His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 5

Virginia froze slightly, then let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "Are you moonlighting as a psychic now?"

As soon as she spoke, she felt a gentle tap on the top of her head.

Kian gave her a sideways glance and pushed up his glasses. "Didn't you notice your energy is off? I'm your therapist. You can't hide anything from me."

After a moment of silence, Virginia nodded. "Yeah."

Kian Shaw was Doctor White's top protégé. Under the alias 'Kian,' he had achieved global fame at a young age. At barely thirty, he had already secured countless prestigious awards alongside Doctor White, treating billionaires and foreign royalty. However, ever since Virginia returned from her studies at Mercer Psychiatric Hospital, he used the excuse of wanting grassroots experience to hide his true identity. He followed her back, taking a job at her clinic while also serving as her personal therapist.

He knew her past. He had validated her, guided her, and healed her. It was safe to say that without Kian Shaw, the Virginia of today wouldn't exist.

Kian gazed at her for a long time before lightly patting her shoulder. "Remember to protect yourself. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask me."

Then, he raised an eyebrow, his tone lightening up a bit. "Everyone in our cohort adores you. If you get bullied on my watch, the rest of them will probably fly in from overseas just to hunt me down."

That successfully made Virginia laugh, a warm feeling welling up in her chest.

"I know what I'm doing. You should get some rest too. I'm going to head home."

Kian smiled back, quietly watching her walk away.

...

Virginia drove back to her apartment.

She finalized the treatment plans for her returning patients the next day, then washed up and went to bed.

She didn't sleep well that night.

She had a series of bizarre, disjointed dreams filled with fragments of her life, culminating in the day she first met Archer at City Hall.

Chloe knelt before her, eyes red from crying, while the husband who had just been treating her so tenderly now shielded Chloe in his arms. His eyes were full of heartache for Chloe, but when he looked at Virginia, there was nothing but bone-deep hatred.

The Suttons and the Caldwells stood behind Chloe, a furious mob demanding that Virginia step aside. She was the actual victim, yet she had become the villain in everyone's eyes.

At that very moment, Archer pressured the hospital to stop Wesley's treatments.

When she got the news and rushed over like a madwoman, she arrived just in time to see her brother being wheeled out under a white sheet. She screamed and demanded answers, only to be met with a vicious slap from Chloe.

Chloe's eyes were bloodshot, her shrill voice piercing Virginia's eardrums. "Virginia, this is all your fault! You turned your brother into a vegetable, yet you selfishly force him to live in agony just to ease your own guilt! What gives you the right? You've brought endless suffering to two families, you tore Archer and me apart, and you dragged everyone into the abyss! Why do you get to live a normal life?!"

"Virginia, your very existence is a mistake! No one will ever love you, no one needs you, so why don't you just die?!"

Archer immediately threw a divorce agreement at her, his voice devoid of emotion. "Sign it."