His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 99

Valentin's delivery was casual, but it struck Chloe with the precision of a sniper's bullet.

Her sickly-sweet smile shattered instantly.

Valentin effortlessly scooped Cindy back into his arms, brushing cookie crumbs from the little girl's palms. His tone dropped into a glacial freeze.

"I've been perfectly transparent about my pursuit of Virginia. When I care for a woman, I certainly don't need outsiders policing my relationship."

He tipped his chin up, his eyes narrowing slightly. The smile never left his face, but it was devoid of any warmth.

"But given your obsessive interest in everyone else's love life, I can only assume yours is incredibly unfulfilling."

Chloe gripped her dress so hard her knuckles turned white. She snapped her head toward Archer, desperate for him to defend her, but he remained utterly silent.

He kept his eyes locked downward, methodically fixing Toby's collar.

Resting her chin on Valentin's shoulder, Cindy puffed her cheeks out and declared loudly in her sweet, babyish voice, "Uncle Valentin is the best!"

Valentin's chest rumbled with genuine laughter, and he lovingly ruffled the little girl's hair.

Virginia looked down, her eyelashes fluttering softly.

She wasn't outright smiling, but she looked remarkably pleased.

Archer caught that micro-expression perfectly.

Combined with the sickeningly domestic bond between Valentin and Cindy, it caused a vicious spike of tension in his chest. His jaw clenched, a muscle feathering dangerously at his temple as a suffocating, possessive darkness gnawed at his gut.

He abruptly bent down and yanked Toby into his arms.

The boy had been thoroughly engrossed in tugging on Cindy's heart-shaped braids, and the sudden lift sent his arms and legs flailing in protest.

"Daddy, put me down! I wasn't done talking to Cindy!"

"We're wasting time."

Archer stated, his voice stripped of all inflection. With his son braced firmly on his hip, the wooden beads swaying from his wrist, he brushed past them and stalked toward the entrance gates without sparing Virginia a single backward glance.

Chloe stood dumbfounded for a second before stomping her foot in frustration and chasing after him.

"Then I'm not scared either!"

But the moment the coaster crested the top and took its first stomach-dropping plunge, the little girl shrieked at the top of her lungs and buried her face into Virginia's chest, refusing to look up again.

Watching them, Valentin let out a rich, unrestrained laugh.

...

Meanwhile, over at the pirate ship ride.

Archer was holding Toby in the queue line, with Chloe plastered to his side.

They were surrounded by energetic young parents and squealing children, the air thick with laughter.

Yet Archer stood rigid and intensely stoic, his handsome face carved from stone. Physically he was present, but his mind was clearly miles away.

"Archer." Chloe frowned, her fists bunching up the fabric of her skirt in a toxic mix of jealousy and insecurity. "Were you thinking about Virginia just now? You still have feelings for her, don't you? Were you truly that happy when you two were married?"