Chapter 2 Runaway Bride

• AMELIA
• I stared at the hulking building in front of me, my heart racing in my chest as my nervousness grew by the second. My stomach squirmed and I tightened my grip on the business card in my hand—a souvenir from the stranger I'd slept with the night before.
• I'd awoken to find the hotel room empty. Not only did he leave me a thousand dollar note, he'd left me his business card as well. It was as though he was hoping that I would find him. It should have made me feel like a sl*t.
• But as preposterous as it sounded, I'd gone in search of him because I needed his help.
• After deciding between visiting his home and showing up at his office, I'd chosen the later.
• "You can do this, Amelia," I muttered, adjusting my sunglasses.
• Squaring my shoulders, I stepped into the building and headed straight for the receptionist.
• "How can I help you?" A blonde woman by the reception asked, flashing me a smile.
• "I'm here to see Mr. Lucien Gray," I said and her smile widened.
• "Do you have an appointment with the CEO?" she asked.
• Before I could give her a response, a familiar voice spoke from behind me.
• "She's with me."
• Swallowing hard, I turned around to face the man who'd just spoken. Clad in a tailored black suit, he towered over me. His dark hair had red highlights and his eyes were much colder than the last time I'd seen him.
• Lucien Gray.
• The devilishly handsome stranger I'd slept with. The man who was supposed to be my mate and saviour. He was my only ticket for breaking free from Fabian.
• His icy gaze swept over me and I swallowed hard, struggling to maintain my composure.
• "I didn't think you would really show up," he said and I forced out a smile.
• "Can we talk? Preferably somewhere private," I said, and he raised an arched brow.
• "I have nothing to say to you," he deadpanned and my heart sank.
• "You left me your card. You wanted me to find you, right?" I said, my voice tinged with desperation.
• "I have an important meeting to attend in a few minutes," he replied.
• "Marry me," I blurted out and his right eye twitched.
• "I'm in no mood for games, Miss..."
• "Amelia. Amelia Hayes," I stated.
• "Well, Amelia Hayes, you're asking the wrong person. Have a good day. I hope we don't cross paths again," he droned and started to walk away, accompanied by two men.
• "You are my mate!" I said and he halted.
• Anxiety crept into me as I stared at his back.
• "Don't be stupid. I would have felt it. But you know what? I feel nothing," he droned and proceeded to walk away.
• As I watched him leave, I realized something. I couldn't smell him. I couldn't feel him either.
• He was right.
• He wasn't my mate.
• Heavily dispirited, I left the building and returned home.
• As soon as I stepped into my apartment, I was greeted by Fabian’s oppressive presence. He was sitting on my bed with his arms folded across his chest, his eyes dark with suspicion.
• "Where were you?" He demanded.
• When I remained silent, he rose to his feet and stalked towards me with a menacing look in his eyes.
• "A little bird told me that you went to see my sworn enemy," he said, grabbing me by the throat.
• My eyes bulged in their sockets, angry tears pooling in my eyes as I was reminded of the brutality he'd meted out to me even in the past.
• "I don't know what you're talking about," I choked out and he slammed me against the wall.
• "Lucien Gray. Does his name sound familiar?" He demanded and my blood ran cold in my veins.
• The thought that Fabian knew who Lucien was had never crossed my mind.
• "Did you ask him for help? He rejected you, didn't he?" He mocked me and I squeezed my eyes shut, tears escaping my closed eyelids.
• "You should face your reality now. You can't run from me," he said, releasing me.
• Spent, I crumbled to the ground, my hair tumbling over my face.
• Grief weighed down on me as I sat there, defeated.
• Weeks passed quickly and soon, it was my wedding day.
• I swallowed past the lump in my throat as I sat in front of a large mirror while Nelly, a make-up artist, worked on my face.
• I'd been feeling queasy and nauseous since the previous night. Plus, my period was three days late.
• I'd bought a pregnancy test kit the previous day but I'd been too afraid to use it. My dad would kill me if he found out that I had gotten pregnant before my wedding.
• "You look really beautiful..." Nelly said, but I barely heard her.
• A fresh wave of nausea hit me, and I shot to my feet, rushing to the bathroom.
• Tears pricked my eyes as I heaved into the toilet bowl for the next few minutes.
• Only then did I decide to use the pregnancy test kit.
• ....
• "Do you, Amelia Hayes, take Mr Fabian Lancanster, as your loving husband?" I heard the priest say.
• The whole place went silent and I fidgeted in my spot, refusing to make eye contact with Fabian.
• He moved closer to me, placing an arm around my waist.
• "What are you doing?" He demanded through gritted teeth.
• Along with several other probing gazes, I could feel my father's heated stare fixed on me. But all I could think of was the double lines I'd seen on the pregnancy test strip a few minutes before the wedding.
• Lucien had to be the father of the baby.
• What do I do? I thought.
• "Miss? Are you alright?" I heard the priest say.
• I stiffened.
• Slowly, I lifted my head and made eye contact with Fabian. I could see a promise of everlasting torture in the depths of his brown eyes.
• Was I really going to submit myself to such a monster?
• Clenching my fists, I made my decision.
• There was only one person who could get me out of this mess. It was no other person than Lucien Gray, Fabian's sworn enemy.
• "I'm not sorry about this, Fabian," I stated, releasing an exhale.
• Confusion crossed his features and in the next second, I sprinted away from him and rushed towards the exit.
• "Amelia!" I heard Fabian yell and I increased my pace, rushing into my car. I'd just hit the gas when he rushed in front of my car to stop me from leaving.
• Growling, I steered the car forward, forcing him to leap out of the way.
• My heart was thudding madly in my chest as I pulled out of the parking lot and drove away. I glanced at the pregnancy test on the seat of my car, sucking in a sharp breath.
• I felt bad for dragging Lucien into my business, but I had no choice.
• Pulling up in front of Lucien's home, I pressed the ringer by the gate and waited with baited breath. There was a chance that he wasn't home. But, I was willing to take my chances.
• The gate swung open, revealing a meticulously manicured garden leading up to a grand, imposing mansion. Holding the hem of my wedding dress, I walked through the eerily silent grounds, the weight of my decision pressing down on me.
• When I made my way to the front porch, I pressed the doorbell. The door slid open right away.
• Confused, I stared at the entrance for a minute. Then, I walked in. The air was knocked out of my lungs at the enchanting sight of Lucien who was seated on an olive green couch in the sitting room. His piercing gaze met mine and I gulped, tightening my grip on the pregnancy test strip in my hand.
• His gaze followed me as I approached him slowly. If I moved any faster, I would trip over my wedding dress.
• "You've got guts, I'll give you that. Shouldn't you be at your wedding?" he said once I was standing right before him.
• "I'm here for a proposal," I responded and he arched a brow, amusement flashing in his eyes.
• Lowering his glass of wine on the coffee table in front of him, he leaned back on couch, his stare unwavering.
• "Go ahead. Entertain me," he drawled.
• This man was dangerous. He was constantly surrounded by an air of mystery. I had a feeling that running to him for help wasn't a very wise decision.
• Blinking severally, for a moment, I was overcome with the urge to flee from him.
• He cocked a dark brow, his gaze turning icy.
• "Are you here for a staring contest?" He demanded.
• Blowing out a breath, I held out the pregnancy test strip to him. His eyes widened, shock exploding over his features.
• "What the hell is that?" He asked, rising to his feet.
• Our gazes locked once more. I could see the storm in his eyes. If looks could kill, I would be six feet under. Even so, it didn't stop me from uttering the couple of words I uttered next.
• "I'm pregnant."