All Chapters of The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride: Chapter 21 - Chapter 28

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

Leo’s POVI 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 all 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 were you? I

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

I stopped right in front of Leo, folding my arms across my chest, a smirk curling at the corner of my lips.“I want to be part of the competition,” I said, my voice calm but firm, “and in exchange, if I win, I want the necklace you gave to Stella. The one from that day in the hospital.”A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd.Stella’s face twisted in shock, then fury. Her eyes darted to Leo, her hands clenching into tight fists at her sides.“No!” she nearly screamed. “No way! That necklace is mine! You can’t take it from me!”Her voice echoed through the hall, her carefully polished image cracking right in front of everyone.The flashes kept coming, reporters whispering, trying to get every word.Leo didn’t move or say anything at first, still staring at me like he wasn’t sure if this was real.“Leo!” Stella’s voice shook. “Tell her! Tell her she can’t have it!”His eyes finally left mine, glancing at her briefly, but there was no reassurance in his expression."You need to speak