His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 88

The screen displayed an equipment manifest—the NeuroScan Pro. It was the latest neural feedback assessment scanner, having just received clinical certification in Switzerland this year. Released in heavily limited quantities globally, absolutely zero clinics in their country had managed to acquire one yet.

"Apologize, and this machine will be delivered to your clinic next week."

Virginia stared at the screen, refusing to take the phone. Her hands clenched into fists, her voice laced with absolute ice. "And if I refuse?"

Archer pulled his phone back, his tone flat and unyielding.

"You know how this works better than I do. Once the public outrage hits the industry level, the board will launch a formal review of your medical license. Do I really need to remind you of what happened five years ago?"

Five years ago...

Virginia's hands clenched brutally tight.

It was the exact same playbook. Chloe had weaponized her fans to ruthlessly cyberbully her, leading to her being summoned by the hospital board, suspended, and ultimately fired.

The cruelest irony was that she only discovered the truth at the very end—the mastermind pulling the strings behind the hospital board was him.

For Chloe's sake, Archer hadn't hesitated to exploit the Vanderbilt family's massive influence in the medical sector to strike Virginia's name from the psychiatric department's promotion list.

His excuse back then was exactly the same as it was today: "She's sick. Why are you even fighting her on this?"

Virginia lowered her eyelashes and forced a smile, though the amusement never reached her eyes.

The sharp, sterile scent of bleach in the hospital room burned her nose, making her eyes sting terribly.

After a long silence, a voice as fragile as a whisper broke the quiet. "Fine. I'll apologize."

Archer flinched slightly, clearly not expecting her to surrender so easily.

"Mr. Vanderbilt, I'm perfectly fine now. Thank you for saving me today."

Without sparing him another glance, Virginia pulled her scarf tight, grabbed her tote bag, and spoke with a terrifyingly distant coldness.

Archer's gaze lingered on her retreating back for several seconds. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Pressing his lips into a tight line, he turned and strode out the door.

He had also changed his clothes.

He was now wearing a tailored black suit, complete with understated platinum cufflinks.

He sat elegantly on the sofa, holding a teacup with one hand while scrolling through the iPad resting on his knee. He looked relaxed, yet emitted a terrifying, unapproachable chill.

Chloe was propped up in bed, daintily chewing on small apple slices handed to her by a nurse. Her eyes, however, were entirely glued to Archer.

Hearing the door open, both Chloe and Archer looked up simultaneously. The moment Chloe saw Virginia, her eyes turned bright red, while Archer's gaze darkened slightly as he casually locked his iPad.

Ignoring him entirely, Virginia walked straight to the foot of the bed. She took a deep breath, fortified her emotional walls, and stood rigidly to deliver her apology.

"Chloe, I accidentally bumped into you the other day. I didn't expect you to lose your footing and fall. This was my fault, and I am sorry."

Her pacing was perfectly even, her enunciation flawless.

It completely lacked sincerity, but it was practically textbook—so technically perfect that absolutely no one could fault it.