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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 97
Isaac didn’t speak.Isabel’s fingers loosened around his wrist almost instantly as she realized how it must have looked. The silence stretched too long, and panic climbed up her throat. She took a small step back, her hand falling away quickly.“I- I meant… because my next doctor’s appointment is soon,” she stammered, forcing a light laugh as if she were making some casual remark, “that’s all, just wanted to say it before you left.”Isaac didn’t even blink, “Lena will take care of that,” he said coldly.Then he turned and walked off, not giving her another glance.She stood there for a moment, still frozen, still holding the air where his wrist had been. Her lips pressed into a flat line, the back of her neck growing hot. Why had she said anything at all?It was stupid. He was right. She didn’t need to talk to him. She had Lena for everything.Still, as he disappeared around the corner, she felt the familiar sting creep into her chest. Her arms folded over her stomach as she slowly tu
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 96
The next morning started quiet.Leo had barely stirred when I slipped out of bed. I threw on one of his shirts and padded over to the window, tugging the curtain aside.That’s when I saw them.At first, it looked like a few people, maybe a delivery truck. But then I saw the flash of a camera. Then another. The long lenses. The crowd standing just beyond the gates. I stepped back slowly.They were here.He sat up in bed behind me, rubbing his eyes. “What’s wrong?”I looked over my shoulder. “They’re outside.”He stood immediately, walking over to the window. He didn’t speak. Just stared for a second before grabbing a shirt and pulling it on.By the time we got downstairs, Dennis was already pacing in the foyer, phone in one hand, frustration in his voice.“They must’ve gotten a tip. I’m already calling legal,” he said. “We’ll have to push the release forward. The more we wait, the more they spin.”Leo moved past him, straight to the front door. He opened it just enough to peek through.
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 95
I didn’t let go of his hand. Not even for a second. The officers had finally released him after hours of questioning, but I could still feel how tense his fingers were, locked with mine like he was holding on just to stay grounded. His face didn’t show much, as usual, but I could tell. He wasn’t fine.“Are you okay?” I asked him again as we stepped outside the station.He gave me the same answer as before, voice low, almost tired, “I’m fine, Bella. Let’s just go home.”I didn’t push further. I just followed him quietly to the car, still clinging to his hand. Dennis was already at the curb, waiting with the back door open. He gave a stiff nod as Leo slid into the car, then I followed. The door shut with a heavy thud behind us, sealing in the silence.Dennis glanced at us through the rearview mirror before starting the car. “I’ve already made some calls,” he began, eyes focused ahead. “I’ll control the narrative, Leo. We’ll put out a statement in the morning. Just a brief press release.
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 94
The moment the handcuffs clicked around Leo’s wrists, the entire house fell into stunned silence. The staff that had been peeking from the corners stepped back quickly, whispering among themselves. His mother stood frozen at the bottom of the staircase, mouth slightly open but saying nothing. Bella couldn't move. Her legs felt stiff and her heart had dropped somewhere into her stomach. She reached forward as he was guided toward the door.“Leo,” she called out, her voice breaking. He turned to glance at her briefly, nodding once, like he wanted to reassure her, but it didn’t land. Nothing about this felt right.The officers didn’t manhandle him. They weren’t shouting. They didn’t drag him out. Everything about it was calm, cold, and terrifying.“Wait, what is this about?” Bella asked, following them quickly. One of the officers looked at her with a clipped expression.“We just need to bring him in for questioning,” the officer explained. “Mr. Rathore is a public figure. When someone o
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 93
author povBella followed closely behind Leo, quickening her steps to keep up with him. He didn't say a word as he stormed down the hallway and pushed open the front doors of the police station. She nearly had to jog to keep up once they hit the parking lot."Leo, please slow down. Just talk to me. Where are you going?" she said, reaching out and grabbing the sleeve of his jacket.He shook her off without looking back, yanking open the driver’s door. She ran around the car and stood in front of it, blocking his path."You can’t just go there and lose control. Let’s think this through. Please. Just talk to me."He finally looked at her. His jaw was clenched so tight, she could see the tension in his neck."Get in the car, Bella. Now."She hesitated, then moved aside, her hands trembling slightly as she opened the passenger side and got in. He started the engine, slammed it into gear, and drove off without another word. His hands gripped the wheel tightly. She glanced at him, brushing h
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 92
Leo had asked me three different times not to come.He even leaned against the door with one hand on the knob, turning back to say, “Bella, just wait here. I’ll let you know everything.”But I didn’t say a word. I just grabbed my purse, brushed past him, and got into the passenger seat before he could argue again. By the time he got into the driver’s seat, I was already buckled in and staring straight ahead like it was final.He didn’t fight me after that.We had barely pulled out of the driveway when his hand slid across the center console, resting gently on my thigh. His thumb brushed small circles over the fabric of my jeans, and he didn’t say anything for a while. Just drove, one hand on the wheel, the other keeping me grounded.“You okay driving?” I asked, glancing at him from the side.His eyes stayed on the road, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.“I am,” he said. “I wasn’t, for a while. But since I saw you again, I don’t know. It doesn’t scare me anymore.”I l
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 91
I heard a voice. It was deep and sudden, and my whole body locked up. I turned so fast that my heart slammed against my ribs. My hand reached for the closest thing—a charger sitting on the table. I gripped it tight, lifting it high, ready to defend myself.Footsteps came toward me. Closer. Too close. I screamed and swung hard.But strong hands grabbed my wrist before I could hit anything. I screamed again, fighting against the grip, my chest rising and falling as I struggled to pull free. Then I heard it.Leo’s voice, low and urgent, said my name, said it was him. I blinked fast, vision blurring from panic and tears, and finally saw his face. His eyes were wide with concern. I dropped the charger. My knees buckled.He caught me instantly, one arm locking around my waist, the other cradling my head. I crashed into his chest, face buried against his shirt, sobs breaking free before I could stop them. I shook in his arms, unable to speak at first.He lowered us both to the couch, never l
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 90
My head was still spinning, but at least now I could see.The light above flickered faintly as I sat against the cold wall, legs tucked under me. Leo was right beside me, crouched low, one hand gripping mine, the other rubbing small circles along my back. He hadn't moved from my side since they untied me. His jacket was around my shoulders.When the paramedics finished checking my pulse and cleared me for now, I turned my face toward him, voice small. "Where are they? The ones who took me?"He looked up slowly, jaw flexed. "They ran. Police chased them, but by the time they got into the building, the whole place was empty. Except for you."I swallowed, letting that sink in. "Where is this place?"He stood up halfway and scanned the shadows around us. "Old warehouse. Not far from the main road. Looked abandoned.""How did you even find me?"He looked at me then, finally sitting beside me. "Your phone. You left it in the car. I tracked it, but when I got to the street and saw the car wi
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 89
My head felt heavy, like someone had dropped a rock on it. I groaned softly, trying to move, but something was wrapped tightly across my face. I blinked under the blindfold, confused and tense. It took a few seconds before I realized my hands were pulled back and tied. Not just tied, they were tight. The rope scratched against my skin every time I tried to move.My ankles were bound too. My body was flat against something hard and cold—probably a floor. My breathing turned shallow as I tried to sit up, twisting my wrists, pulling hard. Nothing gave.I turned my head slightly, hoping for sound, for anything."Hello?" My voice cracked. It sounded small, echoing against bare walls.I swallowed, my throat dry. "Please. Who are you? What do you want from me?"There was no answer. Just the hum of quiet. My chest tightened.Footsteps approached, slow and controlled. My body stiffened as I turned my head toward the sound. I didn’t know who it was. My heart raced.Then came a voice. One I knew
