The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Read Free Page A

Maybe she should make that her life’s ambition. Perhaps if she irritated him, he would eventually release her from their marriage.
     
    Looking back as he exited the limousine himself, she knew that was a silly plan. Jason had only found amusement with her before. Each time she’d done something silly or what her father would consider inappropriate, Jason would simply wink at her or casually stroll over to kiss her cheek or forehead.
     
    The front door of Jason’s house opened before she reached it and the butler, Higgins, went by, bowing as she entered. “Welcome home, ma’am,” he said.
     
    Sophie was about to greet him when she heard the female voices somewhere in the house. She sighed heavily and considered hiding in the library which was off to the right. But instead, she squared her shoulders and prepared mentally for battle. She knew it wouldn’t be too bad this time since Jason was right behind her. The two, lovely blond women had been the horror of her teen years. Evelyn, who had married Sophie’s father, worked hard to make Sophie feel inferior. But her sharp claws were retracted whenever Jason was within hearing distance.
     
    Evelyn and her daughter Jocelyn rounded the corner, both of them laughing about something but they came to a stunned halt as soon as they saw Sophie standing in the front entry hall.
     
    “Good grief, Sophie!” Evelyn said, her perfectly manicured hand moving to her throat, covering the Hermes scarf that fluttered elegantly with the movement. “We didn’t know you were coming home or we would have planned a grand celebration with all of your friends and acquaintances.” Evelyn stopped talking and took in Sophie’s appearance. Her blue eyes widened in horror as she looked at Sophie’s filthy jeans and sweatshirt that had definitely seen better days. “What on earth are you wearing, dear?” she asked.
     
    Sophie saw Evelyn’s eyes flick to the doorway and the older woman quickly masked her shock. Obviously Jason had just come through the doorway. A bright smile broke onto Evelyn’s face but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. They were still the cold, icy blue that had always chilled Sophie with their hatred. “No matter, dear. We’ll get you cleaned up and throw those silly things away. Won’t we, Jocelyn?”
     
    Jocelyn, with all of her perfect, blond beauty, smiled smugly and nodded. Jocelyn hadn’t quite mastered her mother’s ability to hide her hatred but obviously Jason was oblivious.
     
    Sophie kept herself from shrinking when Jocelyn moved towards Sophie saying, “Absolutely. Don’t worry about a thing, Jason, dear. We’ll take care of dear Sophie for you. Just leave it to us,” she said and hooked her arm in Sophie’s.
     
    “Thank you, ladies, but I think Sophie and I have some things to discuss, if you don’t mind. Perhaps the transformation could wait a few more minutes?” he suggested, a charming smile on his face as he looked to Evelyn and Jocelyn, his gaze never straying to Sophie, as if saying she didn’t really have a choice in the matter.
     
    Evelyn and Jocelyn didn’t take the not so subtle hint. Evelyn’s laughter trilled shrilly in the large, wooden foyer as they continued to lead Sophie towards the stair case. “Don’t be a bore, Jason. You probably have some very important matters to discuss but you need to let Sophie arm herself with an acceptable outfit. A woman must always look her best, shouldn’t she?”
     
    Without another word, Jocelyn pulled Sophie along to the stairs where the two women talked to each other about what Sophie should be doing and speculating on where she had been since she’d left. None of the questions were directed towards her so she simply followed along unwillingly, caught in their trap.
     

Chapter 3
     
    The women chattered away as they made their way up the stairs, coming up with silly stories to justify Sophie’s disappearance and sudden reappearance. But as soon as they rounded the corner,