THE BILLIONAIRE'S RUNAWAY BRIDE

sed to walk down the aisle

g a tablet that had just shattered

htened on th

ast - all under the Laurent Group's name, all routed thr

. Twice. The numbe

te investment companies, each bearing a different name. On paper, they looked unrelated

r Lau

was supposed to marry to

e, her bre

ord barely

in on the

s - Victor'

an immaculate bride: ivory silk gown her father had chosen with Parisian d

too perfect. Because under all that,

hone

cation. Anot

. Her own name at the top. Her inheritance spelled out, section by section.

ammed agains

t about love. It w

last signature o

tried to protect. The inheritance she grew up heari

and s

Not a wedding.

er phone. "Wh

her dress train. "Mr. Laurent

him.

avered.

ow

e to raise her voic

oked like the perfect groom - black tuxedo, white s

e door softl

o face him,

ed at the screen. For a split second, something

at financial documents on

"That's yo

re up

you a questi

gements like this aren't a

art dropped.

urse I

voice stung far

. "You've been moving Laurent m

ructuring

y father's

dn't

oing. "Wit

ontrol the c

than anything el

him. "What did

t assets were always going to

once, sharp, humorless. "You moved

ed to grow the

ed to make you

think

She held up the tablet. "

e quieter. "You're emot

just learned I've been a means to an end. You've

ritance is

ement give you authori

ayed

e," Arabe

compli

ablet to her side and stared him down. "Y

t he didn't raise his

led her more than

driven. She'd called it love - his need to shiel

He didn't want Arabel

e asked. He didn't reply

father, Julian Laur

nd. The Laurent name had a

ictor to the tablet in

settled in her

ed the door

u k

t the plac

I supposed to ask why my fiancé is movi

went hard. "Lo

m, stunned. "I'm

es

ho's been ste

lian's voice was stone

at them both.

"Victor has been stabi

rring them

olidatin

er I mar

marriage simp

e pret

side Arabell

me to ma

to protect t

g him my i

what's n

"You promised I wouldn't be fo

o do what's b

not th

The Laurent family can't sur

. "So it's always

out the company," he

emembered when Victor slipped it on, how he prom

e ring free. V

her name gently, but

n the light one last t

t marry

e, but his face darkened.

had changed. "I do." Her voice w

mine," she

uests are here. Investors traveled the world for

N

abe

N

lose every Laurent dollar than spend a li

poke. "You're ma

his is the first real decisi

ed for t

ht her wrist. "

his hand, then

hink about what

herself away. "No. I'm

ened t

edding staff, nervous security, flowe

waiting. But

hudding against the marble - one

d after her. "

lla s

were wide. "Wher

ehind them, hundreds of people, an orche

n't that pe

ost calm. "Tell them the

Elise s

glance, Arabel

e doors opened. Laughter, flashes f

last look at the li

ed in the oth

n the hall behind

n't tur

nd her as she disappe

was headed. Not her father. Not Victor. No

r good, Arabella Laurent would no longer be t

om everything her

n't plan on