Love at First Night: The Billionaire's First Love-Chapter 21: Excuse me, Sir? Why are you like this?

>Mallory

"Really?" he replied, his expression shifting the slightest bit.

I smiled as I adjusted Asher on my lap, playing with her cheeks, his mouth pouted. I almost squealed.

Oh my! My son is so cute!

Then I turned and smiled apologetically at the man in front of me.

"Yeah... I’m really sorry about what happened at the airport," I started. I did leave without resolving the conflict— that was on me. No matter how much I think about it, it was rude to do that, even to a stranger. He looked like he was gonna create trouble, so I escaped.

"What? Airport?" His brows furrowed, his expression genuinely confused. I nodded.

"You see— you suddenly got mobbed by your fans, so I didn’t have the chance to apologize. I guess he kept calling you ’Daddy’ because you look like Mara. He calls Mara ’Aunty Daddy.’" I explained, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly.

He let out a sigh so deep and long that it made me blink. He pinched the bridge of his nose, then turned his gaze toward the window, thumb brushing his lips in slow, deliberate strokes while his other hand tapped in a steady rhythm against his knee.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked softly, thrown off by his reaction.

He didn’t respond.

He didn’t even spare me a glance. The silence between us grew thick, heavy enough that I shifted slightly in my seat. I looked at him again, confusion growing, then let my gaze slide to the driver for answers.

He’d been sneaking glances at us since we got in—through the rearview mirror, from the corner of his eye. Every glance carried a strange mix of confusion, shock, and something like worry. He was gripping the wheel too tightly, knuckles pale under the dim interior lights.

"Uhmmm... Young Maste—" he started carefully.

A sharp glare sliced through the air. The driver flinched so visibly it rippled through his shoulders. One look from the man beside me, and the driver’s mouth snapped shut.

"Keep driving," he said, voice cold and firm—controlled but with an underlying edge that made the driver straighten his spine.

The man up front didn’t make another sound and slowly closed his eyes.

I looked between them, feeling the tension but not understanding it.

"What’s wrong with them?" I whispered to myself.

Asher rubbed at his eyes, his movements small and sluggish. My attention immediately returned to him. "Are you sleepy?" I asked.

He gently nodded, his eyes softening into that fragile, sultry look he had when he was on the edge of sleep.

"Okay, you can sleep with Mommy," I murmured. I smoothed his hair with my palm, cupping his warm cheeks as they flushed a sleepy pink. Carefully, I resettled him against me, making sure his head wouldn’t knock into anything if the car hit a bump.

"I– I didn’t prepare a child-friendly seat since I didn’t know this would happen..." he said suddenly.

I turned to look at him. His voice wasn’t loud, but there was a stiffness to it—like he felt he owed some explanation and wasn’t used to giving one.

"Oh, no worries," I replied softly. "There’s no way someone could’ve prepared for something like that."

I raised my arm. "Uhmm...Can I get a blanket instead... if there is one? My son might feel chilly." I spoke hesitantly, my entire body walking on eggshells inside the small cabin of the car.

"Noel," he said, shooting the driver a glance.

The driver took a small paper bag beside him, then handed it over to me.

"Ms. Bryce told me to buy it in advance, saying you might need it," he added.

I smiled, warmth flickering through me. Of course, Mara would think ahead like that.

"Thank you," I said before opening the bag and taking out the light brown soft blanket with a teddy bear embroidered at the edge.

I quickly fixed it over Asher, who shifted slightly in the newfound comfort.

Then silence settled again. The car hummed beneath us, gliding smoothly along the road. Outside, buildings turned into passing streaks, windows glowing warm against the night.

Anyway, what’s important right now is that I get paid. I have to find my son a new doctor as soon as possible. I cannot delay his therapy any longer.

My gaze drifted toward the window, following the lights—until something felt off. The street was already dark, streaks of light blurring as the car passed...

Wait—

"Oh, this is not the way to the Bryce Mansion," I pointed out, brows lifting as I looked at the driver.

The driver flinched almost imperceptibly and glanced at me through the mirror before shifting his gaze to the man beside me, clearly waiting for direction.

"Why would we be at the Bryce Mansion?" the man asked, sounding genuinely confused. His eyes remained closed, as if he couldn’t be bothered to look at me for something that obvious.

"Well, because that’s where I stay?" I said matter-of-factly. Like—where else?

"That’s impossible. Tonight’s the wedding night," he replied plainly.

I stared at him, my face contorting into something unreadable.

For a moment, the entire car fell quiet—like even the engine waited for my reaction.

"Excuse me?"

...Is he seriously saying all of this? My thoughts snapped sharply. I only got inside this man’s car because Mara trusted him. And now he wanted to spend the wedding night with me? Not a chance in hell.

"Uhmmm... I don’t think you understand," I said, forcing myself to stay calm, gathering up every ounce of patience because the man looked like someone you didn’t want to provoke. "Our marriage is not registered, so let’s just pretend it didn’t happen."

"No." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

My eyebrows shot up. "Are you serious?"

"Do I look like I’m in the mood for a joke right now?" he said, finally turning his head just enough to look at me. The air seemed to drop ten degrees. I opened my mouth, closed it, then opened it again.

"Well... ye—No?" I muttered.

His jaw tightened. His eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unblinking, like he was trying to peel back my thoughts.

"Did you seriously not remember me?"

I blinked slowly, confusion stacking on top of confusion. "I told you I did!" I argued back.

"For fuck’s sake!" he cursed softly under his breath, frustration leaking through the controlled tone he’d maintained so far.

I instantly covered Asher’s ears. "I’m sorry, but there’s a child with me right now," I whispered.

His gaze flickered to Asher briefly—just a split-second—before returning to me. There was something in his eyes I couldn’t place. Something he wasn’t saying.

His jaw worked once, twice, like he was swallowing words.

"Then do you think I looked good?" he snapped.

My confusion deepened. Well duh? Is this like–his poor attempt at a joke, or he was just showing off?

I turned to him, patience running thin, keeping my voice even. "Well, Mr. Archeval, only blind people would have a different answer to that."

His eyes didn’t soften. They stayed firm, watching me like he was searching for something specific in my reaction.

"Then," he asked quietly, "how old is your kid?"

I froze.