His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 238

Cindy looked up, her chubby little hand gently touching his face.

"Mr. Archer, why are you crying? Do you miss Mommy too?"

Archer's jaw was clenched so tightly that the veins on his neck bulged.

He didn't speak; he just tightened his embrace, holding her closer.

Helena walked in and felt her heart clench at the scene.

She forced her emotions down, walked over, and took Cindy from him.

"Be a good girl, Cindy. Grandma will take you downstairs to buy some strawberry cake, and we'll let Mr. Vanderbilt stay here with Mommy, okay?"

The little girl nodded obediently and followed Helena out of the room, looking back over her shoulder with every step.

The door clicked shut.

Archer let out a shaky breath and sat down in the chair beside the bed.

He bent over, grasping Virginia's un-IV-hooked hand with both of his.

A second later, he bowed his head completely, burying his face in her palm.

"Virginia."

His voice was completely destroyed, laced with a brutally suppressed tremor.

"Six years ago, the first time I saw you at the Caldwell estate."

"You were standing by the stairs in a simple white dress."

"I've never told anyone this, but that day, I couldn't stop looking at you."

"You were like a pearl that fell from the sky. Just by standing there, you captivated my entire being..."

Archer looked up. His bloodshot eyes stared obsessively at her pale face.

He had always been aloof, restrained, the man who never let a single emotion slip.

But right now, all his walls had completely crumbled.

"Virginia, wake up." He pressed her hand against his cheek, rubbing it gently. "As long as you wake up, I'll give you anything you want."

He had zoned out again. All he could hear was the doctor's voice: 'I'm sorry, Mr. Vanderbilt, but Ms. Caldwell is showing no signs of waking up. Even patients in a coma retain some primitive reflexes...'

This was a disaster. It was the boss's fourth time spacing out during the meeting.

Zachary stood off to the side, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead, too terrified to breathe.

He had worked for Archer for years and had never once seen him lose focus at the negotiating table.

Suddenly, the phone on the desk started vibrating furiously.

Caller ID: Capital City General Hospital.

Archer's pupils contracted. He slammed his hand down on the answer button and stood up instantly.

"Mr. Vanderbilt, Ms. Caldwell is awake."

The nurse's voice froze him in his tracks. It took him a few seconds to process the words.

Ignoring the furious European executives, he spun around and bolted out the door.