His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 190

A few rounds of drinks later, Liam started up again.

"I went to a symphony a few days ago, and man, it wasn't even worth reviewing. The talent wasn't even in the same stratosphere as Mrs. Vanderbilt."

After dropping that line, he turned directly to Virginia, feigning casual curiosity. "What do you do for fun, Dr. Caldwell? Are all therapists just completely... boring?"

Virginia didn't take the bait, simply tracing the rim of her glass with her thumb.

Chloe's eyes darted around the table before she put on a sickeningly shy voice. "Liam, don't say things like that! Virginia is incredibly impressive. She has so many patients, and she has to take care of the mental health of so many elderly grandpas and grandmas... Oh! Did I say something wrong?"

The delivery was... insanely calculated.

A ripple of laughter swept through the table, with most of the elite guests clearly mocking Virginia's supposedly unglamorous profession.

Liam slapped on a look of exaggerated realization. "Right, of course! I mean, not everyone can actually balance a successful career and a flawless home life. Finding someone as talented and devoted to her family as Mrs. Vanderbilt is basically impossible. Archer, you are a seriously lucky man."

He practically threw the last sentence directly at Virginia, waiting for a reaction.

Unfortunately for him, he didn't get the devastated look he was fishing for.

Virginia's face remained completely impassive, though her thumb traced the glass a little harder. Clearly, her patience was wearing dangerously thin.

This was the third time tonight this man had launched a thinly veiled attack against her, and twice he had explicitly used Chloe to step on her. Every single time, he pushed right up to the line of outright insult without fully crossing it.

But everyone at this table was a shark. They all knew exactly what he was doing.

If he claimed he was just being thoughtless, she would never buy it!

"Liam."

Archer finally spoke.

It was just one word. His tone wasn't even loud, but the entire table instantly fell dead silent.

Liam's smile froze. "...Yeah? Why so serious all of a sudden?"

The table erupted in loud cheering, with several people casting envious looks at the couple.

A deep blush spread across Chloe's cheeks. She lowered her head in perfect, practiced shyness, her eyelashes fluttering wildly. When she peeked up at Archer, her eyes were swimming with raw, unfiltered desperation.

Archer didn't move a single muscle. He didn't even glance in Chloe's direction.

Instead, he slowly set his wine glass down on the table and lifted his eyes to lock directly onto Liam.

It was the kind of dead, soulless stare a man gave to an insect right before crushing it.

A violent shiver ripped down Liam's spine, and his throat completely seized up. But when he caught the flash of genuine devastation on Chloe's face out of the corner of his eye, his chest tightened defensively.

Looking heartbreakingly pathetic, Chloe forced herself to play the role of the perfectly understanding wife. She turned to the crowd with a forced, embarrassed smile. "Archer has always been incredibly private. He really doesn't like public displays of affection... Please, let's not force him."

She even waved her hands gently at Liam, pulling off the ultimate performance of a sweet, selfless victim.