His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 62

After walking through the door, Chloe scanned the room. Her eyes landed on Virginia, and with a soft smile, she guided Archer straight toward them.

"Virginia, you're here too."

Virginia's expression remained perfectly neutral as she gave a brief nod, her hand curled around her glass.

Archer's gaze swept past Virginia before he offered Clementine a faint nod in greeting.

The Sherwoods were old money in the city, and the Vanderbilt Group frequently did business with them. Archer's presence tonight was simply a courtesy extended to Thomas Sherwood.

As a waiter passed by, Clementine grabbed two glasses—one red wine, one champagne.

She handed the champagne to Virginia.

"Here, it's non-alcoholic. Drink up."

Warmth bloomed in Virginia's chest. She took the glass and tipped it back for a sip.

A subtle hint of white peach dissolved on her tongue. It was undeniably sweet.

Sweeter than anything she had experienced in her entire twenty-two years of life.

Watching Virginia being pampered, Chloe's eyes darted away. She lowered her head and murmured pitifully, "Clem is so good to you. Unlike me... I don't really have any genuine friends."

Her voice was soft, but just loud enough for the people standing nearby to overhear.

She then looked up with a forced smile. "I've always envied Virginia for having so many close friends. I grew up under such strict expectations, treated like a study machine. Hardly anyone ever wanted to hang out with me."

At those words, several guests who didn't know the full story glanced at Clementine and Virginia, their expressions silently accusing Clementine of playing favorites.

Virginia stayed silent, her brow furrowing. She stopped drinking, the champagne suddenly losing its appeal.

She pivoted, giving Archer a slow, calculating once-over before raising an eyebrow.

"Mr. Vanderbilt, I've heard all about your ruthless reputation in the corporate world. But tonight is my birthday party—a private gathering with friends. This isn't a Vanderbilt Group board meeting!"

Archer rested a finger against the rim of his glass. His gaze turned somber, but he didn't argue.

Clementine scoffed coldly and doubled down. "Furthermore, let me ask you something."

"The invitation I had delivered to your office only had your name on it. Taking it upon yourself to bring a plus-one without asking is what we call gatecrashing."

"Gatecrashing, and then having the audacity to pull a passive-aggressive victim act to insult my best friend. What, did she think no one would see through her pathetic little manipulation?"

"Am I supposed to host a birthday party just so my best friend and I can be treated like garbage by the two of you?"

Her words were so incredibly blunt and venomous that the sheer destructive power was absolute.