Love at First Night: The Billionaire's First Love-Chapter 74: Bring them to me

>Mallory

"You shouldn’t worry about that."

I jolted when a sudden kiss landed on my temple. It was quick and light, but it startled me enough to pull me back to reality.

I hadn’t realized what I was doing until I stopped. I’d been nibbling at my fingers since we got inside the car, my elbow pressed against the door, my shoulders stiff. My hand froze halfway to my mouth as I lowered it back onto my lap.

I bit my lower lip and slowly turned toward him. The movement sent a sharp jolt of pain through my spine, making me tense for a moment. I shifted slightly in my seat, trying to ease it without drawing attention.

"Do you think whoever called me last night was the one who drugged me?" I asked still dizzy from the after effects.

I shifted slightly in my seat, adjusting my posture when another dull ache ran down my back. My body still didn’t feel like it fully belonged to me. Every movement felt delayed, like I was reacting half a second too late. I pressed my palm against my thigh, grounding myself with the pressure as the car started moving again.

______

"So? Did you enjoy my gift?"

The voice echoed clearly in my head, the memory sharp.

"Who’s this?!" I had demanded, pushing myself upright on the bed too fast. The phone slipped slightly in my grip before I tightened my hold on it.

A low chuckle came from the other end.

"Don’t think that will be the last," the voice continued. "As long as you’re together, I’ll make sure whatever privilege you’re enjoying at his side will turn into a curse that will hunt you forever."

"Show yourself," I had snapped.

The call ended abruptly, the screen going dark in my hand.

I remembered staring at the phone screen afterward, waiting for it to light up again, my thumb hovering over the call button.

____

I looked down at my hands now, resting clenched on my knees.

There wasn’t anyone I knew who would harbor this much hatred toward me simply for marrying him—except Eleina.

But that voice hadn’t been hers. It was clearly a man.

"Don’t worry," he said finally. "Whoever that is, I’ll make sure to track him down."

He reached over and placed his hand on top of mine. His grip was firm, fingers closing around my knuckles to still their shaking.

"Young Master, should we head straight to your house?"

Noel’s voice came from the front seat. His eyes met ours through the rearview mirror, alert and focused.

There’s a moment of silence before Venz replied. "No. Let’s go the hospital." he ordered.

"We have to make sure the drug was properly flushed out of your system." he added.

Noel nodded before pressing the engine button of the car.

The car changed direction, the subtle shift in motion making my stomach roll slightly. I leaned my head back against the seat and closed my eyes for a brief moment.

I opened my eyes again, watching buildings pass by through the window, trying to stay alert, thoughts swirling in my mind.

I clenched my fist. Nails anxiously digging through my skin.

I would like to trust him about this but I know better than to trust anyone.

"Inform me." I muttered.

He turned his head towards me. "Hmm?"

"Whatever come out of this investigation, I need you to inform me." I explained. He looked at me a little longer, as if trying to read what’s inside my mind.

"You don’t have to concern yours–"

"I have to." I cutted him off, my voice serious. "I’m the injured party here."

I have to make sure myself that they are taken care of. Because whatever harms my way may also harm my son. I can’t let that happen.

He sighed, brushing my cheeks with his finger. "I see. Then I’ll make sure to inform you." he reassured.

I smiled, a jittery feeling forming in my stomach. I know I shouldn’t trust anybody when it comes to my personal problems.

But I feel like I can trust him with this one.

______

The hospital lights were bright when we arrived.

Noel parked near the entrance, stepping out first to open the door. Venz moved quickly to my side, one hand hovering near my back as I stepped out of the car. My legs felt unsteady when I stood, forcing me to pause for a second before moving forward.

Inside, the air smelled clean and sharp.

A nurse approached with a wheelchair, but I shook my head and waved it off. I took slow steps instead, gripping the strap of my bag as we followed her down the hallway.

The examination room was cold.

"Lie down," the doctor instructed, pulling on gloves.

I did as told, the paper on the bed crinkling beneath me. My fingers rested stiffly at my sides as the doctor tied a band around my arm.

I winced when the he pierced the syringe through my skin. The doctor drew the syringe back carefully, watching the tube fill before removing it and sealing the sample.

"Send this to the laboratory," he said to the nurse beside him. "Label it as priority."

"Yes, doctor."

The nurse left with the sample.

I remained lying down, staring at the ceiling. My lower body felt heavy, numb from the waist down, and my head throbbed faintly.

"Before that, I’ll have to ask you a few questions if that’s not too much for you." the doctor said, holding a checkbook on his arm.

"If it’s too much you can rest first." Venz who was sitting next to the bed interjected before I could even reply.

"There’s no need for that. I can answer just fine." I replied, raising my hand to stop whatever word he might said.

"Alright, then what were the effects you felt after ingesting it?" he asked, pushing his glasses upward.

"Uhmm...hypersensitivity to touch, sexual urges, my mind was fuzzy and hazy...like when you drink an alcohol except you don’t feel like vomiting." I explained, recalling everything that might help identify it.

"I see, and was the effect instant?"

"No, it took 15 minutes before it took effect." I replied.

The doctor paused his writing briefly before continuing, his pen scratching lightly against the paper. I shifted my gaze toward the ceiling, blinking when another wave of dizziness threatened to creep in, a hand touched my back in an attempt to ground me.

"Don’t overdo it." his voice was serious, quickly helping me settle myself in the pillow.

I tried to shut my eyes before opening it again, the doctor close his checkbook with a thud. The chair scraping the floor as he stood up.

"Then, I will leave you to rest. I’ll return once the results was ready." he gave a low polite bow before walking through the door.

The room was quiet except for the faint beeping of a nearby monitor. The smell of antiseptic lingered in the air. I shifted slightly against the bed, the paper beneath me crinkling softly. My fingers curled and uncurled against the sheet as I waited.

"Rest." my husband whispered, his voice gentle.

"What about my son?" I asked.

"I’ve already informed Mara about the situation. She’ll come visit you here later." he informed, giving a gentle kiss to my wrist, cupping my hands on his cheeks.

I nodded.

Then his posture changed.

"Noel."

"Yes, Young Master."

"Interrogate everyone at that restaurant. Do not stop until you find who drugged my wife."

"Yes, Young Master." Noel bowed before marching through the door.

"You should rest."

He fixed the blanket towards me, making sure I was tucked carefully.

It was awkward, I didn’t know how to respond to the amount of affection he provided. It was the first time someone ever took care of me.

"Sleep." he ordered. I nodded then slowly closed my eyes until I felt the weight of exhaustion pulling me under.

_____

I woke to the sound of footsteps. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The door opened, and when I blinked my eyes open, Venz was standing by the table, peeling an apple with slow movements. The doctor entered with a file, two nurses following behind him.

"We already have the results." the doctor started, pulling the seat near the bed and sitting on it.

"There’s still a noticeable amount of the drug in your blood. I recommend you stay here for a few days so we can monitor and flush it out properly."

Venz set the apple down and helped me sit up, placing a pillow behind my back.

I bit my lower lip, my fingers pressed at the sheet.

I can’t afford to stay here, I have to take care of my son.

"Do I really need to be admitted?" I asked. "Isn’t rest enough?"

"Unfortunately, doing so will delay your recovery. You might feel dizziness, nausea and other symptoms as a side effect. Either way, you can’t function properly." he answered.

My chest tightened.

"It wasn’t a lethal dose," he continued. "The 15 minutes delay on the effects just means the drug was specifically diluted before it was fed to you." he continued. "If you have taken a normal amount. You won’t even be able to remember what happened next worse you won’t be able to control what you do."

We both turned our heads to my husband whose phone raised in his ear.

"Close that restaurant," he said coldly. "Bring every employee who worked last night to me."

"I’ll personally interrogate every last one of them."