Return of His First Love

Ch5

Leonidas returned home late that night. He took a long bath, then joined Natalie on the bed. Lying flat on his back, he stared at the ceiling, his mind restless and heavy.

‘Today felt endless.’

Alexa had appeared out of nowhere, crashing into a life that had already been anything but peaceful.

“I know you’re awake,” he said in a low voice, turning his head toward Natalie’s back. “If you have something to say, say it to my face. I won’t tolerate the silent treatment.”

Natalie released a shaky breath before slowly sitting up. She turned to him, her eyes filled with emotion. “Where have you been?” Her voice trembled. “Don’t tell me you spent all that time with her.”

Leonidas met her gaze, calm despite the tension in the room. “I was with Elliot.”

Natalie blinked, her chest tightening. “I remember her. Alexa. Your first love.” She swallowed. “She’s back now. Why? What is she doing here? Leo, you need to send her away. I don’t want her here.”

“She’s staying, Natalie,” Leonidas said flatly.

The words hit her like a blow and Natalie felt her heart sink. “Why?” she asked, her voice breaking. “Leo, please don’t believe her lies. You remember what she did, don’t you? She betrayed you. How can you fall for her schemes so easily?” She hesitated, then forced the words out. “And that boy she brought with her… he’s not yours, right?”

Leonidas frowned, realization dawning on him. She had been listening.

“You really have a bad habit, Natalie,” he said quietly.

He turned away from her. “I’ve had a long day, and I’m trying to sleep.”

Natalie bit her lip and turned her face away as tears slid silently down her cheeks.

“Oh, and Natalie,” Leonidas added, glancing back at her. “For now, it would be best if you kept this to yourself.”

Natalie stared at him, forcing herself not to break down. There was no apology in his voice, no reassurance, nothing to hold on to.

For seven years, she had believed she finally had him. Maybe not completely, maybe not every part of his heart, but what she had felt like enough. Enough to believe she had won. She had clung to that belief and built her life around it.

Now, with her return, everything she had built felt like it was about to collapse.

‘Why did she have to come back? Why?’

Elsewhere, Alexa tossed restlessly in her sleep, her brows tightly drawn as her mind plunged into a familiar nightmare.

“I brought you into my house, and you dare to seduce my husband?!”

A sharp slap echoed.

She hit the floor, tears blurring her vision. “Please… ma’am, I’m begging you. I didn’t…”

“Get out of my house, you shameless woman! Get out with your bastard child!”

The scene shattered, only to be replaced by another.

“No! Please, don’t kill me! I don’t know anything!” she screamed, her voice breaking as her arms and legs were pinned tightly to a chair.

Then the sound of gunshots tore through the air.

Alexa screamed, her heart pounding violently as she struggled to breathe.

And then she jolted awake.

Her eyes flew open, her chest rising and falling erratically, skin damp with sweat.

The images of her past still clung to her mind, disturbing her sleep every single night.

She blinked at the ceiling, her breathing uneven, trying to shake off the terror.

Suddenly, a sharp twist clenched her stomach.

Alexa gasped, pressing both hands over her abdomen as nausea surged through her. Her jaw tightened as she swallowed hard, a low groan slipping past her lips.

The room spun slightly as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, but she barely managed a step before the sickness claimed her, forcing her to fall on her knees and retch violently on the floor.

Her body trembled with the effort, muscles tense, and her chest rose and fell like she’d just run a marathon.

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and forced herself upright, breath coming fast and shallow. A wave of dizziness made her knees tremble, and she paused, steadying herself.

With unsteady steps, she made her way toward the bathroom, one hand dragging along the wall for balance. The moment she reached it, her strength gave out again and she stumbled inside, leaning hard against the tile wall for support.

She sank to her knees in front of the toilet, retching again, her hands gripping the sides for leverage

Every heave left her weaker, exhausted, and she could feel persistent heaviness pressing low in her belly.

Her hands instinctively rested there, a shiver running down her spine.

Then she heard insistent knocking at the door.

She let out a tired breath and pushed herself to her feet, turning to clean the mess she had left behind.

“I’m coming, son,” she called out, her voice strained as she wiped the floor.

When she finally opened the door, Nidas stood there, eyes bright with excitement.

She managed a small smile. “What is it so early?”

“It’s Dad, Mommy. He’s here!”

Alexa lifted her gaze.

Leonidas stood just beyond her son.

Her breath caught as their eyes met.

His gaze swept over her, taking in her disheveled black hair falling into her face, the pallor of her skin, the oversized T shirt hanging loosely on her frame.

“You look like a mess,” he said.