His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 173

"Did you take your medicine?"

"...Not yet."

Archer turned to grab the pills, pouring a glass of warm water and handing it to her.

Virginia didn't make a fuss. She murmured a thank you, swallowed the pills, and took a sip of the water.

"...Archer."

"Yeah?" he responded, smoothly taking the glass back from her.

"About last night... thank you."

She looked up, meeting his gaze.

If it hadn't been for him last night, she probably would have had a full-blown panic attack.

Archer's expression remained perfectly neutral, but there was something in those eyes that she couldn't quite decipher.

...

Virginia was discharged from the hospital today. When she came out of the room after changing, she saw Archer standing at the end of the hallway, taking a phone call.

He was wearing a navy blue dress shirt with the collar slightly unbuttoned, revealing the pale, sharp line of his collarbone. He looked much more relaxed, but that innate, aristocratic elegance was impossible to hide.

Whatever the person on the other end said, he responded with a brief hum of acknowledgment. He hung up when he saw her and started walking over.

"Mr. Lambert is treating us to a meal. We're going together."

It wasn't framed as a question.

Virginia was about to say she didn't know any Mr. Lambert, but her phone buzzed first.

It was a voice message from Carlton Lambert:

[Dr. Caldwell, I heard from Mr. Vanderbilt that you're being discharged today? I happen to be in the area, and I had my assistant book a table at The Bostonian Bistro. I'd love to treat you both to a casual meal. Please, don't decline.]

Mr. Lambert was... Carlton Lambert?

Virginia knew she couldn't exactly say no.

...

Inside the private dining room at The Bostonian Bistro, Carlton had already ordered the food.

Halfway through the meal, she excused herself to go to the restroom.

On her way back, her right foot caught the leg of a chair at a neighboring table. A sharp pain shot through her ankle, and she pitched forward.

Just as she was about to face-plant into the floor, a chair scraped violently against the wood behind her.

In the next second, her pale face crashed into a very familiar chest.

With a hard scowl, Archer wrapped his arm firmly around her waist to steady her.

Virginia was just about to push him away, stand up straight, and thank him, but he was already bending down, scooping her up into his arms in one fluid motion.

"Archer..." Her face flushed as she lowered her voice and patted his shoulder. "Put me down. I can walk by myself."

He ignored her, simply giving a slight nod toward Carlton before turning on his heel and striding out of the restaurant.

His strides were so long and fast that Virginia genuinely feared she might fall. Having no other choice, she was forced to wrap her arms around his neck to stabilize herself.

That clean, crisp scent of oud and bergamot washed over her once again.

Because of their proximity, she had a clear view of his tightly clenched jawline and the steady bob of his Adam's apple...