All Chapters of The Billionaire's Runaway Bride: Chapter 11 - Chapter 15

(Elena POV)Later that evening, Noah guided me to the guest lounge while Damian handled “internal matters.”Which I assumed meant interrogations, threats, or worse.I wandered into a nearby study—just to escape my thoughts—and that’s when I saw it.A folder.Black. Unlabeled.Resting on the desk like it wanted me to find it.Something tugged at me. Familiarity?Or fear?I opened it.The first page hit me like a truck.“Lawson Debt Agreement — Blackwood Industries.”My father’s name.Damian’s signature.Dates that made no sense.“No…” I choked.The documents detailed financial pressure, default notices, corporate buyouts… and losses my father never told me about.To me, it looked like proof—proof that Damian destroyed my father’s business.My breathing hitched.A shadow fell across the table.I turned to see a man I didn’t recognize leaning against the doorway.“Well,” he said smoothly, “looks like you found the truth.”My chest tightened. “Who are you?”He smirked.“Someone who cares

(Elena POV)I didn’t stop running until my lungs burned.The hallway blurred past me, my heartbeat thundering so loudly it drowned out everything else. I slammed my bedroom door shut and locked it, pressing my back against it as if Damian himself might burst through.My head is spinning.I couldn’t breathe.The folder.The lies.The silence. Why did he lie to me? Or was it a lie? My thought process was no working at the moment.My hands shook as I shoved clothes into a bag—anything, everything. I didn’t care if it matched. I didn’t care if I forgot things. I just needed out.Out of his mansion.Out of his control.Out of the fear curling in my chest. Out of his life.He ruined my family.Or maybe he didn’t.That uncertainty was worse than the truth.Tears streamed down my face as I grabbed my phone. No signal. Of course. The walls here swallowed freedom whole.I wiped my face roughly and moved to the balcony. The night air hit me, cold and sharp. Below, the garden stretched into dark

I woke up coughing, my throat burning, my body shaking uncontrollably. Damian was there. Holding me. His arms were tight around me, his face pale, eyes wild with fear. something in me shifted just for a little bit. “You came,” I whispered. “Of course I did,” he said hoarsely. “There was never a world where I wouldn’t.” Tears slid down my face. “I almost—” My voice broke. “I know,” he said softly, pressing his forehead to mine. His body hugging mine felt like a safe space “But you didn’t.” I clutched his shirt weakly. “They did this,” I whispered. “Didn’t they?” His jaw hardened. “Yes.” “For you?” “For us,” he corrected quietly. I swallowed hard. “Damian… I didn’t know where else to go.” His arms tightened. “You never run alone again,” he said, voice trembling with suppressed rage. “Never.” As I drifted back into unconsciousness, I realized something terrifying. Running away hadn’t saved me. Damian had.Beep Beep Beep... I woke up to t