The Billionaire’s Debt: Claiming His Runaway Bride

The scent of expensive cologne and ozone hit Sofia before she even saw him. It was a smell that belonged in a glass penthouse, not a dusty diner in rural Maine. "You’re late, sofia." The voice was like velvet over gravel.sofia froze, her hand trembling as she gripped a coffee pot. She turned slowly. Sitting in the corner booth was Silas Vane. He looked exactly the same, yet more lethal sharp jawline, eyes the color of a winter sea, and a tailored suit that cost more than this entire town. "Silas," she whispered, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. "How did you find me?" "I own the bank that holds your father’s mortgage," Silas said, sliding a thick manila folder across the sticky table. "And as of ten minutes ago, I own this diner, too." sofia felt the air leave her lungs. "Why? After seven years, why now?" Silas stood up, his height dominating the small space. He stepped into her personal bubble, the heat radiating off him making her dizzy. He reached out, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw with a possessive flick. "Because you ran away with something that belongs to me," he hissed, his eyes darkening. sofia's stomach dropped. He knows. He knows about Leo. "I don't know what you're talking about," she lied, her voice cracking. "Don't play the innocent with me. You have twenty four hours to pack your things. You’re coming back to New York. You’ll live in my house, under my rules, until your father’s debt is paid in full." "And if I refuse?" Silas leaned down, his lips brushing her ear. "Then I’ll take the one thing you’ve spent seven years trying to hide. I’ll take my son."