His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 269

Bayview Manor, two hours later.

The living and dining rooms were decked out in colorful balloons and streamers.

Chloe wore a champagne silk gown with a plunging neckline, exposing a generous expanse of bare skin. With a full face of flawless makeup, she looked undeniably glamorous.

Wearing a birthday hat, Toby sat in his high chair, waving his arms in excitement.

"Daddy! Eat the cake!" The little boy excitedly offered a frosting-covered slice to Archer.

Archer took it, but didn't eat it.

Pulling out a wet wipe, he gently cleaned the frosting off the boy's mouth, his expression calm. "You shouldn't eat too much sugar at night. Time for bed soon."

With that, he glanced down at his watch, stood up, and grabbed his suit jacket from the back of the chair, ready to leave.

Suddenly, Toby started wailing. "Daddy... I don't feel good..."

Hiding her desperate gamble behind a facade of panic, Chloe looked at Archer pleadingly. "Archer, what's wrong with him?"

What was wrong with him?

Half an hour ago, just to keep Archer from leaving, Chloe had secretly fed Toby a fever-inducing pill.

The pill took twenty minutes to kick in, mimicking the exact symptoms of a severe fever—skyrocketing temperature, a burning forehead, and rapid breathing.

Archer frowned, immediately dropping his jacket and rushing back. The boy's face was beet red, and Archer instinctively placed the back of his hand against Toby's forehead.

He was burning up.

Delirious from the sudden heat, the little boy grabbed fistfuls of Archer's shirt, mumbling incoherently. "Daddy, don't go... Daddy, don't go..."

Seeing the boy slipping in and out of consciousness from the fever, the worry in Archer's eyes deepened.

He turned to a nearby maid. "Call Dr. Preston. Tell him to get here immediately."

As she spoke, she took a step closer, determined to force him to notice her perfect figure.

But Archer didn't even spare her a glance.

He gently pried his shirt hem from Toby's grasp, attempting to stand. The moment he moved, the boy reacted as if struck, throwing his head back and screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Daddy! I want Daddy!"

The heart-wrenching, terrified wails echoed off the walls of the empty bedroom.

Archer froze. He let out a heavy sigh and lay down on the bed fully clothed.

This time, he pulled the boy into his arms, his large hand gently rhythmically patting the boy's back. He didn't mention leaving again.

Standing in the shadows, Chloe watched how incredibly gentle Archer was with the boy. A flare of pure, unfiltered hatred ignited in her eyes.

He loved Virginia. He adored Cindy. Even Toby—a boy who wasn't even his biological son—received his warmth and patience. But with her... he had remained as cold and unfeeling as a block of ice from day one!