Page 86 of The Billionaire's Runaway Bride

I can’t believe it. The world is closing in on me. I need that trust fund. No, I don’t need all of it, I only require enough to divorce Jeremy. And now he’s threatening to manipulate it away from me?

My arms and legs feel heavier as I tense up. Muscles lock up as panic floods me and my body reacts. He’s speaking of a theoretical threat, but in my mind, I perceive it as a tangible danger.

Fight or flight. I’m powerless to fight them, and flight is out of the question.

I want to run, but where? Where would I go? I only want to hurry to Caleb, but he’s not here like he so flimsily promised he would be. He hasn’t answered my texts as far as I know, and that’s all my fault anyway. I pushed him away. I was so dumb to think I could overcome this so we could be together however we saw fit.

Now, as I see the first step of the arbor area that designates the altar, I’ve reached my fate.

This is my fate.

Sounds fade. I can’t see straight. My skin feels separate, but I realize my father is handing me over. Woodenly, so numb and unattached as my mind splits from my body, I know I’m moving. I’ve stepped onto the altar. Those frigid, icy cold fingers. Jeremy is gripping my hand. I’m facing him, but I refuse to register the enormity of this finally happening when I wanted to resist it so hard for so long.

I can’t face him with any intention. I zone out, staring at the edge of the lapels on his tux. It’s a straight, unmarred line of black over the whiteness of his shirt. A spot of nothing, but it’s safe. I can stare there, and it’ll seem like I am facing him.

“I do.”

The pair of words pierce the fog of panic.

He’s spoken them. Jeremy just opened his awful mouth and vowed to be my husband.

“Lauren, do you take this man to be your husband?” The rest of the gibberish from the officiant’s question falls deaf on my ears. My heart races, and the roar of my pulse is too loud in my ears.

I hesitate, pressing my lips tightly together. If I open them, I’m afraid the truth will slip out.

No.

Hell no.

I do not.

“I told you to stay the hell away from her!”

I blink once, then twice.

I’m imagining it. I’m hearing things. Because there is no way Caleb just yelled out that threat.

But the crowd gasps and murmurs. Jeremy’s squeezing my hand painfully as I turn to face that aisle.

Caleb stalks down the long path of carpet, crushing the rose petals strewn there. He loosens his tie as he zeroes his murderous glare on Jeremy as he tries to pull me closer.

I wrench my hand away and stare at the man who’s come to save me.

Chapter 33

Caleb

I feel everyone’s eyes on me. The whole gathering is staring at me as I stride down the aisle with purpose, and I don’t care. I don’t give a damn who is looking, what they’re gossiping about, and if anyone might be trying to call security.

Dalton’s out there somewhere, holding back the security team’s supervisor who was alerted to someone—me—crashing the wedding.

I sure as hell am. And it looks like I came just in time.

Jeremy curses, snarling at Lauren. I hear him even from this distance, telling her to stand back, but she doesn’t listen. The spell of Jeremy’s power over her has been broken. She doesn’t move an inch, remaining frozen in place as she watches me rush up to the altar. Her eyes show nothing but shock and relief, as though she can’t believe them. I hope she snaps out of it soon because if she stays speechless for too long, I’ll have to tease her about not believing me. I told her I’d have her back, and I damn well will.

Starting now.

I should’ve started two weeks ago, but we all made mistakes.

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