The Ruthless CEO's Runaway Bride

Chapter 4

Liam's mind raced as the car sped down the winding road, away from Mark's apartment. Olivia lay unconscious on his lap, her delicate features pale, and her breathing shallow. He couldn't believe the turn of events, having found her in the last place he expected – with her ex-boyfriend.

The guilt that had nagged at him since their confrontation at the wedding venue now intensified. He had been ready to force her into a marriage she didn't want, ready to reveal his identity and take her if she wanted to or not but he had no idea about her past or the relationship with Mark.

Her father had informed them that she agreed to the wedding, it was why his father had proposed it to him but it seemed her father lied, she didn't want to get married.

He couldn't fathom the depth of her desperation to run away, and it gnawed at him.

As the car approached his family mansion, Liam's thoughts went to his father. He had to figure out what to do next. He couldn't simply take Olivia back to the mansion, not after the trauma she had experienced. His father, Mr. Carter, was a powerful and unforgiving man. He couldn't allow her to be subjected to his wrath.

His father was yet to find out about her runaway episode as he was away on a business trip but taking her to the mansion would lead to one of his father's men catching wind of the current situation.

"Stop the car," Liam ordered the driver, his voice low but firm.

The driver complied, pulling over to the side of the road. Liam carefully lifted Olivia's limp form from his lap and into her own seat. He fastened her seatbelt securely and then instructed his driver, "Take us to the hospital instead."

While in the hospital, Liam sat in the waiting area, his mind consumed by worry. He couldn't explain why he was so concerned about Olivia's well-being, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he had to protect her.

After what felt like an eternity, a doctor emerged from the treatment area, and Liam hurried over to him.

"How is she?" he asked anxiously, he had thought she would wake up on the drive to the hospital but she didn't.

The doctor, a middle-aged man with a calm demeanor, looked at Liam and gave a reassuring nod. "She'll be fine. She's regained consciousness, and her vitals are stable. It appears she fainted from exhaustion and stress."

Liam let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Can I see her?"

The doctor agreed, and Liam followed him to Olivia's room. She lay in the hospital bed, her eyes fluttering open as he approached. Their gazes locked for a moment, and in her eyes, he saw a mixture of fear and confusion.

"You're in the hospital," Liam said softly, taking a seat beside her bed. "You fainted in the car."

Olivia blinked a few times, as if trying to make sense of her surroundings. "And my father?" she finally whispered, her voice hoarse. "What are you going to do to me? Please you have to help me I don't want to get married."

Liam hesitated for a moment angered by her words again, maybe she had not agreed to this wedding willingly but who could not want to marry to the Carter family, tons of women over the years would die for this but he had turned them down and the one woman his father decided to pick doesn't want anything to do with him.

"I haven't informed your father but I will have to," he said, choosing his words carefully but it was a lie, her father was aware of her whereabouts. "I couldn't let you go back to the mansion like this. I had to make sure you were okay."

"Please help me talk to your boss, I didn't mean to disrespect him, I just -"

"He is a good man, maybe you don't want to now but eventually you will," Liam said, he couldn't believe he was defending himself right now.

"You don't understand I am -"

"Is this about your ex? Are you both still together?" Liam interrupted her, the idea of her wanting another man instead of him was only going to anger him and he wanted to take back his question but it was too late.

"No," Olivia briefly replied.

"I will see what I can do but the only way your marriage will not proceed is if you are married or engaged to someone else," Liam lied.

Tears welled up in Olivia's eyes, and she reached out to grasp his hand. "Please, help me. I know once you talk to Liam Carter then he can talk to my father and everything will be settled."

Liam slowly removed his hand from her grasp as he rose on his feet, "I will take you back to your father and let him decide from -"

"Then marry me," Olivia blurted out.

Liam found himself at a loss for words as his lips parted, "What?"

She wouldn't marry him but she would marry his representative? His hand formed into a fist secretly at the side, she didn't even know him as the representative, she was just going to marry a total stranger over him.

"You said if I was married or engaged, I could use that as an excuse. I can't ask Mark after what he did and I know you only did what you did because Liam Carter ordered you to," Olivia explained.

He had said that to give her less hope about the situation, not to encourage her to think of a foolish plan. He stared at her for a moment, wondering if she would take back her word and admit she was just bluffing but she looked certain.

"Please say something, I can't go back to my father."

"I -I need," Liam struggled to find the right words, "Give me a moment," he managed to say leaving the room.

Meanwhile, Mr. Parker, Olivia's father, was growing increasingly impatient. He had received word that Olivia was in the hospital, he knew Liam Carter had told him to let him handle things but he knew his daughter.

She was nothing but a blabber mouth and she could end up convincing them to let her off, he downed the wine in his hand just thinking about it.

No! He could not allow that to happen, he worked so hard to get Mr. Carter to agree to Olivia marrying his son, the wedding was going to have to hold one way or the other.

He rose up on his feet and decided to go to the hospital to sort things out himself.