Love at First Night: The Billionaire's First Love-Chapter 30: Panic Attacks

>Mallory

"Break up with him," Alisha said, her voice dropping to a serious tone.

We were standing on the stairs at the hospital. She had requested this conversation, insisted on it, really.

I knew it was inevitable that I’d face her again as soon as I stepped foot on this country. I just didn’t know it would be this early.

I left Asher at Dr. Blakes care, I can’t stay here for long.

I steeled myself, my hands trembling but my face remained composed, I had prepared for this. I wasn’t naive. This was the war I kept on ignoring, and I was ready to fight.

"What?" I scoffed, arching an eyebrow.

"Is that the only reason you came here? To tell me to break up with my husband?" I needed to feign nonchalance, even though my hands were trembling and my throat felt like it was closing up.

The memory of my old life with them made me feel like throwing up.

Alisha didn’t flinch. Her face was calm, but in her eyes, I saw something like a fire. "I’m not going to repeat myself. Break up with him," she stated, her voice final. It was an order.

Always an order.

I let out an exasperated huff, forcing a smile.

"You know, I can’t believe you still think you have the right to control my life, even after I left that home," I started.

"Seriously? You’re still pulling this crap?" I stared at her, my throat dry, waiting for her to respond.

"No," I blurted when I didn’t received a response, my voice tight.

"That was your sister’s fiancé! Are you mad?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief, her hand still folder over her chest.

"Am I mad? What? You think after all the abuse I suffered in that family I’m gonna stay sane? You’re expecting a lot from me?" My chest rose with each word, my voice rising

with it as I glared at her, trying so hard so my confidence doesn’t falter.

"You really have the audacity to ask me that? After everything?"

"You are aware you’re husband is a man who was about to marry your sister, right? Have some dignity!"

"If that’s all you came here for, I’m going. My son is waiting for me," my voice shaky, turning away from her and reaching for the door to the hospital.

I needed to get out of there before I completely lost it. I turned my back on her, hoping that will be the last time I would see her.

Before I could open the door, she grabbed my hand, her grip surprisingly strong. She yanked me around, forcing me to face her again. "I told you to break up with him!"

I flinched, startled by the sudden force. It was the first time she had ever raised her voice at me, let alone physically grabbed me. Most of the time, she had treated me with suffocating indifference, as if I were nothing.

I must’ve struck a nerve, seeing how she was willing to abandon her usual composure to show a reaction.

"And I told you no!" I shouted back, my own anger surging. Without thinking, I slapped her. The sound echoed in the stairwell.

"I’m not taking commands from my abuser," I added, my gaze sharp.

Her grip in my arm loosened, her brow knitting together in confusion. "Never once did I lay my hands on you," she said, her jaw tightening as she touched her cheek. A red mark was already forming.

"Then do you expect me to thank you?" I scoffed, my voice laced with sarcasm. "You had the power to stop them, to protect me, but you decided to turn a blind eye. You sat there and watched it all happen." I spat, not caring anymore.

I peeled her fingers off my arm, my eyes fixed on her. "To me, you’re twice as guilty as they are,"

"Mallory!" I paused. It was the first time she ever called me in my name but it doesn’t matter anymore. If that was the old me I would be happy but I’m safe now, I didn’t need her protection anymore.

I swallowed as I turned and reached for the door again, desperate to escape. I stopped, looking at her over my shoulder. "And I’m gonna say this in case you’ve forgotten: the blood I share with you is the same blood I despise the most. I never want any of you near my son again."

Then I left, closing the door behind me, my body following without me knowing. My chest was tight, and my legs felt like they were about to give out, but I kept walking, aimlessly wandering through the hospital corridors.

Each step became so heavy as the memories that I repressed kept on resurfacing. I can feel the burning sensation on my chest growing unbearable.

After what felt like an eternity, I heard the door to the stairs open behind me, followed by the sound of her footsteps fading away in the distance. I knew it was her. I didn’t want to turn back.

As soon as I knew she was gone, I exhaled deeply, as if all the pressure in my chest had finally combusted. The relief was fleeting, replaced by a wave of nausea. I stumbled back towards the door to the stairs and dry-heaved, my stomach churning.

I sat down on one of the steps, my vision blurring, struggling to breathe. Panic was beginning to set in, a cold wave washing over me. My hands were numb, and my mind was spinning.

I fumbled for my phone in my purse, my fingers clumsy and uncoordinated.

I texted Mara, a short, desperate message, if it was her she would understand:

’Help. Hospital stairs. Panic attack.’

Then, I buried my face in my knees, trying to block out the overwhelming sensations. My body was trembling uncontrollably.

I didn’t even know what was happening, but tears started streaming down my face. I didn’t know they still had this much power over me. I thought I had moved on, that I could face them easily. But they still had this effect on me.

’I’m so pathetic,’ I cursed myself, my voice muffled by my knees. Why do I kept letting them destroy my peace?

Then, the door creaked open again. I heard the sound of footsteps, heavier and more deliberate this time. I looked up, my vision still blurry, and saw a familiar built of a man. What was he doing here? I was sure I had texted Mara.

My body was craving comfort, something, anything, to ground me. I stood up, my feet stumbling, and instinctively fell into his chest. I wrapped my arms around him, clinging to him like a lifeline.

"Who did this to you?" That’s what I heard him say, his voice tight with concern, before I was swallowed by darkness.