The Ruthless CEO's Runaway Bride

“Do you take Liam Carter to be your lawfully wedded husband?” “N-No,” Olivia stuttered as she stared at the man before her. She couldn’t do this, she couldn’t marry Liam Carter. It was only a week ago when Olivia discovered her father’s intentions to marry her off to the son of Mr. Carter. A name that sent shockwaves through her very being. “This would be beneficial to the family, a business alliance like this would-“ “I won’t marry him, I can’t,” Olivia had refused whatever ideas her father was trying to plant in her head. Everyone in the city knew the Carter family was nothing to write home about, they were well known for their illegal means of going about business and their son Liam Carter wasn’t far off. Liam Carter, the heir of the multibillion company, Cater Enterprise. No one had seen him for years as he spent most of his life in Italy but that didn’t stop the rumors that circulated about how he acquired anything he wanted through ruthless means, means that were unimaginable to most. There were rumors of business deals that had left others ruined for life. The thought of being tied to a man whose very name sent shudders through those who knew his reputation was unbearable. How could her father agree to give his daughter off to a man like that, a man who didn’t have any value for anyone but himself? This wasn’t a business alliance, this was a devious plan set by her father to use her for his own benefit. “You will marry him, Olivia. My company is at the verge of going bankrupt and this is the only solution,” her father said. “I can’t marry him, how could you agree to…” “You will do as you are told,” her father cut her off, grabbing her by the arm and handing her to his men. “Let me go,” she tried to break free from their grasp but they were too strong for her. They successfully took her to her room and locked her in for a week until the wedding day. When the wedding day arrived, she cried out and begged her maid to please talk to her father on her behalf but she refused, encouraging her instead to do as she was told and avoid being locked up again. “Do not upset your father, you know how he can be,” Mrs. Curtis hushed her, she worked for the Thompson’s for years and if there was anything she learnt it was not to disobey Mr. Thompson’s order. She pitied the young miss but she could only hope her husband would treat her well. “After five years, you can ask for a divorce and I am-“ “Five years?” Olivia's jaw dropped as she cried out. “Please, talk to him, I will be good, I promise, I won’t disobey him ever again.” But all her words went into deaf ears. Olivia's heart raced as she stood before the altar of the grand church, her fingers nervously clutched a bouquet of white lilies. The priest's voice resonated through the cavernous church but Olivia could barely hear his words as she was lost in thought. The priest cleared his throat believing the miss must have not heard him correctly, “Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” he repeated. Olivia stared at the man before her, some minutes back she had been informed by her father that Liam couldn’t make it to the wedding but he would be sending a representative. How could he miss his own wedding and let another man stand in for him? The thought of it only fueled her anger as his actions only justified her point that she couldn’t marry into that family. "N..No." The word hung in the air, as gasps of shock rippled through the church, and the guests and her family stared at her in disbelief. She had just defied her father’s word for the first time in years and worst in front of thousands of people. Without giving herself time to second-guess her decision, Olivia threw the bouquet on the floor, she turned holding her gown in place and fled the church. “Olivia!!!!!!!” her father yelled, calling out to her.