Love at First Night: The Billionaire's First Love-Chapter 75: That woman

>Venz

"Yes, Young Master."

The moment I heard the respectful tone at the end of the call, my jaw tightened. I ended the call without another word and slowly lowered my phone. My gaze finally moved to my wife.

She was sitting up on the hospital bed, her pale face twisted in confusion. Her lips were slightly parted, as if she wanted to ask something but didn’t know how. The white sheets made her look even weaker than she already was, and the sight made something ugly stir in my chest.

I slid my phone into my pocket, forcing my fingers to loosen. Anger burned hot inside me, crawling under my skin, but I kept my face calm. I couldn’t let her see it.

Not now. Not ever.

"Who was that?" she asked softly, her voice careful, curious but unsure.

I turned fully toward her and smiled. It felt bitter, but I made it gentle. I reached for her hand. Her skin was cold, almost too cold, yet somehow still warm in a way that hurt my chest. I squeezed lightly, as if afraid she might disappear if I wasn’t careful.

"Noel," I said quietly.

She watched my face, searching for something. I lifted her hand and placed it against my cheek, leaning into her touch.

"Don’t worry," I continued. "I’ll make sure this never happens again."

That much was true.

Because death was the only proper punishment for someone who dared lay a hand on what was mine. But she didn’t need to know that. She didn’t need to know anything ugly or bloody. All she had to do was stay by my side and keep breathing. That alone was enough for me.

I lowered my head and pressed a gentle kiss to her wrist.

She let out a small groan, her breath trembling as it moved through her body. I looked up at her face. Her brows were pulled together, her eyes shining with emotion.

"Why do you look so guilty," she complained softly, "when this isn’t even your fault?"

A quiet laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

How could someone be this fragile and still scold me?

Before I could answer, someone cleared their throat.

"Ahem."

We both turned.

Dr. Miller cleared his throat, closing the file in his hands. His face was calm, professional, but his eyes lingered on us for a second longer than needed.

"Then I’ll let you rest," he said, turning his attention to my wife. "The nurse will come shortly with your medicine."

She nodded.

For just a brief moment, his eyes flicked toward me. Something dark passed through them. It was quick and sharp, barely visible. Anyone else would have missed it.

"Mr. Archeval," he added, smiling, "may I speak with you outside for a moment?"

"Sure," I replied, my voice low.

My wife looked between us. "Is it something I shouldn’t hear?"

I turned back to her and smiled again, squeezing her hand reassuringly.

"That’s not it," I said. "Dr. Miller and I are old acquaintances. We just wanted to catch up."

I helped her lie back against the pillows and pulled the blanket over her shoulders, tucking it carefully around her. She looked so small in the bed that my chest tightened again.

Dr. Miller stood, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. He gave a polite bow and walked toward the door.

Before leaving, I leaned down and kissed my wife’s forehead, brushing my thumb softly over her cheek.

"I’ll be right back," I promised.

Then I followed him out.

_____

The rooftop was quiet, the city stretching endlessly below us. Wind brushed against my face, carrying the faint smell of smoke coming out from his mouth.

"You want one?" Dr. Miller asked, holding out a cigarette before taking a drag himself. He exhaled slowly, the smoke fading as the wind pulled it away.

I glanced at it, then leaned back against the wall. "I quit."

He raised a brow, unsure if he heard it right. "Because of your wife?"

"No," I replied. "I don’t think she would mind."

The truth was, she wouldn’t dare ask me for anything. Not when she looked like she might break just by standing near me. Not when she looked like she would get swallowed by guilt everytime I gave her something.

"Huh," he chuckled. He dropped the cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his shoe.

"So you really turned over a new leaf?" he chuckled again, leaning himself towards the wall.

I looked at him sharply. " I have to. I have a son at home."

That was all I said and didn’t bother to explain some more. It was all that needed to be said.

He studied me for a moment, then sighed.

"Why did you call me here?" I straightened. "That’s what I want to know. You better not be wasting my time."

He reached into his coat and handed me the file he had been holding earlier.

I took it from him then pry it open. My eyes quickly scanning the pages.

It was the blood test results. My wife’s. One detail caught my eye.

Drug used: Unidentified.

For an elite hospital who has data accessed to everything medically that could only mean one thing. It was either a newly developed drug or...

"That substance in her system," he began, "isn’t something you can find easily."

I looked up. "Explain."

"It’s a newly developed drug," he said. "Created by Union. It’s been circulating for a while, but only a few people can get their hands on it."

So, it’s the Mafia.

He met my eyes directly.

"Do you know where it’s usually used?"

My fingers tightened around the file.

"Private parties," he continued. "Underground ones. The one they only ever hosted for the richest of the rich. The most fucked up one."

My grip hardened. "It was meant to override someone’s reason or worse cripple them for life. lt was never meant to be consumed by clients but the victims."

My jaw tightened. I can never forgive how I let something so dangerous even come in contact with my wife.

But a drug that dangerous meant strict control to make sure it never leave a trace. Careful tracking. Which meant only one thing.

The person who targeted my wife wasn’t just some criminal.

They were Mafia. Someone whose influence was quite significant.

It looks like Seymour was also used like puppets but that doesn’t mean they can get away with it. I’ll never forgive the disrespect they offered her.

Dr. Miller watched my face closely. "Does your wife know that you were a part of the Mafia?" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Miller," I said coldly, "that’s none of your business."

He laughed quietly. "You know what I thought when I first saw her?"

I didn’t answer.

"I thought," he continued, "’She looks just like that woman.’ That was the first thing that crossed my mind."

My body moved before my mind caught up.

I grabbed his collar and slammed him back against the wall. My grip was tight, my gaze icy.

"Say that again," I warned.

He didn’t even flinch.

"Come back," he said calmly. "You’ve rested long enough."

My grip tightened.

"We need you," he went on. "The group is falling apart. Mara can’t handle everything alone. The men only ever followed you."

I let go and punched him hard.

He crashed to the ground, coughing, blood at the corner of his mouth.

"We need you now, King," he said, wiping his lip as he looked up at me.

Milton Miller, a genius physician but most of all one of the most dangerous member of the ’Dragon’. And the man who used to be my right hand man.

"They don’t deserve a king who’s broken," I replied. Turning to walk away.

He laughed weakly. "Then how do you plan to protect her?"

I froze from my tracks.

"I don’t care if you married her because she reminded you of that woman," he continued.

"But you wouldn’t want to lose her too, would you?"