Page 1 of The Runaway Bride and the Billionaire

Chapter 1

Amelia

Irolled over in my bed and stared at the ceiling. The glittering chandelier stared back at me. It was early in the afternoon. I could tell from how aggressive the sun was. It poured into my room, making my white bed sheets seem almost angelic.

Five years have passed since my parents forced me to walk away from the only man I’d ever loved. Five years since I had to let go of a love so pure, it restored my faith in the word. Even today, the pain of losing Matteo was still an ever-present heartache. It hurt to say his name, but I said it anyway as though speaking it out loud would somehow change things.

Five years since I broke his heart. Even today, the pain I saw in his eyes was still as vivid as ever as though they were a part of me.

With a deep sigh, I pulled myself out of bed. I’d grown used to getting up late because I spent most of my days handling menial tasks for my father. It wasn’t a real job, exactly, but it was better than doing nothing.

My parents didn’t expect me to be employed. My only purpose according to them was to marry a man whose family was in the same social class. They wanted a marriage that would help the family business. That was all that mattered to them. It was the reason they wouldn’t allow me to marry Matteo. My marriage to him would do nothing for the company. They’d asked me to break up with him and because I always complied with my parents’ requests, I did.

I got dressed in a simple shift dress, trying to rid myself of thoughts of Matteo. A few hours later, I walked into my father’s study prepared to handle whatever banal job he gave me today. What I wasn’t prepared for was the sight I saw when I walked in.

My father, Joseph Pierson, sat at his desk wearing his glasses. Across from him my mother, Nora, sat with her dramatic white sun hat. Why she was wearing it indoors was beyond me.

Beside my mother sat a man I’d only known from a distance. I would give anything to keep it that way. Lucas Everett faced me with the type of arrogance that could only be found in a billionaire’s son. Our fathers had been business partners for years, so I’d known him for most of my life.

Thankfully we’d managed to stay away from each other and I was grateful for that. I’d heard enough about the man to want to keep my distance. I wasn’t usually one to believe in gossip, but everyone couldn’t be lying. I’d never heard a single good thing said about him.

On the other hand, I’d heard all about his womanizing exploits all over the city. I had no interest in being involved with a man like that. Seeing him in my house, in my father’s study, talking to my parents alone, made me incredibly uncomfortable.

I forced a smile onto my face and walked deeper into the room. “Good afternoon.”

“Hello dear,” came my mother’s response. She looked pleased about something. I immediately felt worried.

My father took off his glasses and placed them on the wooden table in front of him. Unfortunately, he made no move to explain the situation I’d just walked in on.

I could feel Lucas looking at me, but I avoided his gaze, choosing instead to focus on the variety of books in my father’s study. Some were so big I struggled to pick them up only a few years ago.

The books were arranged on the wooden shelves in the study and the shelves covered two floors. A staircase in the corner led to the upper library. I remember sliding down the staircase when I was much younger. I wasn’t allowed in my father’s study back then, but I snuck in anyway.

His mahogany desk sat in the center of the room ladened with paperweights, books, a lamp, and a giant globe. I stared at the replica of the earth and willed myself to be anywhere but here.

I didn’t know what had brought Lucas here, but somehow, I knew that it couldn’t be good news. As if sensing my discomfort, my father finally spoke.

“Take a seat, Amelia,” he said as he gestured to the chair in the corner.

I nodded and walked over to it. I placed my hands on my lap and forced myself to keep them there so I wouldn’t disclose how nervous I was. My fingers itched to fidget and I could feel my legs starting to bounce.

“What’s going on?” I finally asked.

My mother smiled brightly. “We have a wedding to plan.”

“A wedding?”

“Yes,” my father answered. “You and Lucas here will be married within a month.”

It was fascinating, the way he proclaimed that statement. It wasn’t a question, and there was no invitation for me to share my opinion on what would be the biggest decision of my life. As always, my parents had decided for me. They were simply informing me of their choice. Informing me that I had no choice.

My choices had never been mine to make. They were thrust on me by my parents. Every path I’d followed in my life had been predetermined by them. My path into married life was no different.

I’d expected my parents to set me up with someone. That was how things were done in families like ours. Arranged marriages were the order of the day. Still, I never expected they would set me up with Lucas of all men.

I was certain they knew of his reputation. They knew he was the biggest womanizer in the city, but they still didn’t mind chaining me to him for the rest of my life. For my parents, all that mattered was Lucas’ social class. As the son of billionaire Thomas Everett, Lucas ranked very highly.

I sat still as I contemplated what this meant. Marrying Lucas was the last thing I wanted to do, but I’d never gone against my parents before. I’d always done what they expected of me even when it went against what I wanted for myself. I have always placed their needs above my own.

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