Mistress to My First Love

chapter 3: lost

Chapter 3: Lost

As dawn approached, Mallory woke up restless. She couldn’t sleep because of nightmares about Sebastian and Stella in the bed that used to be theirs. Every time she closed her eyes, the painful images returned.

Her hands gently touched her stomach, imagining the tiny life growing inside. Her eyes filled with tears.

“Your dad may not want you, but I do,” Mallory whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “This may not be the best time, but you are the best thing that has happened to Mummy in a very long time. I’m going to protect you with everything I have.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she spoke.

Sebastian’s orders from last night echoed in her mind. She had always been obedient to him. Maybe that was why he hated her — unlike Stella, she never challenged him.

Last night, she had gone to the guest room as he demanded. Part of it was fear, but the shameful truth was that she still hoped he might change his mind.

Frustrated, Mallory threw a pillow across the room. It knocked over a flower vase, which shattered on the mirror stand.

“Ahhh!” She crouched down and cried hard. The pain felt like she was drowning inside a pool of acid.

A knock on the door startled her. She quickly stood up, wiped her tears, and tried to compose herself.

The knock came again, louder this time. She went ahead and opened the door, only to find Sebastian standing there in his pajamas, looking into the room. Her surprise quickly turned into anger.

“What was that sound?” he asked before she could shut the door on him.

“Nothing,” Mallory replied, meeting his cold eyes. “Why do you even care?”

“Because this is my house, and I won’t let you destroy everything before you leave.”

“Oh, I forgot,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Thanks for the reminder. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I was preparing to leave 'your house'."

As she turned to go back inside, Sebastian grabbed her arm and pulled her forward. Their bodies pressed together. For a brief moment, Mallory caught his familiar masculine scent and looked up at his lips. An unwanted spark of desire stirred inside her.

“If you want to leave peacefully, watch how you speak to me. Understood?” Sebastian growled.

Mallory snapped back to reality and tried to pull away. “Let go of me!”

“Or what?” He smirked. “I saw how you looked at me just now. You still want me, so badly, don’t you? Admit it, and I’ll f**k you one last time before you go.”

Mallory slapped his cheek with her free hand without thinking. “You’re despicable!” she spat, yanking her other hand free.

Sebastian stood stunned, rubbing his cheek. Anger evident in his eyes.

The thought of his offer made her skin crawl. He wanted one last thrill before she left. The audacity!

Yes, she still wanted to be with him — but as his wife, not as a toy.

She tried to slam the door, but he stopped it and grabbed her hand again. “You’re still in my house, which means you’re still my property — including your body.”

His eyes roamed over her body, predatorily. Mallory’s heart raced, but not with the feeling she once wanted.

“I was never your property, Sebastian,” she said, shakily. “I was your wife. If you dare touch me, I’ll take you to court for rape.”

He chuckled cruelly. “You would sound pathetic — a desperate, divorced woman begging for crumbs of attention.”

A tear slipped down Mallory’s cheek as she pushed him away. “Get out… Now!”

“Baby, what’s going on?” Stella’s voice suddenly interrupted.

Sebastian quickly turned to her, his face softening. “Nothing, honey. Just warning this woman not to damage my property.”

Stella glared at Mallory. “Please, let’s go back inside. I need you,” she said to Sebastian.

Sebastian nodded and followed her, wrapping his arms around Stella’s waist. Mallory noticed the gentle way he touched her — something he had never shown her.

Anger boiled inside Mallory. Even now, he felt entitled to her after taking everything — her dignity, her peace, and what little divorce right she was supposed to get from him.

Her eyes strayed again, watching as Sebastian playfully kissed Stella, then quickly looked away. The sight burned her chest.

She went back inside and called her best friend, Olivia. Yesterday, she had told Olivia she was going to Aunt Grace’s house, but Olivia had insisted she stay with her and her husband instead. Mallory had refused, not wanting to be a burden.

Twenty minutes later, Olivia arrived in her black jeep. Her bright red hair shone in the morning sun as she rushed toward Mallory, eyes filled with empathy and anger—the latter towards Sebastian.

She pulled Mallory into a tight hug.

Mallory broke down in her arms, her body wracking with ugly sobs.

Olivia was one of the two people who made her feel safe enough to be vulnerable.

The other person, unfortunately, had been dead to her for six years now —after he abandoned her without a goodbye.

More stabs hit her chest, excruciating, as she tried so much not to think of a particular name, and the fact that if he hadn't left her, she probably would never have agreed to marry Sebastian. Or endured everything she's had to suffer this past four years.

“You’ll get through this, babe,” Olivia whispered, stopping her from spiraling any further. “Everything will be fine eventually. He’ll regret ever leaving you, I promise.”

Mallory wished Olivia was right, but she knew better. Sebastian was deeply in love with Stella.

After the hug, Olivia carried Mallory’s bag and led her to the car.

Mallory took one long last look at the beautiful white mansion. It held so many ugly memories. Without another word, she slipped into the car, and Olivia drove away from the life she once knew.

As the distance grew, a deep numbness settled in her heart until it felt completely empty.

This was the end.

The end of the girl who always fought for love.

That girl was lost.

And now, a new one was being born.

---

Olivia’s car entered willowcreek, one of the smallest cities in San Palma, Mallory’s heart beat louder.

This was the moment she had been dreading. She had tried not to think about it, but she couldn’t hide forever.

This city held memories she wanted to forget — memories of her first love, laughter, obsession, and her first ever heartbreak.

The pain she felt now was deep, but it still didn’t compare to the pain she felt when Lucien Caldwell left her years ago.

Mallory wrapped her arms around herself, her eyes stinging with fresh tears. She thought Lucien was already a forgotten item, that those memories wouldn't hurt her as much anymore, but she was wrong.

Being back in this city opened the wound she thought had healed and now she wasn't sure whether she was still breaking because of Sebastian or... Lucien.

Olivia glanced at her with worry. “Are you okay? Do you need me to stop for a while?”

Mallory gave a small nod and looked back at the road.

When they arrived at Grace’s compound, Mallory felt like her soul would leave her. She suddenly wanted to vomit.

As they unloaded the bags, Grace came out of the house. She looked elegant in deep red lipstick and smooth, flawless skin. She hadn’t aged at all since the time Mallory last saw her. And she still carried an arrogant air that always made people think twice before approaching her.

Mallory stiffened, her face turning pale.

“Gu—good afternoon, Aunt Grace,” Mallory and Olivia stuttered together.

Grace’s expression changed from shock to anger so quickly it was unnerving. “What are you doing here?” she demanded.

Typical Grace.

Mallory and Olivia exchanged a glance before Mallory spoke. “Sebastian and I are divorce.”

Grace’s eyes widened, then the next second she burst into a loud laugh.

Chill washed over Ashley while Olivia stared at the older woman in pure rage.

“You have nowhere else to go, do you?” Grace asked in between giggles.

Mallory pressed her lips together and looked at the big house that once belonged to her mother.

“I wish I could help you,” added said sarcastically.

“Please let me stay here,” Mallory begged. “Just for a few weeks until…”

Grace interrupted with an evil smirk. “Go back to the husband you ran off with. There’s no place for you here.”

Desperate, Mallory dropped to her knees and grabbed the hem of Grace’s expensive dress.

Grace smiled with satisfaction. She had waited a long time for this moment.

“I can smell your desperation, darling niece,” Grace said in a fake pitying voice. “I can definitely reconsider, but I have my terms.”

Mallory stood up, a flicker of hope in her chest.

She wasn’t surprised there were conditions — Grace never did anything unless it benefited her.

Grace brushed a strand of hair behind Mallory’s ear with pretend gentleness.

The action made Mallory hold her breath.

“What’s the term, Aunty?” she asked, swallowing hard.

Grace’s smile widened. “John… remember him?”

The name hit Mallory like a punch. It dragged her back to a night she had tried so hard to forget.

She remembered waking up to heavy breathing and the smell of alcohol. John stood at the foot of her bed, his belt undone and trousers hanging low.

She had grabbed the nearest object, swung it at him, and warned him to stay away. She threatened to kill him if he came any closer.

Mallory snapped back to the present. It became more difficult to draw air into her lungs.

Grace continued speaking, unbothered by Mallory's horrified expression.

“…he never stopped hoping you would return.”

Grace was lying. John had slowly withdrawn his support from her business after Mallory ran away. But if she could bring Mallory back, he would happily return. The old fool was obsessed with her niece.

“You just need to apologize and give him what he wanted,” Grace said. “Then I’ll welcome you into my house with open arms.”

“You want me to apologize to the man who almost r***d me?” Mallory snapped, rage bubbling through her entire form. “How heartless can you be, aunty?"

Grace scoffed. “You’re being too picky for someone in your situation.”

Mallory stepped back in disbelief, shaking her head in sheer shock.

“You’re evil!” Olivia spat.

“You know where to find me when you make the right decision, sweetheart,” Grace said to Mallory with a smile, totally ignoring her friend. “Now leave.”

“You’re forgetting this is still my mother’s—”

“Get out!” Grace shrieked, sharply cutting Mallory off. "Now!"

Mallory and Olivia quickly grabbed the bags and rushed back to the car.