed to prove it. And the most direct way to eliminate all doubt was to test her!

...

At the Harrington Estate, located in the Chicago suburbs.

A black Maybach pulled up to the main house.

"Gemma Harrington" pushed the door open, pulling her black velvet shawl tighter around her shoulders against the chill. Behind her stood Dominic, his eyes soft.

He placed a protective hand on the small of her back. As they stepped onto the porch, the heavy front doors swung open from the inside.

"You're back. Is it freezing out there?"

A middle-aged couple stepped out to greet them.

Mrs. Wentworth wore an elegant, thick winter dress, while Mr. Wentworth was in a cashmere sweater. Both had warm, loving expressions as Mrs. Wentworth immediately took Gemma's hand, while Mr. Wentworth walked closely beside them.