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Chapter 123: A Walk in the Country
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2022-06-23 14:04:48Related chapters
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 124: Disgustingly Cute Couple
The time in California was both restful and emotionally draining for Emily. Each day that Teddy seemed to recover, she was worried that he would fall ill again. She plunged back into work as soon as she returned. It helped take her mind off the whole situation.And just like he had promised, Byron seemed to be taking it rather well. She only feared he might be depressed again if his hopes for Teddy's recovery were suddenly dashed.Aitana and her kids called them every couple of days to provide an update on Teddy's progress, and they always had good news.A couple of weeks later, the calls grew less frequent, but one evening Emily heard her laptop chime with the familiar call to video-conference. She called Byron to come into her home office, and they both sat down at the desk as Aitana's face appeared on the screen, her beautiful living room in the background."Hello my lovelies," she said, "There's someone who would like to speak to you."Teddy appeared on the screen as he lean
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 125: Carter the Charmer
It was a joyful time when Teddy and his family arrived for a visit. After being stuck on the farm, the teens enjoyed discovering everything the big city had to offer, while Teddy and his wife seemed grateful and happy just to be together.Just as Byron had expected, Teddy did want to see Sylvia while he was in town, and he tried to arrange it in a way that would be acceptable for all concerned. Emily liked his idea of having a lot of people over so that everyone could mingle and Sylvia would not get too snippy."How about we invite Carter?" Emily said.She was sitting at the kitchen table opposite Byron as they made up a list of guests to invite for their house party. Byron's expression told her, not surprisingly, that he was not too pleased with the idea."You know he thinks of you as more than a friend?" he asked."Yeah, but he'll get over it eventually. And he invited me to go wall-climbing with him a few days ago. Maybe it would be more 'proper' for me to ask him to come to
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 126: Brawn Versus Business
Emily could not believe what was happening. Now she knew how Byron felt when he witnessed his mother chatting up Carter Jacks. Katie and Carter were getting along like a house on fire. They were talking, laughing, sharing stories. It would have been really cute if it was anyone but Carter. Emily knew exactly how well he did when it came to committed relationships, and she didn't want Katie to get involved with someone so unreliable."I have to stop this," Emily said. "It's getting out of hand.""Young people don't want to be told who they can and can't date, so there's probably little you can do about it," Byron reasoned, "Unless…""Unless?""We could introduce her to my star employee Brandon Clarkson. That young man is going places, and if Katie is as ambitious as you say, she might prefer him to your layabout buddy.""Other than calling Carter a 'layabout', I think that's a great idea," Emily said. "Okay, I'll distract Carter," Byron offered, "while you introduce Katie to B
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 127: The Flame
Soon all the guests dispersed, and Teddy, Aitana, and their kids went off to their own rooms. Byron and Emily were left alone, and they too headed for their bedroom."What am I going to do?" Emily lamented. "Katie is like my own child. I can't let her date Carter.""Carter's not so bad," Byron said, to her surprise."Oh, now he's not so bad because you beat him at weightlifting.""You have to admit, he was a graceful loser.""But he would make a terrible boyfriend.""It's going to be okay," Byron assured her, gathering her into his arms in a comforting hug. "We've had much worse parties than this.""Parties…" Emily though she might have an idea. "Are you going to invite that Brandon guy to your next company event?""Of course, he's my rising star. Oh, I see what you're thinking. If we invited Katie along, she might have a chance to get to know Brandon, see him in his own element.""Exactly!""The only problem is, it might be kind of obvious that we're setting them up.""That
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 128: An Inspiration
"You wouldn't keep bananas in the fridge for a whole month and expect them to be fresh," said a man in dark-framed glasses who sat beside Emily, "so why would you keep coffee beans in the fridge?"Emily loved coffee, but she didn't need to know that much about how to prepare it 'the perfect way'. The man just kept talking and talking. Just as she had expected, this business event was making her eyes glaze over with boredom.Katie seemed to be loving the event. She wore a matching skirt and blazer combo, looking very professional, and excited by whatever she and Brandon were conversing about.Emily's neighbor to the left was a woman in her thirties or so, who seemed to have no sense of humor. The man in the glasses, whose name was either Morty or Monty and looked to be in his fifties or sixties, kept lecturing everyone on the proper way to make coffee. Then his wife, a skinny woman with a blond pixie cut, made the conversation even more boring by talking about credit card insurance.
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 129: Anything Else, Boss?
Emily couldn't get out of the hotel fast enough as the event wrapped up. She didn't get to talk much to Katie after giving her the 'mentor speech', and Byron was constantly swarmed by people."Are you going to be sad if I never go to one of these again?" she asked Byron over drinks in the limo on the way home."Please, I'm not a delicate flower," Byron said, pouring a liqueur into glasses for them."Are you sure you won't mind?""Yeah." His posture was more stiff than usual, and he didn't put his arm around her like he often did."I can tell you're mad," she muttered. Her liqueur tasted bitter, and she felt a sinking feeling as the bright lights and restaurant signs sped by outside the window."I'm not mad. I just wish you would come to my dinners more often. And I suppose I do find it offensive when you say they're boring.""Oh… sorry," Emily said. "Maybe it's better if I just don't go then."Byron put down his glass with a sigh. "I know they might not be as witty or colorful
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 130: Moving up in the World?
Emily was in the middle of brainstorming a new line for next spring when Katie strolled into the design studio, humming a jaunty tune."Well, if it isn't the lady about town!" Emily greeted her. "Are things going well?""Excellent," Katie reported. "I've gone on a date with each candidate, and I'm still undecided… but the dates were fun.""That's the spirit!" Emily said. She stuck to her resolve not to try to influence Katie's decision, trusting her protégé to figure out the best path forward on her own."Carter took me for a motorcycle ride—don't tell my parents! It was so awesome. I do think Carter is lacking in the career department, though."Just like Emily expected, it had not taken Katie long to realize that Carter was not the sharpest pencil in the box. "Carter is a free spirit. He values his freedom over career obligations.""I have an idea to help him move up in the world," Katie said brightly."Now this I'd love to hear." Emily folded her arms as she leaned back agains
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 131: A Special Wedding Jacket
"I will need your signature here, please," Katie said.They were ordering a lot of new fabric for the new men's line, and Emily signed off on it, trusting that Katie knew what she was doing. Since the whole thing was Katie's idea, Emily let her take leadership of the project. Carter was being brought up to speed by one of the city's top modelling coaches, while Emily and her team of designers brainstormed some ideas for the new clothing line. She decided to call it Freerange Rider to reflect Carter's independent spirit. The studio was buzzing with energy, and everyone was excited to be expanding into this new line."How is the battle for supremacy?" Emily asked. "Who's winning? Is it Carter the rebellious biker with the lackluster career, or Brandon the brilliant businessman with the… does he have any weaknesses?""Doesn't seem like it," Katie said, twirling a pen in her hand. "Maybe I just haven't found them yet. I'm still undecided as to who's winning, but it's fun working with
Last Updated : 2022-06-23
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The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 169: The First Chapter
Emily felt such a strong current of desire running throughout her frame. It was always the most overwhelming sensation, being engulfed in the torrent of his kisses. It was one of those times when she was reminded how fierce and powerful her love for him really was. Sometimes day-to-day life interfered and made her forget that there was a man by her side who would do anything for her. When he showed how much he loved her, whether it was with grand gestures and romantic trips or simply the way he kissed her, it felt like the rebirth of a love that was too beautiful for words.Holding him in her arms and knowing how much he desired her nearly made her faint every time. It enchanted every single cell of her being, making the rest of the world a mere blur compared to the hot passion coursing through her body."I love you," she murmured as they rested in the sumptuous bed. "Thanks for always being there for me.""You don't have to thank me," he said, gazing back at her with a look fi
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 168: Chopping Wood
A few days later, Emily woke up to a grey and rainy day, but she was eager to get out of bed. It was the day of their trip. Byron was already up, pulling a tight t-shirt over his muscular torso. He looked way too awake for the earliness of the hour."Today's dress code: motorcycle gear," he said, eyes shining eagerly."It's a road trip?" Emily exclaimed."Yes indeed!"They could have flown anywhere in the world on their private jet, but for some reason Emily was more excited about a trip to the nearby mountains, just like they had always done. It reminded her of the early days of their relationship when they swiftly fell in love, and she had fallen in love with everything about this landscape too. And in some ways, not that much had changed."It's going to be a rugged journey," Byron said, "but don't worry, I've prepared some amenities at our destination.""What is that supposed to mean?" she asked."You don't need to pack too much stuff, just your basic clothes."They left t
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 167: Choices
Byron poured a lot of funds into the construction of the wave pool, and a few months later, it was built and ready for use.The building looked sleek and contemporary on the outside, while inside it was a warm oasis away from the autumn chill.Mandy swam and frolicked in the waves with her friends, stopping only to sip a bit of juice, then she was back in the water for more splashing. The high ceiling allowed natural light to come in through its numerous skylights, giving the space the ambience of a warm beach. The wave pool was definitely a hit. Emily and Byron watched the kids, lounging on deck chairs by the water."It's not quite as relaxing as a real beach, but it'll do," Byron said as the echoes of children's voices bounced around the vast space. Ripples of sunlight reflected off the water and played over his face."The kids don't seem to care if it's relaxing or not," Emily said, observing them race each other in the waves. "But as long as they're happy…""Do you think Man
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 166: Making Waves
"Can I do it when I'm six?" Mandy asked, not letting go of the idea of being on television."No," Emily said firmly."Can I do it when I'm seven?""No.""Ten?""Maybe." Emily hoped the whole discussion would be forgotten after that many years. She never wanted her child on a so-called talent show which was probably rigged anyway.Luckily, Mandy was distracted by her friend, and the two girls went to play outside."She's so talented," Katie said, "You should take her to a music academy. I'll bet she's going to be a sensation."Emily shook her head. "She's way too young. Please don't get excited. I know it seems like showing her talent to the world is a good thing, but too many child stars have started out on brilliant careers only to burn out as teenagers. I definitely don't want that for Mandy.""You're right, Talent Quest is a bit of a freak show," Katie said, "but don't you want her to at least learn as much as she can to reach her full potential?""She's got all the time i
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 165: Big Purchases
Byron took a long breath. "Okay, don't be mad at me but… I bought Charmers. And now every single branch of Charmers will carry your brand of clothing.""Byron, you promised me you wouldn't do that!" Emily was so disappointed she was hardly even tempted by the creamy pasta."I promised I wouldn't destroy them," he said, a sly smile playing about his lips, "and I don't intend to. I've even kept Simone around, though in a slightly less senior role. She couldn't be induced to resign. The woman is very stubborn, but I know you don't like us to make enemies…""So you took over the company she was running, and you don't think she'd be mad?""Not as mad as I was when you told me she dropped your products," Byron retorted, "But believe it or not she's actually okay with the takeover. Charmers were struggling financially anyway. Believe me, I did them a favor.""Well you didn't do me a favor," Emily retorted. "I didn't want you to get involved.""But—""I'm capable of solving my own probl
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 164: Not so Lucky
"I pet a big white dog!" Mandy announced when they got home.The dogs spun around the new arrivals in a furry whirlwind, and Emily was relieved to be with her four-legged friends. She was glad she hadn't brought them to work that day to be despised by Simone."That's good," Byron said, greeting Mandy and Emily with kisses."I was not so lucky," Emily said."Mommy didn't have time to play with doggie," Mandy said sadly."And on top of that, I lost a really big client…" Emily added. She took off her shoes and collapsed on the living room couch."Lady said the 'f word'," Mandy recalled. Byron raised his eyebrows. "I know I'm not allowed to say it," Mandy continued, "but she didn't know that.""What the heck happened over there?" Byron asked."Ugh! I can't even go into right now," Emily lay back on the couch and closed her eyes, trying to shut out the stress of the day. "Simone made me so mad.""Lady was silly," Mandy said."Yes, she was very silly," Emily confirmed.Byron s
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 163: The Meeting
Emily was in a playful mood the next morning. She didn't want to get out of bed, even though she had an important meeting. The date night had ended in a rather passionate episode. Mandy was already asleep by the time they got back home, and they made the most of their time. It was not exactly rare for them to have alone time, but maybe it didn't happen as often as before."You're very giggly," Byron noted. "I thought you'd be tired after last night."He was a bit sleepy but didn't mind indulging her desires when she kissed his face and body all over."Thanks for helping me feel relaxed when I should be nervous," Emily said as she got up to get dressed. "Simone Cather is coming in for a meeting today. I've never worked with her before, but I hear she can be difficult. I'm going to bring Mandy with me to win her over with cuteness."Simone had just taken over leadership of Charmers, the biggest fashion retail store in the country. Emily had a good relationship with the previous CEO
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 162: Doing "Fairly Well"
Emily was able to run some errands while Sylvia gave Mandy her first piano lesson. She was glad to have a bit of time to shop, and Sylvia insisted on not having anyone interfere in her tutelage anyway. Emily wondered how Sylvia would cope being left alone with her granddaughter. She had been out a couple of hours, and she hoped they hadn't killed each other.Contrary to her expectations, the house was quiet when she entered. Sylvia and Mandy were deep in conversation over tea and cookies."Mommy! Mommy!" Mandy ran over to greet her."How was your lesson?" Emily asked."I learned to play piano!""She did fairly well," Sylvia said. This sounded like high praise from someone who was more used to criticizing.Mandy sat down at the piano with very good posture to show Emily what she'd learned. She played Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. It was a simple piece that most kids started with, but Emily was amazed that Mandy played it so flawlessly. She kept up a steady rhythmic accompanimen
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 161: Cave Explorer
Unschooling was a little harder to commit to than Emily had imagined. She knew that there were plenty of learning opportunities for Mandy at home, but sometimes work demands, or just wanting a bit of time to herself made her reluctant to teach the kid.It was early September, and the unschooling had been going on for a week. Emily was working on her sketches in her home office while Mandy watched an educational program in the cinema room. It didn't seem like too much time had passed, but when Emily looked up from her sketch, the house felt unusually quiet. She went into the cinema room and saw that Mandy must have finished her program and dutifully turned the screen off. She was an amazingly responsible child in some respects."Mandy!" Emily called, "Where are you, Mandikins?"An eerie silence filled the large house. Emily checked all the rooms, but her daughter was nowhere to be found. Surely she wouldn't have gone outside all by herself? For a chilling moment, she thought the
