Love at First Night: The Billionaire's First Love-Chapter 32: A strange gentleness

>Mallory

My body felt heavy and numb, yet acutely aware of the light hum of the engine vibrating against my skin. A faint sob broke through the fog in my mind, pulling me closer to consciousness. Slowly, I opened my eyes, and there he was. My son. His face was stained with tears, his little eyes wide with worry as he carefully held my hand with his small fingers. A soft blanket was draped over me, and his head was resting gently against my cheek.

A surge of love and protectiveness washed over me, overriding the lingering anxiety.

I shifted slightly, then gently lifted my hand to cup his face.

"Are you okay, baby?" I whispered, my voice still hoarse and raspy from the crying and the panic. My body felt heavy, like it was made of lead.

His little face lit up, relief flooding his features.

"You’re awake," a deep, familiar voice rang out from the driver’s seat, pulling me fully into the present.

"Hmmm?." Oh, It was Venzrich. He was smoothly steering the wheel with his right hand, his gaze focused on the road ahead.

Memories of the stairwell, the panic, and then... Venzrich. Me shamelessly hugging him, seeking comfort in his arms. The realization hit me like a wave.

Ahhhhh... Why would I do that? I internally screamed. I barely knew this man, we’re just doing business!

"Y-yeah. T-thank you earlier," I stammered, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Why had he even come anyway? I was sure I had texted Mara for help.

I winced at the dull throbbing in my head. My limbs felt heavy and uncoordinated, and my stomach churned with a mix of embarrassment and lingering anxiety. I searched for my bag, rummaging through it until I found my phone. I checked my messages, and there it was.

I had mistaken him as Mara and texted him my location for help. He must’ve thought me as nuisance!

A wave of mortification washed over me. I had taken his number, jotted it down in my contacts "For Emergency" just in case, but I never imagined I’d make a mistake like this. And we weren’t even a real husband and wife.

"I’m sorry you had to come all the way here. I was meant to text Mara. I messed up." I apologized, my voice laced with regret as I clasped my hand together in front of me. I heard a deep exhale, a sound that felt like he was trying to suppress a curse, before he turned his eyes toward me, his gaze intense.

"Doesn’t matter. I was near," he replied, his voice almost cold.

That was it! He looked mad. He definitely was annoyed with me because I bothered him.

I wanted to disappear. To sink into the plush leather of the car seat and cease to exist. The heavy silence hung between us, broken only by the soft hum of the engine and my son’s occasional sniffles.

"How are you feeling?" Venzrich finally asked, his voice a touch less icy than before, though still guarded.

"Better," I lied, my voice barely audible. My head was pounding, my body ached, and the memory of my panic attack was still fresh and raw. But I couldn’t let him see how shaken I was. Especially after my... lapse in composure earlier.

"You don’t need to go to the hospital," he stated, his gaze flicking from the road to me in the rearview mirror. "I’ve already called someone. A doctor will be at our house for the kids therapy."

My brows furrowed. "You called a doctor? That’s not necessary, I can make the drive." it wasn’t a lie, and the thought of imposing on him further, of dragging a doctor out to his home because of my own weakness, felt unbearable.

"It is necessary," he countered, his voice firm, brooking no argument. "The first time you came here, you passed out of a fever and now is the same."

I bit back a retort, knowing it would be pointless. He was used to getting his way, and clearly, he wasn’t about to back down. plus he was making a lot of sense. I just nodded silently, focusing on my son, who was still clinging tightly to my hand.

After what felt like an eternity, the car finally pulled up to the gates of our house, the automated system recognizing the vehicle and smoothly sliding open. We drove up the long, winding driveway, the manicured lawns and meticulously arranged flowerbeds blurring past in a haze. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

As the car came to a stop in front of the grand entrance, I felt a wave of apprehension wash over me. This wasn’t my life. This kind of lifestyle, this powerful man, it all felt like a dream, a carefully constructed facade that could shatter at any moment.

Venzrich turned off the engine, the sudden silence amplifying the tension in the air. He got out of the car, and I quickly did the same, trying to ignore the lingering weakness in my legs. My son, seeing me moving, scrambled out as well, his little legs pumping to keep up.

"Come on," Venzrich said, his tone surprisingly gentle as he reached out and scooped my son into his arms. The sight of the imposing man cradling my child with such care was both jarring and strangely touching.

As we walked towards the entrance, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. His face was still set in a serious expression, his jaw tight, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes – a hint of concern, perhaps?

"Thank you," I said quietly, breaking the silence. "For everything. For... for earlier, and for calling the doctor."

He just nodded, his gaze fixed on the doorway. "Just focus on getting better," he replied, his voice clipped.

We stepped inside, and the cool air of the house washed over me, a welcome contrast to the heat of the day.

As we stood there, the sound of the doorbell echoed through the house. I instinctively moved to answer it, eager to be useful, and to alleviate some of the guilt I felt for imposing on him.

"I’ll get it," I offered.

Venzrich stopped me, his hand gently resting on my arm. "No. You go upstairs and rest. I’ll handle it."

His touch sent a shiver through me, a strange mix of warmth and unease. I looked into his eyes, searching for any hint of what he was thinking, but his expression was unreadable.

"But-"

"Just rest," he repeated, his voice firm but not unkind. "I’ll take care of everything." He glanced down at my son, who was still nestled in his arms, and a faint smile played on his lips. "Both of you."

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly, acknowledging his authority. I didn’t have the energy to argue, and deep down, I knew he was right. I needed to rest.

"Okay," I said softly. "Thank you."

I turned and started towards the grand staircase, my legs still feeling shaky. As I turned the knob I heard different footsteps marching inside.

"So, this is your new house, huh?" a voice of a man rang out.

"Wait...Why does that voice sounds familiar?"