The Ruthless CEO's Runaway Bride

Chapter 5

As Liam stepped out of Olivia's hospital room, he walked down the corridor, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Marry her? The idea of marrying Olivia was something he had wanted to do in the first place but now it felt terrifying.

He knew that marrying her under false pretenses was far from ideal, but he also recognized the desperation in her eyes. She was willing to do whatever it took to avoid a marriage she didn't want.

Liam pulled out his phone and dialed his father's number. This was not a good idea, it was a terrible idea, maybe he should just walk back in and tell her who he truly was, just maybe she would reconsider.

But, she hated him, she would only get upset and try to run away again. The call went through, and Mr. Carter's voice sounded through the receiver. "Liam, what's going on? I called to find out about the wedding but everyone seem to be trying to cover up something."

Liam took a deep breath running his fingers through his hair, "Father, there's been an unexpected development," Liam began, trying to choose his words carefully. "Olivia fainted and she's here in the hospital now. She's in distress, and she doesn't want to go through with the wedding."

Mr. Carter's tone grew icy instantly. "I was informed that she agreed to this wedding or did the Parkers trick us into believing otherwise. We can't let her change her mind at this point. I have made some calls about your wedding."

Liam sighed, "I know, Father, but I didn't expect this either. She's scared, confused, and desperately seeking a way out. She wants to get married to me, she just proposed it."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. "Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" Mr. Carter asked, he knew his son had plans to attend his wedding as a representative, he didn't bother with it as long as the wedding was going to hold.

Liam hesitated, but he knew he had to be honest with his father. "Yes, Father, she asked me to marry her, just to get out of this situation. I know it's not a real solution, but it's the only one she can see right now."

Mr. Carter let out a frustrated sigh. "We can always find you another woman to marry. As for the Parkers they will regret doing this."

"I will marry her father, I only called to inform you of my plans."

"You will do no such thing."

"She humiliated me in public, its only a matter of time before it becomes headline news and You said it yourself that if I am married I will be entitled to certain things in the business, and you also want a grandchild," Liam explained. He knew there was no way he would marry Olivia without his father finding out, especially with his false identity.

He couldn't just let her off, she was his now.

"I will call you back, I am currently in a meeting. What ever you decide on keep me updated but keep in mind that I will not go easy on the Parkers even if you choose to marry their daughter under false pretence," his father said disconnecting the call.

Returning to Olivia's room, Liam found her sitting up in bed, her eyes red from crying. "I am sorry if what I said was outrageous, I didn't mean to just -" she asked, her voice trembling.

"We should get married as soon as possible," Liam interrupted her.

"Really?"

"You suggested it right? But keep in mind that for this plan to work it would have to be real, a real wedding. I will be your husband and you will be my wife," Liam pressed on hoping to hear her change her mind.

"Yes I totally understand," Olivia nodded her head.

"So, you would marry a total stranger over Liam Carter, do you hate him that much? Why do you even hate him?"

"He is evil, you work for him so you know him better than I do, I can't be with someone like that, someone who puts himself before others, someone who I don't love."

"But you don't love me, you don't even know my name."

"It's different."

"How different?"

She lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper, "I know it's crazy, and I don't want to put you in an impossible situation. I just didn't know what else to do, we can get divorced once my father calms down and forgets all about this."

"I understand your fear, Olivia. Marrying you just to save you from this isn't the right way, but we'll find a solution. Maybe we can talk to your father, explain your feelings, and see if he'll reconsider," Liam tried to give her another chance to change her mind.

Olivia looked doubtful, "He's very stubborn. He won't listen. He wants me to marry the Carter's whether I like it or not, he doesn't care about my opinions and he won't even listen to anyone."

Meanwhile, Mr. Parker had arrived at the hospital, a scowl etched on his face. He made his way to Olivia's room, where he found the two of them deep in conversation. He cleared his throat, and both heads turned to look at him.

"Father," Olivia gasped frightened by his presence, she had hoped not to see him so soon.

Mr. Parker's gaze bore into Olivia, and he spoke with a stern tone, "Explain yourself, young lady. What nonsense stunt were you trying to pull out there huh? Trying to embarrass me publicly."

Olivia swallowed hard, her eyes shifting between her father and Liam's representative. "I... I can't go through with it, I don't want to marry him, I'm sorry."

Mr. Parker's face grew redder with each passing moment, and his voice thundered through the room. "You have no idea how hard I've worked for this arrangement, how many calls I had to make to make this happen and now you want to back out?" He yelled closing the distance between them he grabbed Olivia by the hair as she winced in pain.

"You ungrateful child, after everything I have done for you," her father continued slapping her right on the face before she could speak.

Liam was stunned by his action, how dare he treat her like that right in front of him. "Let go of her this instant."

Mr. Parker turned to the man opposite him with a deadly serious look. "Stay out of this young man, I thought Liam said he would come and take her himself why isn't he here yet."

"Let go of her this instant," Liam repeated again seeing that Mr. Parker was still holding on to Olivia hair.

Mr. Parker slowly let go of Olivia's hair not because of the man's order but because he knew the man was a representative of Liam and might inform Liam of this.

"I will be getting married to your daughter and I have informed Liam Carter," Liam announced.

"What nonsense are you saying?" Mr. Parker eyes widened, "Is this why you ran away?" He faced Olivia. Maybe she was having an affair with this man and was shocked to see he was Liam's representative.

"You stupid slut, is this what you do now?" Mr. Parker yelled raising his hand to slap her on the face again but Liam held his hand mid air as he pushed him back as Mr. Parker fell on the floor.

"Get the f**k out of here before I do something we will both regret," Liam warned.