The Billionaire's Runaway Bride

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

15th January, 2021

MILA'S POV

I stood in front of the chapel where MacCarter was about to be wed. It had been 5 long and hard years, but I was back to recover all that I lost or rather, was stolen from me.

I was no longer that weak 18 year old girl, fresh out of high school, without a mom or a healthy father. I turned out to be strong and tough. It was neccessary because life had given me a lot more reasons to be.

**********

8th August 2016

And for the uptenth time that morning, I sighed in frustration. Of all things, why this? I had always been the obedient child and trophy daughter, never making decisions of my own and always abiding by the rules set for me, as the 'heir' of the Monteiro Empire.

If Dad was well, he wouldn't let Claudia treat me as badly as she does. She finally did the most unimaginable. It was the last straw that broke the camel's back. How could she plan my marriage to that man? A total stranger.

"Camilla open this door now!!!" She was here already, I sighed and cursed lightly. Honestly, I didn't have any option concerning opening the door. I had locked myself in my room to recollect my thoughts and look for a way out of this mess I found myself. It was impossible to do that now. I clumsily hopped down my bed and walked to the door.

"Camilla Eloise Monteiro." Whenever she called my full name, she was dead serious.

"Yes mom." I replied, slowly feeling fear increase in my mind. She snorted, and I knew it was a reaction to the title I referred to her as. 'Mom'.

"I'm going to be as brief and precise as can be. You are going to marry MacCarter and that is final. You would be having lunch with him tom...." I was frustrated at the moment and what she was busy saying, wasn't helping my nerves at all.

"Mom I don't need this right now..." She interjected this time.

"Shut up that vile mouth of yours and let me finish." She ordered, her voice sounding firm. "Now you will marry MacCarter and that's end of discussion"

"I won't marry him. I don't deserve this kind of treatment."

"Of course you don't deserve it! You ungrateful little wench. I ask just one thing from you nicely, and you do what? You fumble as expected." Now I saw the real Claudia slowly emerging. She was never this civil when speaking to me. It was either a slap on the face, or rain of insults upon me and my late mom.

"Mom I just didn't think it wasn't fair to..." And that was it! This time she cut me off with a resounding slap.

I could feel hot blood rushing to the left side of my face, and then the hot tears that rolled down my cheek didn't make the pain I was feeling any better. The lump in my throat gradually grew bigger, until I couldn't make out a word from my mouth. I felt pain in every part of my head. This wasn't going to be the first time she'd hit me, but this one hit different because at this point, I was drained. I felt like the only thing I was useful for, was being abused and hurt. I felt shattered.

Yes, shattered! If there was anything I dreamt of having a say about, that was the choice of a life partner. I lived most part of my life in fear, being scorned by the person who was supposed to care for me. I was hoping to live the remaining part of my life with someone who'd treat me nicely, and make me feel like I mattered after all. Someone who would love me, even if it was just a little.

"Firstly, don't address me with that title! Go to your dead mother's grave and find her. Secondly, it would interest you to know that I finally got that stubborn father of yours to sign over all his shares in his company to me. Yes!!" She smiled vilely.

"What did you do to my Dad?" I asked, my senses trying to comprehend what she just said to me. I knew that my father wouldn't have done that with his senses intact. He couldn't abandon me that way.

"Nothing much, dear little one. I was left with no other choice." She said in a tone so calm, that one would actually think she was innocent and filled with goodness. Opposite was the real case. "It took a whole lot of time trying to convince your dad, but I was successful at the end." She sighed dramatically.

"Get out!" I screamed without the fear of being hit, or worse, beaten. I was filled with so much rage and grief. She laughed humourlessly as she walked towards the door. When she got to the door, she said the last thing which rendered me helpless.

"I will leave sweetie. But just have in mind that you practically have nothing to your name, if you refuse to marry him. MacCarter is your only shot at living wealthy. He is your inheritance. We both know your father doesn't have much time to live any longer. The choice is yours, my dear." She gave a small smile, before walking out the door and closing it shut with a loud bang.

"You can't take away my birthright from me!! You took my whole life away already. You are so heartless!" I screamed as I broke down in a fit of tears, my body hitting the cold floor.

********

I walked into the 'Chapel of Restoration' as was written boldly at the entrance. It explained my life's purpose at the moment. To recover and take back all that belongs to me. I could feel my long black gown sweep the floor as I walked in, holding my priceless jewel by my right. It was a good thing the wedding hadn't gotten to the 'I do' part. I didn't want to be cliche at all.

"For richer, for poorer." I heard the officiating priest say.

"For richer, for poorer." MacCarter repeated, smiling at his bride. Wow, so it was true after all? Carter fell in love with Claudia's Niece; Melanie. What was she to him? A rebound? Whatever it was, this is the part where I come in.

"Well, mine would definitely be 'for richer, for richer'. The world revolves around money, no?" Everyone turned in their seats to identify the source of the voice, and there I stood, in all my glory. Carter turned and looked at me, as if trying to recognize me, and boom! His squinted eyes dilated, and it was then that I knew recognition hit him hard.

"Camilla?" He called, definitely sure it was I, but probably expecting me to deny it.

"Nice to see you're doing well Carter." My replied dryly. His face lost all colour immediately. I had given him the confirmation he clearly dreaded. I watched as his face slowly contorted into what seemed like anger.

"How....? where.....? What are you doing here?" He queried. At that point the whole congregation had lost coordination, whispers flying through the wedding hall. I looked at the 'bride to be' who was looking as scared as a kitten. Hmmm... a cry baby, I see.

"Who is she?" She asked Carter who was looking at me until something, or rather, someone else caught his attention. The sweetest little kid I was holding by my right hand. He seemed lost for a while, trying to match a few pieces of the puzzle together. There was not a single difference between father and Son. His son was an exact replica of him.

"Papa?" Ethan called all of a sudden. To be very honest, I hadn't expected that. The chaos in the hall increased.

"No!" Melanie yelled out her disagreement as she shook her head in disbelief. Just then, I saw the woman who had made my life a living hell years ago. Stepmom Claudia. The very person who tried all she could to end me. Slowly, she made her way to the place we all stood, looking at me but not being able to say a word. Her expression was a combination of shock and fear. Fear? The time to be scared hadn't even come yet.

"Ca..Ca..Camilla." she stuttered in disbelief, to which I smiled. I was back and It was time for her retribution. She was going to be paid back in her own coin. Soon.

"You know her, Aunt?" Melanie queried as beads of sweat broke out on her skin. I turned to see Carter still looking at Ethan, who kept his eyes fixed on Carter as well. Ethan put his tiny hands into Carter's and called him again .

"Papa?"

Carter looked back at me immediately. His eyes requesting an explanation.

"Our son is so brilliant, don't you agree? They wouldn't be any need for an official introduction then." I shrugged. "The striking resemblance is more than enough explanation." I said, as Melanie gasped in shock. The next thing she did was pick up her heavy gown and run out of the hall, with Claudia running after her.

'Good' I thought. I'm back and they aren't even ready for me yet.