All Chapters of The Billionaire's Runaway Bride: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The gates of the Hayes estate stood open.For the first time in years, Ava was looking at the house that had once been her entire world.The tall iron gates.The overgrown garden.The stone fountain in the center of the courtyard.Everything looked almost exactly the same.Except now she knew the house had been hiding secrets beneath its walls.Secrets about her.Secrets about her family.And possibly the truth about her birth.Ava stepped out of the car.Daniel immediately followed."You should stay here," he said.She looked at him."Absolutely not.""You've been through enough.""So have you.""Ava—""Whatever is beneath that fountain concerns me."Daniel sighed."I knew you were going to say that."She gave him a small smile."Then stop arguing with me."Adrian stepped out of the car."I agree with her."Daniel looked at him."Of course you do."Adrian shrugged."She's my sister."Ava's heart warmed at the word.Sister.It still felt strange.But it also felt right.She turned tow

The room fell silent.Too silent.Ava stared at Daniel.Daniel stared at the screen.And Marcus's words continued echoing through the underground chamber.Daniel Hayes never existed.He is actually my son.Ava's fingers loosened around the file.It slipped from her hands.The pages scattered across the floor."No."Daniel shook his head."No."His voice was barely audible.Marcus laughed through the speakers."You've spent your entire life believing a lie."Daniel looked toward the ceiling."Show yourself.""Why?""Because I'm not going to listen to a voice hiding behind a speaker."A pause.Then Marcus answered."You'll see me soon enough."Daniel's breathing became heavier."You're lying.""Am I?""Yes."Marcus laughed."Then ask your mother."Daniel slowly turned toward Victoria.She was crying.That was all the confirmation he needed."Mom?"Victoria looked at him.Daniel's voice cracked."Tell me he's lying."She couldn't answer."Mom!"Victoria finally whispered,"I'm sorry."Da

The room erupted into chaos.Ava stared at the empty space where Ethan had been standing only seconds ago.He was gone.Completely gone."Where did he go?" Daniel shouted.Adrian turned toward the darkness."I don't know."Ava's heart was pounding."You said you knew what he was."Adrian looked at her."I said he wasn't born an heir.""Then what is he?"Before Adrian could answer, a deep metallic sound echoed through the tunnel.BOOM.The entire passage shook.Dust fell from the ceiling.Daniel grabbed Ava."Stay close."Another explosion.Then the lights came back on.Ava looked around.Her father was gone.Elena was gone.Victoria was gone.Only Ava, Daniel, Adrian, and Aria remained.Ava's heart sank."Where are my parents?"Adrian looked toward the other end of the tunnel."They took the wrong passage.""Who?""The Serpent."Ava immediately started running.Daniel caught her hand."Wait.""My mother is down there.""And we don't know what's waiting.""I don't care."Daniel looked

"Mom!"Ava dropped to her knees.Elena lay motionless on the ground.Her eyes were open, but they were unfocused.Ava grabbed her hand."Mom, please!"Nothing."Mom!"Daniel immediately crouched beside her."Check her pulse."Ava's hands were shaking too badly.Daniel pressed two fingers against Elena's neck.He looked at Ava."She's alive."Ava released a breath she didn't know she had been holding."Then why isn't she waking up?""I don't know."Ethan knelt beside them.His eyes immediately went to the black serpent symbol on Elena's wrist."Don't touch it."Ava looked at him."Why?""Because that's not ink.""What is it?"Ethan's expression darkened."A tracking mark."Aria's eyes widened."The Serpent?"Ethan nodded."They marked her before they left."Ava looked around the ruins."Then they're watching us.""Yes."Adrian pulled out his phone."I'll call an ambulance."Ethan shook his head."No."Adrian looked at him."Why?""Because the moment she enters a hospital, they'll know

Ava couldn't breathe.She stared at the man standing in the doorway.The same man who had just claimed to be her grandfather.The same man everyone had mourned.The same man whose death had supposedly changed the Black Rose forever.Her grandfather.Alive."No," Ava whispered.The man smiled."Hello, Ava."She took a step backward."You're not him."He chuckled."Look at me."Ava did.There was something unmistakable about him.The eyes.The jawline.The small scar beneath his chin.She had seen his photographs her entire life.She knew that face.She knew those eyes.But it was impossible."My grandfather died nineteen years ago.""That's what they told you.""Your funeral was held.""A funeral can be arranged.""Your body?"He smiled."Not mine."Ava's stomach twisted.She looked toward the Queen."Is this true?"The Queen didn't answer."Mom?"The Queen's eyes remained fixed on the old man."His name is Victor Cole."Ava's heart stopped."My grandfather."Victor smiled."Your mothe