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Chapter 33: Out in the Open
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2022-06-23 14:04:48Related chapters
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 34: Sobering Reality
When Byron came out into the breakfast room the next day, bleary and exhausted, his mom was there sipping coffee and eating a croissant. He decided to have the same. His hangover seemed to have hit a reset button on his mood, the physical discomfort making it easier to ignore the mental suffering. "I'm glad you're finally eating something," his mother observed. "I could kill that Christine Tourneau for putting you through this! But soon it will be all right. She'll know not to mess with our company."Byron remembered the conversation from last night. He hadn't been as drunk as his mother might have imagined. It was his dire mood that had made him lethargic and unable to connect with people. "Have you gone ahead with the announcement yet?" he asked. "About me being depressed?""Not yet. Emily insisted that you should truly be on board.""I don't want to do it," he said firmly, "It would make me look weak.""How long can you go on not admitting that you have a problem?" his mothe
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 35: Good Reason to Get Married
Good Reason to Get MarriedSince her brother Nick was showing signs of being more sociable that day, Emily decided to take him out and show him the neighborhood. The cafes and whimsical shops nearby were part of what made it such a great place to live, and few could resist its charm.They strolled around, and Emily could see Nick warming up to the place, just like she had hoped. "How is it going with your boyfriend?" Nick asked while they had lunch in a quaint tea house with huge varieties of teas to choose from.Emily did not really want to bring up that topic since she was not sure how it was going herself."You guys should get married," Nick went on, "He's a really cool guy, and he's built!"Emily nearly spat out her tea with laughter. Although Nick seemed to be attracted to women, he had this strange habit of noticing good-looking men. Maybe he was just very secure in his masculinity."That's not a good enough reason to marry someone," she finally said, "You have much to le
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 36: A Dress for the Event
The next day, Nick finally went to school, and Emily felt like she had more free time to spend on her projects instead of worrying about him. The website she had started to sell her hair ornaments was barely garnering any income, with just three sales in the last month. Luckily, she now had enough students to support herself, and she was gradually redecorating the downtown art studio.Another thing that was going to occupy her time was the event Sylvia planned for depression awareness. Sylvia insisted that Emily should be part of it in order to show a united front to anyone who doubted the strength of Byron's company, or his family.She smiled with amusement as her phone rang with yet another call from Byron's mother. Although Sylvia could be b*tchy at times, Emily was quickly warming up to her, and she was flattered to be included in the family's plans. "Hello?" Emily said."We need to get you a dress," Sylvia declared without preamble."Right... because you think I don't have a
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 37: Is He Even Going to Show Up?
Emily arrived early to the charity event and found Sylvia was already there with some company employees. Byron's mother looked flawless in a midnight blue spaghetti-strap dress, her hair in a glamorous updo. She was giving everyone last-minute instructions when she spotted Emily."Well done, you!" Sylvia said, "I'm pleasantly surprised."Emily decided to roll with it since this was as nice a compliment as she was going to get. She was pretty proud of the dress she had made with only a few days' notice. It was made of a glittering silvery-grey material, and the contours flowed around her figure with lightness and grace."I thought Byron was coming with you," Emily said nervously, "Where is he?""I don't know, he went to get a sandwich.""He's got dozens of people waiting on him hand and foot. Even his dog has got groomers and nutritionists and goodness knows what else, and he needed to go out to get a sandwich?""When you say it like that, it does seem suspicious," Sylvia muttered
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 38: A Midnight Confession
His... what?! Emily couldn't be sure whether Byron said this for the sake of their fake relationship, which was probably a moot point now that she had told her story in the newspaper... but he had never called her 'his girlfriend' before. She nearly tuned out the rest of the speech as her mind whirled, trying to understand this sudden turn of events.To her surprise, she felt a blush of happiness infusing her face with fresh color. Meanwhile, Byron announced the opening of a new fund to help people suffering from depression. "I have lived with depression for most of my life," he said, "but I wanted to hide it from everyone, even from myself. Now, a very insistent young woman has asked me to come forward, and I'm here to tell you we will try to overcome this illness together."Many people gasped, not expecting such a revelation. The next moment, the hall was filled with deafening applause. Emily heard Byron's voice whispering in her ear as they turned to leave the stage, "I reall
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 39: No Need to Take Charge
Emily looked up into his eyes, and the night they first met came back so vividly. Byron had the same pained look when he talked about Nova Summers, just like when Emily first saw him standing alone on the bridge."I'm not going anywhere," she said, "The fact that you told me this already means you're trying to get better. You're not in denial anymore.""One tiny step," he admitted, the muscles in his jaw tight as he stared out into the ocean, "...which might not lead anywhere."Emily pulled his face closer as if it was going to convince him to listen to her. "I know in your mind you're already scheming for a way to get out of having to do therapy, but you're going to do it.""Good God, what have I gotten myself into?" Byron said with a grin, "Can I take back what I said about you being my girlfriend?""No, too late!" Emily said, laughing."I thought you were my cure," he said, looking deeply into her eyes, "I always feel good when I'm around you, but I know it's not fair to put t
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 40: So Many Emotions
In the pearly grey morning light, Emily realized she was alone in the middle of a large bed, snuggled between silky sheets. The clouds were spread in an almost transparent layer over the city outside the window. She went to the washroom and realized her hair was a mess, but a kind of sexy mess. Everything that happened the previous night felt so right. She got back into bed as she couldn't escape a pleasant drowsiness, and she didn't have anywhere to be yet. The feeling of Byron's caresses all over her body was still there, as if it just happened seconds ago. The man himself appeared in the room, wearing only his briefs and carrying a breakfast tray filled with coffee, pastries, and fruit."Hey, you're awake!" he said, "That's good because I brought you something."She gave him a smile that was partly shy but mostly excited. His eyes lit up."You don't regret getting involved with me?" he asked, setting down the tray in front of her."Not when you bring me coffee and breakfast!
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 41: Coming This Fall...
Many people turned out for Emily's open house. Her downtown art studio sparkled with new paint, and several works of art were displayed throughout. People mingled, going in and out of the three different rooms and enjoying glasses of champagne.Emily was a little surprised that her brother showed up rather than staying at home as was his custom most of the time. She was even more surprised to see him talking at length to her student Katie. Katie came over to her later, saying, "Your brother is hot, like a skinny Italian Gucci model.""I'm surprised he stays skinny considering how much junk food he eats," Emily said."He actually gave me his number," Katie announced, "Would it be weird if I called him?""No," Emily said, "though I warn you, he is weird, so some weirdness is inevitable."It seemed a budding teenage romance was about to unfold. Her friend Pam arrived with Mike, who was now her fiancé. Emily took them on a tour of the displays."This is Katie's work. Isn't it amazi
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
