Love at First Night: The Billionaire's First Love-Chapter 12: Familliar?

Chaos erupted the moment the maid’s shrill voice cracked through the drawing room.

"Madame! V-Venzrich Archeval has arrived!"

The room froze.

Mrs. Morrow halted mid-step, still holding a porcelain jar in her hand as if she intended to hurl it. The maids who were dragging me stumbled in their panic, their hands tightening around my arms. A droplet of my blood slid off my chin and splattered onto the cream carpet.

Everything shattered at once.

"Idiot! Hide her—NOW!" Mrs. Morrow spat.

Before I could draw my breath, the maids clamped down harder and yanked me forward. Their nails dug into my arms. My vision swirled sickeningly as they dragged my half-conscious body across the floor.

"W–wait—please—" I begged, the pain crashing into me as soon as my body moved.

They didn’t hear me. Or didn’t care.

A maid flung open the tall cabinet — the display closet, where Mr. Morrow kept her cherished suits and some empty certificates claiming the Morrow family had taste.

Papers clattered as she swept entire rows aside with her arm. A frame hit the floor and cracked.

Then they shoved me inside like a doll.

My shoulder hit the back wall with a thud that stole my breath. Pain shot through my ribs.

Something warm trickled down my side — blood, again. The door shut with a hard snap, sealing me in a cramped darkness broken only by thin slices of light through carved wood patterns.

I curled in on myself, arms wrapped protectively over my stomach as I tried to steady my breathing.

For the child.

Stay quiet.

For the child.

I whispered those words again and again as if trying to convince myself that it’s the only thing that can save me.

"Call Eleina! NOW! Her fiancé is here!"

Her... fiancé? Ah. The one she kept complaining about–the person that was better than mine apparently. I didn’t care to look up.

But I’m sure he was someone important if he can throw Mrs. Morrow is such panic and I’m sure she would do everything to get rid of my child if I do something wrong. I bit my lip at the bitter thought.

My stomach twisted, and the child fluttered, sensing my panic.

Footsteps scrambled away, the whole house erupting into frantic motion as maids rushed to fetch the the fiancée of Morrow’s most beloved daughter.

I forced myself to breathe through the rising pain. The metallic tang of blood still coated my tongue.

And then—

Footsteps returned. Calm and slow but heavy enough to shift the air in the drawing room. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

A man.

The drawing room settled like a creature holding its breath.

In front of him, Mrs. Morrow’s voice transformed instantly — sickly sweet, elegant, nothing like the woman who had just ordered her maids to hide the bloody disgrace that was me.

"Mr. Archeval, what an unexpected honor. Please—have a seat."

Even muffled through the carved wood, I felt something sharp in the silence that followed.

"Do you have a preference for tea?"

He turned at the frantic Mrs. Morrow then he spoke.

His voice was low, smooth and slightly husky.

But it was sharp enough to cut the air.

"Don’t mind..." he started, raising his hand in the air.

"I won’t take much of your time. I came regarding the engagement."

My fingers tightened against the wooden shelf beside me as I pressed my face at the door to get a clearer look at his face.

My heart skittered in my chest as I watched his back. His tall figure, his expensive suit, he looked vaguely familiar.

Have I met him before?

Mrs. Morrow answered with exaggerated delight. "Of course! We are thrilled—"

"I came to cancel it."

The room was enveloped in silence.

A long cold, heavy, suffocating silence.

"E-excuse me?" Mrs. Morrow answered, her face looked like she just misheard someone.

"I never agreed to this arrangement,"

Venzrich continued. "It was arranged by my grandfather. I’m here to end it formally."

Mr. Morrow jumped in, voice rising fast.

"We already suffered the humiliation of one broken engagement this year. It is not appropriate to have another—"

Footsteps padded rapidly and the door bursts open, everyone turned to look at the door.

Eleina.

She rushed in, breathless. "Mother, I came as soon as I—"

She paused.

Even from inside the closet, I felt the change.

I pressed my forehead to the narrow slit of light.

Through it, I saw Eleina freeze in her steps — eyes wide, lips parted in a silent gasp.

Her gaze was locked on the man in front of her.

She fell in love in five seconds.

Right there.

To handsome man standing near the sofa, posture straight as if carved from iron. His coat was a deep navy trimmed with silver thread. His hair was dark, brushing the collar of his coat in neat, disciplined strands.

His face—

Well, I couldn’t see it through the closet, and since his back was facing me.

I was so lost in thought that I instinctively stretched my aching feet and it kicked one of the frame making clicking noises.

I held my breath when they turned to look at me.

But what I did see made something twist deep in my chest.

A line of his jaw. The shape of his brow.

Eyes that flickered like a memory I never had. I didn’t know someone like him that’s for sure.

But I felt strange looking at him — like déjà vu trapped under my ribs.

Eleina wasn’t confused, she exchanged glanced with Mrs. Morrow and quickly undestood each other.

"O-oh... Mister Archeval..." she breathed, voice turning soft and melodic, her signature angelic tone running to grabbed her arm to grab his attention.

"There must be a misunderstanding... surely we can talk about this?" Mrs. Morrow added.

But Venzrich merely bowed, polite and cold. But the air around him carried an arrogance like he was better than anyone.

"There is nothing to discuss."

Mrs. Morrow’s control cracked. "You cannot cancel this! It will reflect terribly on our family—"

"My grandfather arranged this without consulting me," Venzrich replied, voice like polished steel. "I’ve been polite enough to come here and end it myself."

Eleina stepped forward, heart in her throat.

"M-Mister Venzrich, please—"

He didn’t even look at her. He simply turned toward the door.

"I wish your family well. Good day."

Then—

Footsteps.

The rustle of his coat.

The drawing room door swinging open.

And like desperate, frantic dogs afraid of losing their bone, the entire Morrow family scrambled after him.

Eleina’s heels clicked the fastest.

Mrs. Morrow’s sharp voice echoed down the hall.

"Wait! Mister Venzrich, please—!"

Mr. Morrow followed. "Allow us to escort—!"

Their voices trailed away.

Fading.

Fading.

Then gone.

I heaved a sigh of relief.

The pounding of my own heartbeat filled the dark closet. I pushed against the door with trembling fingers.

At first, it resisted — the maids had shoved it too hard. I grit my teeth and shoved again as hard as I can manage.

The door bursts open.

Cold air slapped my face harshly, making my wounds sting. I stumbled out, nearly collapsing as the floor tilted beneath me. My legs trembled, barely holding my weight.

Blood streaked the front of my dress.

My hands shook uncontrollably.

My stomach cramped with a sharp, rolling pain.

But I moved.

Because if they found me—

They would kill my child and marry me off to someone else. Maybe worse than Mr. Barrow.

No. I don’t want that.

My breath hitched with panic as I staggered down the hall, using the wall to keep myself upright. Each step left faint red smudges on the polished floor.

My eyes darted toward the front of the house.

The main doors were wide open — left that way from the family’s frantic race after the man.

My chance.

My only chance.

I forced my body to run — or something close to it. My feet slipped slightly from the blood, but I kept going, my lungs burning.

The moment I burst outside, wind slapped against my skin. The scent of damp earth hit my nose.

My body trembled violently — from pain, from fear, from the sudden freedom.

Freedom...

But not safety.

Behind me, the Morrow house towered like a dark giant watching its prey escape.

I clutched my stomach, voice cracking as I whispered to the fragile life inside me.

"I’ll protect you. I swear I will."

Then I limped down the streets, breath ragged, heart pounding like a war drum.

I fished out the phone in my bag, the only possession I managed to grab on my way. Then, I dialed a number.

"All lines are busy at the moment. Please try again later."