His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 80

Before Virginia could even find her footing, Madeline spoke up.

"Virginia, what exactly is going on between you and Archer!?"

Virginia's hand gripping the thermos froze.

"Chloe cried the entire night. Don't you know her condition can't handle stress? It took so much for her and Archer to get to where they are now..."

"I have nothing to do with Archer."

"Nothing to do with him!?" Madeline kept her voice low, but every word dripped with venom. "Taking your kid out to dinner with someone else's husband, and you call that nothing!? Virginia, since when did you pick up this nasty habit of being the other woman?"

The breakroom door wasn't shut tightly.

Two nurses passing by heard this and immediately stopped in their tracks to eavesdrop.

Virginia stood frozen in place, but the fingers gripping her thermos suddenly tightened, turning pale.

She forced her voice to stay flat, devoid of emotion. "Mom, are you done?"

"No, I'm not!" Madeline took a step forward, her tone thick with disappointment. "Virginia, you work in mental health. I always thought you were smart."

"Yes, you and Archer have a past, but he is Chloe's husband now. You know better than anyone about Chloe's condition. Whatever happened between you two, it's strictly in the past. If word gets out that you're so close to him now..."

"If word gets out about what?" Virginia looked up, her gaze painfully clear and cold. "That Virginia Caldwell is harassing someone else's husband?"

Madeline choked on her words.

"Mom, have you ever once thought to ask what actually happened?" Virginia's voice remained steady, but her white-knuckle grip on the cup and her increasingly ragged breathing betrayed her.

"I don't care what happened." Madeline grabbed her purse, anger flashing across her face. "Just stay away from him!"

The aroma of chicken soup instantly filled the room.

"I thought the weather was nice today, so I made some chicken soup and brought it over. I didn't expect... Mrs. Caldwell to be here too."

Virginia opened her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. "Helena..."

"Drink your soup first." Helena pressed her hands on Virginia's shoulders, forcing her to sit down. She then turned around, looking at Madeline, who still hadn't left the doorway. Her smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Mrs. Caldwell, please don't mind me speaking out of turn."

"Anyone who has spent time with Virginia knows exactly what kind of character she has. But some people... even though they gave birth to a child, are completely blind. They can't tell right from wrong and put all their energy into treating an outsider well."

Madeline's face instantly went white.

Helena turned back, handing Virginia the bowl from the lunchbox. Without looking over her shoulder, she added one last remark. "It's always the child you gave birth to that truly cares for you. Don't you agree, Mrs. Caldwell?"