Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Billionaire's Runaway Bride: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

Chapter Twelve: The Woman He Warned Her AboutAva stared at Isabella.For several seconds, nobody moved.The words from her father's voice continued to echo in her mind.Do not trust Isabella.Ava's fingers tightened around the old phone.She looked at the woman standing only a few feet away.Isabella looked nothing like a criminal.She looked composed.Elegant.Almost offended.But Ava had learned one thing that day.Appearances meant nothing."Why?" Ava finally asked.Isabella's eyes flickered."Why what?""Why did my father tell me not to trust you?"Daniel stepped forward."Ava, don't jump to conclusions."She turned sharply toward him."He literally called us from this phone and told me not to trust her.""I know.""Then why are you defending her?""I'm not defending her.""Then explain."Daniel looked at Isabella."She deserves an explanation."Isabella laughed bitterly."Now you want explanations?"Daniel's expression hardened."Don't start.""You're the one who should be expla

Ava screamed.Her hands flew to her face as darkness swallowed the underground room.For a few terrifying seconds, she couldn't see anything.She couldn't even tell where Daniel was."Daniel!""I'm here!"His voice came from somewhere to her left.Ava reached out blindly."Where's Chloe?""I'm here!" Chloe cried."Stay where you are!"Daniel's voice was firm, but Ava could hear the fear beneath it.Then—Click.A small light came on.Not the main lights.A red emergency bulb above the doorway.It illuminated the room just enough for Ava to see the faces around her.Daniel.Chloe.Adrian.Everyone looked shaken.But one person was missing.Ava slowly turned around.Her heart pounded."Who whispered to me?"No one answered.Daniel immediately moved toward her."Did someone touch you?""I don't know.""What did they say?"Ava swallowed."They said..."Her voice trembled."...my real mother is alive."Daniel's expression changed.Adrian looked away.Chloe covered her mouth.Ava noticed."

Ava stared at the photograph. She couldn't speak. The woman in the picture stood beside her father, smiling at the camera as though the world had never given her a reason to be afraid. She was beautiful. Dark hair. Soft features. The same eyes Ava had seen every morning when she looked into the mirror.Her mother.Or at least, the woman everyone had told her was dead.Ava slowly looked at Daniel."You're sure?"Daniel didn't answer immediately.His eyes remained fixed on the photograph."Daniel."He finally nodded."Yes.""How?""My father showed me her photograph years ago."Ava's fingers trembled."You knew what she looked like?""Yes.""And you never told me?""I didn't know the truth.""You knew enough."Daniel looked at her."I knew your father had been protecting a secret. I didn't know that woman was your mother."Ava looked back at the photograph."Then why did you say she's dead?"Daniel's jaw tightened."Because that's what I was told.""By who?"He hesitated."My mother."A

Ava couldn't move.Her father's eyes were fixed on hers.Five years.Five years of believing he was dead.Five years of crying over a grave that had never held his body.Five years of wondering why he had abandoned her.And now he was standing only a few meters away.Alive.Watching her.Smiling.Ava's lips parted."Dad..."The word barely escaped her mouth.Her father looked at her for several seconds.Then he smiled."My little girl."Ava's eyes filled with tears.She took one step forward.Then another.But Daniel's captor pressed the gun harder against his head."Stay where you are."Ava stopped.Her father's smile disappeared."Don't hurt him."The man holding Daniel looked at him."That's up to your father."Ava looked at the man she had spent her childhood worshipping."Let him go."Her father shook his head."Not yet.""Why?""Because I need you to listen."Ava laughed bitterly."Listen?"She wiped her tears."After everything you've done?"His expression hardened."You don't

Ava stopped breathing.Her father's gun was pointed directly at Daniel.For a few seconds, nobody moved.Nobody spoke.The only sound was the distant crackling of the burning house behind them.Ava stared at the man who had once been her hero.Her father.The man she had spent years believing was dead.The man who had just admitted that her life had been promised to the Black Rose before she was even born.And now he was being forced to choose between her and Daniel."Dad..."Her father's hand trembled."Ava, move.""No.""Ava, please.""You said you wanted to protect me.""I do.""Then put the gun down."The chairman laughed."Don't be foolish."Ava looked at him."You've been controlling my family for years."The chairman smiled."And now I'm controlling you."Daniel stepped forward."Don't listen to him."Ava immediately grabbed Daniel's arm."Don't."He looked at her.His eyes were strangely calm."If he has to shoot someone, let it be me."Ava's eyes widened."No.""Ava.""No!"S