His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 149

"You know Chloe's situation. She can't handle this on her own."

As he spoke, he shot Virginia a brief glance before quickly pulling his gaze away and striding toward the door.

With his long legs, even though he wasn't running, his towering figure vanished through the doorway in seconds.

Helena slammed her chopsticks down on the table in pure frustration, her face turning an ugly shade.

Whenever Toby had so much as a sniffle, Chloe would immediately call, and her stubbornly dutiful son fell for the routine every single time.

Taking a deep breath, she looked over at Virginia, her tone softening instantly.

"Archer raised Toby himself since he was a baby, so they share a tight bond. He just can't rest easy unless he goes back to see him with his own eyes. Please... please don't take it to heart."

Virginia was taken aback. She chewed the last bite of her dumpling, swallowed, and offered a faint smile.

"I understand, Helena. He's Toby's father; it's only right."

Honestly, she didn't really understand why Helena felt the need to explain all this to her.

None of it had anything to do with her anymore.

Watching Virginia's completely unbothered reaction, Helena sighed inwardly. She wanted to say more, but ultimately decided to let it go.

"Let's just eat. The dumplings will get cold."

...

Virginia received the notification from the organizing committee just as she concluded her final morning consultation.

Massaging her temples, she watched her laptop screen light up with an email from the Psychological Association's secretariat.

The core message was thrilling: After a comprehensive evaluation by the review panel for Capital University's annual guest psychology lecture, she had secured the sole speaking slot with the highest overall score.

Capital University boasted one of the top three psychology programs in the country. They only invited one industry professional to deliver a special lecture each year, making the opportunity insanely prestigious.

Virginia walked over. The second she sat down, Madeline naturally reached out and took her hand. "You've lost weight. Have you been exhausting yourself lately? Not eating properly?"

"...Mom, just tell me what you need."

Madeline's expression stiffened for a fraction of a second before she forced an awkward smile.

"I really can't hide anything from you, can I?" She released Virginia's hand and shifted further back into the sofa. "I'm here today about the guest lecture spot at Capital University."

As she spoke, she covertly monitored Virginia's reaction. Seeing her daughter's face remain entirely impassive, she felt emboldened to continue. "Because of Chloe's condition over the years, she's been extensively researching music therapy for psychological ailments."

"Now, she finally has an opportunity perfectly tailored to her field... I know you've worked hard too, but she's broken down in tears to me several times. I just can't bear to watch her suffer..."

Virginia lowered her eyes, offering no response.

"Virginia, I know you earned this spot on your own merit. But you know Chloe's mental state. She desperately needs an opportunity like this to prove herself and rebuild her confidence. Be the bigger person and let her have it, couldn't you?"