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The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 11
I watched as Bella drove off in her car, raking my angry fingers through my hair. The thought of another man even breathing close to her was driving me insane, let alone, touching her enough to-"Fuck!" I cussed at the top of my voice, my breathing pattern slowly changing. I hated the way things were going. I kicked a stone out of my way.Ever since she left, I showed up at her grandmother's tombstone almost every other night, hoping I would meet her here. I knew how much she had loved her grandmother, but I never once saw her here.I thought it was a dream when I saw her today and now she had to rub it in my fucking face.I closed my eyes tight, there was only one way to go tonight.As I got in my car, my phone beeped multiple times, calls from my mother that I ignored, I was still upset by how she had treated Bella earlier and then Stella's endless text messages kept my phone going off. Frustrated, I turned the phone off, not wanting to have to talk to anyone at all.I stopped at th
Last Updated : 2025-01-15The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 12
Bella’s POV I sat cross-legged on the couch, my laptop perched on my knees. My eyes scanned the screen, my fingers hovering above the keyboard as I absorbed the details of the competition Stella had mentioned. “International Jewelry Design Showcase,” I murmured, reading the bold title again. The prize money was enough to boost my studio, but it wasn’t the only thing driving me. This competition was hosted by Leo. And if I played my cards right, I could negotiate the return of my heirloom as part of the prize. I bit my lip. That piece wasn’t just jewelry. Winning this competition could mean getting it back. And I wasn’t about to let that opportunity slip through my fingers. I leaned back, chewing on my bottom lip as I skimmed through the requirements. The deadline was tight, but I’d worked under tighter constraints before. This was doable. A gentle tug at my sleeve snapped me out of my thoughts. “Mummy Bella?” Jack’s soft voice pulled me back to the present. I turned to see
Last Updated : 2025-01-15The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 13
We strolled down the street, stopping at a small ice cream shop. Jack’s eyes lit up as he pressed his face against the glass display, his little fingers pointing excitedly at the colorful flavors.“Chocolate or strawberry?” I asked with a smile.“Both!” he exclaimed, bouncing on his toes.I laughed and ordered a scoop of each. The cashier handed me the cone, and I bent down to give it to Jack, who accepted it like it was the greatest treasure in the world. His happy grin was infectious, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of warmth.But my smile immediately faded when I turned to pay and realized Jack was no longer by my side.“Jack?” I called, my voice rising in panic.I spun around, scanning the busy street. My heart pounded as I pushed through the crowd, calling his name over and over.And then I saw him.In the middle of the sidewalk, held securely in the arms of the one person I didn’t want to see—Leo.My heart dropped. For a second, I froze in placs, unsure of what to do. But w
Last Updated : 2025-01-15The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 14
Leo’s POV "Is this the last meeting with the organizers?" I flipped my wrist to check the time as I headed to the location Dennis had texted me while he took care of things at the office. "Yes sir," he said, "you also need to meet with the-" "Oh no!" A tiny voice gasped. I looked down with furrowed eyebrows at the figure that had bumped into me. At first, I thought it was my imagination, since I'd spent all night thinking about it but it was Bella's son. "I will call you back," I said to Dennis who was still mid way through speaking, hanging up and crouching to the boy's height. "I'm sorry," he said. "Where's your mom?" I'd asked him, knowing Bella wouldn't have left him to wander off and heavens when I saw her, her panicked face staring in confusion, I almost died. She was ethereal. Her hair was in a simple ponytail, and the way those jeans hugged her curves, I felt a shift in my pants, unlike I ever had. I knew I couldn't let her go just like that, I needed more t
Last Updated : 2025-01-15The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 15
Bella’s POV Jack had been unusually quiet on the ride back, his little hand gripping mine tightly as if sensing my unease. I couldn’t shake the image of Leo holding him, the way he’d looked at Jack like he was searching for something. As soon as we walked inside, Jack ran straight to Ryan, who was sitting on the couch with a book in hand. His face lit up when he saw Jack, his smile growing even wider as Jack climbed onto his lap. “Daddy! Guess what happened today!” Jack’s voice was bright with excitement. “I bumped into a man, and he said I got ice cream on his pants. Then Mommy got mad at him!” Ryan put the book down, his focus now entirely on Jack. “What man, buddy?” Jack hesitated, looking at me for reassurance. I sighed and stepped closer. “It was Leo,” I said quietly. Ryan’s jaw tightened slightly, but he kept his tone calm. “Leo?” Jack nodded eagerly. “Yeah! He was nice! He helped me when I got lost.” Ryan turned to me, concern flickering in his eyes, but he didn’t let
Last Updated : 2025-01-15The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 16
Leo's POV I sat at the bar, swirling my drink, trying to drown out the noise around me. Henry and Matthew were talking, but I barely registered their words. My mind kept circling back to the same problem: the DNA test. The results had come back, and the kid wasn’t mine. I kept staring blankly. Henry had called Matthew, an older friend of ours, seeing how I was barely having a conversation with him. Matthew noticed my silence first. “You good, man?” he asked, taking a sip of his drink. I shook my head, frustration bubbling up again. “I asked my assistant to run a DNA test,” I muttered. “Turns out, the kid’s not mine.” The words were bitter on my tongue, and I could feel the tension building inside me. Henry and Matthew exchanged a quick glance before Henry spoke up. “What? You sure? How did you meet with him so quickly?” "That's a long story," I nodded, gripping my glass tighter. “Yeah, I’m sure. It came back negative.” Matthew frowned, setting his drink down. “That’s... heav
Last Updated : 2025-01-15The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 17
Leo's POVI wasn't sure what was going through my mind but I took my leave. I headed straight to the car, I hated late night driving even worse and would have called Dennis to come drive me home but I couldn't waste one more second here. "Dennis, call Bella." I instructed him once I was in the car, strapping my seat belt. "Uh, sir?" He answered with confusion from the other end. "Call her. Now." I did sharply. "I don't think I have—" he started but I cut him off. "Find her! I need her address." I started the car in motion even though I had no idea where I was going. "Right now?" "Yes, right now!" "Okay, okay. Give me a second." He said, holding me. I brought the car to a halt so I could wait for his report. I paced, gripping my phone tightly. A few minutes later, Dennis called back. "I've got it. Sending it to you now." I didn't say a word. I hung up, grabbed my keys, and headed out the door. I wasn't sure what I was doing exactly. I didn't know where I was goi
Last Updated : 2025-01-23The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 18
Bella's POV I thought I was dreaming at first. I sat in the passenger seat, my arms crossed, watching Leo's hands grip the wheel like a lifeline. The road ahead was dark, and the occasional flash of headlights from passing cars illuminated his face, sharp and unreadable. "Leo, stop the car," I said when my brain finally processed all that was happening. When I’d gone outside to take the call from Ryan the last thing I expected was for my ex husband to show up out of nowhere. He didn't answer. "Leo!" I snapped, louder this time. "Where are we going? This is insane.” Nothing. He didn't even flinch, his eyes fixed on the road. My chest tightened. "If you don't stop this car right now, I swear I'll—" "Bella," he said suddenly, cutting me off. His voice was low, almost a whisper. "Please. Just trust me." Trust him? After he'd dragged me out of my house in the middle of the night without an explanation? My blood boiled. "Trust you?" I laughed bitterly. "Are you seri
Last Updated : 2025-01-26
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The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 59
He didn’t say anything else after placing it in my palm. He just stepped back quietly, giving me room to breathe. My fingers had curled around the necklace before I even realized it. It was instinct. Muscle memory. The second I felt the shape of it the weight, the smooth stone, I couldn’t let go.I couldn’t look up at him either.The box sat open on the table, the air between us still. He didn’t speak, didn’t ask, didn’t reach for me again. He just waited. For what, I didn’t know.But I couldn’t hold it in anymore.“Can you… give me a moment?” I asked softly, my voice tighter than I meant.He nodded. There was no hesitation, no look of confusion or hurt. Just a quiet understanding in the way he stepped out of the room and closed the door gently behind him.The second it clicked shut, something in me broke.I turned away from the door, walked to the far corner of the room with the necklace still in my hand, and sank to the floor. My back hit the side of the bed, my knees folded to my c
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 58
The door closed softly behind us. I locked it without thinking, then turned and saw her sit down, slow and careful, on the edge of the bed. She bent her leg with a wince, pressing her hand lightly against her ankle as if even breathing on it hurt. I crossed the room without speaking, grabbed the cold pack from the minibar, wrapped it in a small towel, and knelt in front of her.She didn’t stop me.Her leg trembled when I touched it, but she let me slide off her shoe and lift her foot into my lap. I was gentle, more than I’d ever been with anything in my life. Her sock was damp from sweat, probably pain too. She hissed quietly when I rolled it down, and I slowed my hands.The swelling was worse now. Purple already setting in. I adjusted the towel, pressed the cold gently against the side of her ankle, and held it there with one hand while the other braced her knee.She didn’t look at me, but she didn’t pull away either.Her breath was shallow. She leaned back slightly, resting her palm
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 57
I didn’t notice right away because I knew she was avoiding me and so I was trying not to look at her but Bella was missing from the group. She had been walking ahead the whole time and I had been stealing glances at her. The trail curved left, the group slowed behind me, and I looked up expecting to see her, but there was nothing. No gray shirt. No tied-back hair. No Bella.My stomach dropped.I quickened my pace, eyes scanning the narrow path. I called her name, quietly at first, hoping she’d turn around and roll her eyes the way she always did when I sounded too concerned. But there was no answer.The trees thickened. I pushed forward faster, ignoring the chatter behind me, ignoring the twisting in my gut that told me this wasn’t just her trying to avoid me again.I called her name louder. Still nothing.She was gone.I broke into a full sprint. My breath came hard, my legs cut through the brush, and the only thing in my head was her face. The last time I saw it. The way she hadn’
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 56
Bella pov. I didn’t want to be here. I wasn’t sure how many days had passed by now but I had gotten an email earlier saying that we needed to show up to an overnight trip at a jungle. Being here at the jungle traumatized me since it reminded me so much of the forest wedding and losing my child. I hated it with all of me but worst of all I hated that Leo would be here too. This whole thing was for the client. They wanted a “natural bonding experience,” something about being closer to the earth to match their new luxury eco-brand. Everyone acted excited. I wasn’t. I didn’t care about the forest, the trees, the birds, or the fresh air. I just wanted to get through it, finish what was required, and go back to the hotel. The only reason I was here was because it was mandatory. I kept walking, putting space between me and the others. I didn’t want to be in the middle of the group, and I definitely didn’t want to be anywhere near Leo. He hadn’t said much all morning. I was glad. I d
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 55
Leo’s POVLeo’s phone buzzed for the fifth time, but it wasn’t her. Another meeting reminder. Another notification that didn’t matter. He tossed it on the desk and leaned back in the chair, staring up at the ceiling like it might give him answers.“She won’t talk to me,” he muttered.“Sir?” Dennis’s voice came through the speakerphone.Leo rubbed his face. “She moved to another floor. Won’t take my calls. Only responds to work texts—and barely.”There was a pause.“What would you like me to do?”He didn’t answer right away. He stood up, walked to the minibar, opened it, then shut it again without grabbing anything. He paced twice before stopping beside the chair.“I need you to look into something. Bella… she told me something the other day. About the wedding. About losing a baby.”Dennis went quiet.“She was pregnant,” Leo said. “And I didn’t know. I didn’t even notice anything was wrong. I left her that night. You remember?”“I do.”“She said she went to the hospital. Walked there.
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 54
B ella’s POVThe hallway outside the emergency room buzzed with fluorescent light. I sat motionless in a stiff plastic chair, arms folded, trying to slow my breathing. A nurse had promised to update me when they could, but it had already been over twenty minutes. I didn’t care about the time. I wasn’t leaving until I knew she and her baby were safe.Leo had been pacing nonstop. His dress shoes tapped rhythmically against the linoleum floor, each step sharper than the last. He wasn’t subtle about his frustration. But I stayed where I was, watching the emergency doors like they might open with answers.Eventually, his patience snapped.“This is ridiculous,” he muttered, stepping closer. “We’ve done our part. We brought her here. They’ve taken over. What more do you want to do?”“I’m staying,” I said calmly.“Why?” His voice rose slightly. “You don’t even know her. You gave up an important meeting, Bella. You’re acting like this is your child—”“I know what it feels like,” I said, standi
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 53
Bella’s POVThe silence in the car was heavy.I sat with my arms crossed, staring out the window, pretending Leo wasn’t just inches away from me. He hadn’t said a word since we got in. Neither had I. The air between us was cold enough to choke on.The driver kept glancing in the rearview mirror like he could feel it too.I kept my eyes fixed outside. We were heading to the client meeting Leo had been hyping up for days. Some luxury firm with international reach, the kind of partnership that would keep his company at the top of its game. I was supposed to care. I didn’t.Not after that lobby scene.Not after the look in his eyes when he said he knew.My fingers dug into my sleeves. I still didn’t know how he found out. It didn’t matter now. The damage was done.We turned a corner, and the car slowed unexpectedly.“What is it?” Leo asked the driver, his first words since we left the hotel.“There’s someone on the road,” the driver replied, braking fully.I looked ahead and saw her.A pr
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 52
Bella’s POVI saw him the second I stepped off the elevator. He was standing by the front desk, talking to someone, but his eyes flicked to me the moment I walked into view. Of course they did. Leo always looked for me like I was something he owned, something he lost but still expected to find again.I kept walking. Not too fast. Not slow enough to be noticed. Just… unaffected. That’s what I wanted him to see. Me, in control. Me, composed. Me, completely untouched by last night.“Bella,” he called out behind me. His voice was calm, but there was a warning in it. Like he knew I’d ignore him, and he wasn’t going to let it slide this time.I stopped near the lobby’s coffee stand. I didn’t turn. I let him come to me.“Tell me the truth,” he said, just close enough for only me to hear. “Is it real? You and Ryan.”His question startled me, and I furrowed my eyebrows. My heart racing in my chest but then I turned, slowly, arms folded, face blank. His jaw was tense. His eyes looked like they
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 51
Bella was gone again.Just like that. Like last night didn’t matter. Like I didn’t watch her fall apart in my arms and whisper my name like it still meant something.The bed was a mess. Her perfume still lingered in the room. But she left behind nothing. Not even a damn goodbye.I sat at the edge of the bed, jaw clenched, my fingers gripping the sheet so tight I thought it might tear. I should have gotten used to this by now. But it still hit the same.A knock came from the door. Room service. Breakfast for two. I didn’t even remember ordering it. It didn’t matter now.I didn’t touch it.I just sat there, chest tight, anger building in a place I didn’t know how to reach.My phone buzzed. Dennis.I snatched it up. “Talk.”His voice came in calm, like he didn’t just have answers I’d been chasing for months. “I’ve finished the research you asked for. I confirmed it. Bella and Ryan’s marriage… it’s not real.”I froze.“What?” My voice cracked in the middle.Dennis cleared his throat. “The
