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Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-01-26 07:23:11
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The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 19
I stared blankly at him, blinking a few times. Spend the night together? I shook my head. No. No way. I peeled my eyes away from him, pushing the door open, stepping out. Cold rain hit my skin instantly. I shivered. "I'm heading back home," I said. Behind me, I heard his door open. I frowned, not looking at him as he slammed the driver's seat closed behind me. "And once I get back, I'll get you fucking arrested." I put my hands to my head like it was a shield from the rain, squinting my eyes to see the road back, if there would be any way to get back on my own. I was about to start walking when he held my hand, "there's no point," he yelled over the loud showers, "you can't find your way back in this rain." I pulled free from him, "yeah, I wonder why, because none of this would have happened if I was at home!" "Great," I muttered, storming toward the cabin, gating the cold against my skin. "Bella—" "Don't talk to me," I snapped. "Don't even look at me." He said nothing. But
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-03The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 20
Leo’s POVListening to her speak, my eyes were focused on her lips. They were just as beautiful as I remembered, her words started to fade away anf I found myself leaning closer.Her lips were soft, warmer than I remembered.For a second, she kissed me back. Her hands almost reached for my neck, pulling me closer. I could feel her heartbeat racing against mine.But then, she froze.Bella pulled back fast, eyes wide, breath uneven. Without warning, she reached in, striking my face with a slap.It stung but barely did a thing to make me move."What-what was that?" Her voice cracked, full of panic.I didn’t know how to answer."You fucking bastard, Leo, how dare you?!" She took a step away from me, "so not only did you choose to kidnap me, you assaulted me too?"Hearing the genuine hurt in my voice made me realise I crossed the line, unlike me, she really wasn't stuck on two years ago.It stung my chest how she repelled from me."Bella, wait." I reached for her, but she stepped back, s
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-04The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 21
Bella’s POVThe rain was cold. It soaked through my clothes, chilling me to the bone. But none of that mattered. I was focused on Leo. His breathing was uneven, his eyes wide and unfocused. I didn’t understand what had happened. I didn’t ask. I just knew I had to get him inside.I’d left angered, hating that for a short minute I had kissed him back. But more than that I was completely shocked by what just transpired. “Come on,” I whispered, wrapping my arm around his waist. He was heavy, his body tense, but he didn’t resist. His steps were slow, uneven. Like he wasn’t really here. Like his mind was somewhere far away.We stumbled back into the cabin. The door creaked shut behind us. The rain kept pounding outside, but in here, it was quieter. I guided him to the small couch, helping him sit. His shirt was soaked, clinging to his skin. His chest rose and fell fast, like he couldn’t catch his breath.I didn’t know what to say. So, I said nothing.I found a towel draped over a chair. I
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-05The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 22
Bella’s POVI stared down at his hand holding mind, trailing my gaze up until I met his eyes and then back at his hand. I snatched my hand from his grip and repelled. I could still feel the warmth of his hand on mine, even though I wasn’t holding it anymore. His eyes had been so intense, pulling me in, making me forget, just for a second, everything that had happened. Everything he’d done.For a brief moment, I let myself get lost in it. In him. His gaze. His warmth. The familiar feeling that used to make my heart race.But then it hit me.Like a slap to my own face.I pulled my hand away fast, my heart pounding for a different reason now. Anger. Disgust. At him. At myself.What the hell was I doing?I stood up quickly, putting distance between us. His eyes followed me, confused, maybe even hurt. But I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to fall for it. Not again.I heard the bed creak as he shuffled in bed. I crossed my arms over my chest, my jaw tight. “No,” I muttered under my breath,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-06The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 23
Leo’s POV I woke up with a sharp headache, my hands instinctively went to search the space beside me. Empty. She was gone. I sat up, wincing and groaning, massaging my temples. I stared at the empty space, so none of last night was a dream after all. I clenched my jaw, my fists tightening on the blanket. She chose him. A man who couldn’t even love her the way I did. The child wasn’t mine. Every illusion I’d clung to was shattered in an instant. Two years. Two fucking years of searching for her, chasing shadows, thinking I could fix what was broken. What a joke. I swung my legs off the bed, grabbing my clothes from the floor. My movements were stiff, cold. “Enough,” I muttered to myself. “No more.” I stormed out of the cabin and got into the car. My hands gripped the steering wheel as I drove back to the house, the anger simmering beneath my skin. The front door swung open as soon as I parked. My mother stood there, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. “Leo!” she snapped. “Where wer
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-07The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 24
I leaned back in my chair, a smirk playing on my lips as I stared at the ceiling. Bella was coming. She was actually coming. For the first time in weeks, I felt lighter. The anger, the frustration, all of it seemed to dissolve at the thought of her stepping into my world again. This was it. My chance. She could try to avoid me all she wanted, but now, there was no running. A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. Dennis stepped in, his hands full of documents. “Sir, how do we prepare for Le Deon’s arrival?” I almost laughed. “Simple. Make sure—” I froze. The name hit me like a slap to the face. “Wait… what did you just say?” I asked, my smirk vanishing. Dennis blinked. “Le Deon, sir. We need to start making arrangements for her arrival.” “Why?” “I told you she’d signed up for the competition?” Dennis looked just as confused as I did. My entire body tensed. Not Bella. I had been celebrating for nothing. I cleared my throat, forcing my expression to stay neutral.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-08The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 25
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my cufflinks. My black tux fit perfectly, sharp and tailored. The crisp white shirt underneath, paired with a dark silk tie, made the look complete. My shoes were polished until they shined, and my hair was styled neatly. I looked every bit the part for tonight’s event.But I couldn’t focus on how I looked. My mind was elsewhere.“Dennis,” I called out as I fixed my tie one last time. “Any news from her team?”Dennis stood by the door, his phone in hand. He glanced at the screen and shook his head. “No news, sir. Nothing at all.”I frowned. “She hasn’t said why she’s doing this? Others have begged her to show up before, and she always refused. Why now?”Dennis cleared his throat. “No reason given, sir. No statement from her team.”I nodded slowly, the same questions running through my mind. Why this event? Why here?“You ready?” Dennis asked.I adjusted my jacket, giving myself one last look. “Yeah, let’s go.”We arrived at the event, and the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-09The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 26
As soon as I got to the boutique, I ran my fingers over a silk gown, considering it, when a sharp, familiar laugh made me pause. “I still can’t believe it,” a voice drawled behind me. “After all those years, and she ended up with nothing, still shopping off the racks like some loser, I see.” I didn’t turn around. I didn’t need to. Stella. “Oh, come on,” another voice joined in, dripping with false pity. “She didn’t end up with nothing. She married some nobody. That counts for something, right?” Laughter. My grip on the fabric tightened. “She thought she could do better than Leo.” Stella’s voice was laced with amusement. “And now look at her. No power, no name, no future. Honestly, it’s a little pathetic.” More laughter. Whispered comments. They wanted me to hear them. They wanted a reaction. Slowly, I turned, letting my eyes settle on Stella. She was standing with two other women, both of them holding fancy bags in their hands. “Oh, Bella!” she greeted with fake laughter. “
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10
Bab terbaru
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 61
The air was cooler by the time I stepped out of bed. The curtains swayed gently from the breeze sneaking in through the open balcony door. I didn’t hear him, but I could feel that I wasn’t alone. The night had that charged stillness, like something was waiting to be said.I walked across the room, barefoot, careful not to put weight on my sore ankle. The ache had dulled to a throb. I reached the doorway and saw him.Leo stood with his back to me, leaning slightly on the railing, one hand resting flat on the cold metal, the other holding a glass he hadn’t taken a sip from. His sleeves were rolled up. His shirt clung gently to his back, just loose enough to move with the breeze.He didn’t turn when I stepped onto the balcony. I think he knew I was there the whole time.“You don’t sleep much, do you?” I asked.His shoulders lifted in a quiet shrug. “Not when I feel like I missed something.”The stars were brighter out here. The sky stretched above us, open and wide, but his voice pulled
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 60
H e came quickly, like he hadn’t hesitated for a second. I didn’t even remember what I sounded like on the phone. Maybe I hadn’t said anything clearly. Maybe all he heard was my voice breaking. But it was enough.The door opened and closed gently behind him. He didn’t ask questions. He just walked to where I stood near the window, eyes red, the necklace still resting against my collarbone.He didn’t say a word.He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, slow and careful, like he was afraid I might fall apart if he moved too fast.I melted into him. For once, I didn’t pull away.His hand slid up my back, the other resting lightly on the back of my head. He didn’t press me or kiss me or try to fix it all in one moment. He just held me like he was making space for the sadness I couldn’t carry alone anymore.We stayed that way for a long time.Eventually, he guided me toward the bed, pulled back the covers, and helped me lie down.He didn’t leave.He slid in beside me, fully cloth
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
