Runaway Bride: His Greatest Regret Novel by Julian Hawke _ Novel




Runaway Bride: His Greatest Regret Chapter 01

"Ms. Bennett, you want the entire wedding to proceed as planned, but the bride will be someone else? Did I get that right?"
Faced with the wedding planner's confused look, Elara Bennett nodded without any hesitation.
"Yes, the wedding will go ahead in two weeks as scheduled. I'll send over the updated materials in the next few days."
"Alright, would you like me to inform Mr. Ashford..."
"No!" she interrupted, her voice sharper than intended. Noticing the planner's startled expression, she quickly softened her tone.
"He's quite busy. From now on, just coordinate everything with me."
This wedding’s her last gift to Rowan Ashford.
A real surprise’s only worth it if he doesn’t see it coming until the very second.
---
Elara left the wedding planning company and booked a ticket to leave Chicago on her phone. Just as the booking confirmation message popped up, Rowan's call lit up her screen.
When she picked up, his gentle coaxing voice came through. "Elara, Mom said she misses you and wants me to bring you home for dinner tonight.
"She also said she has something for you. Can you guess what it is?"
Everyone in Chicago knew Rowan was ice-cold by nature—aloof and reserved, never letting anyone get close. Women threw themselves at him left and right, but all along, he only gave all his tenderness to Elara.
Until today, Elara had always believed this to be true.
She’d watched her deadbeat dad cheat on her mom with her own two eyes, so Elara got super careful about relationships.
Before agreeing to be with Rowan, she had told him seriously, "Rowan, I can only accept unconditional love. If you ever stop loving me, we’ll go our separate ways amicably. But if you cheat on me? I swear you’ll never find me again."
Rowan held up his hand to swear, all excited and nervous. "Elara, I only want you for my entire life. I promise I'll always love you and treat you well. Time’ll prove how much I love you!"
Those earnest promises of his still rang in her head. But time’s proven him wrong.
Rowan didn’t keep his word.
Just last night, in the pocket of his discarded jacket, she discovered his marriage certificate to Serena Whitlock.
The Ashfords had sponsored a bunch of underprivileged students over the years, and Serena was one of ’em. Elara remembered Serena clear as day—not ’cause she was anything special, but ’cause the girl had a lot of devious little ideas.
Elara’d watched Serena make a play for Rowan firsthand. But at that time, Rowan coldly rejected her. "Sorry, I have a girlfriend."
Serena stayed out of Elara’s way after that. But over a month ago, Rowan suddenly brought up that Serena’s mom was on her deathbed, and she wanted to see her daughter married before she went.
Rowan—who’d never even spared Serena a kind glance—actually asked Elara what she thought, said he wanted to do her this favor.
Elara refused without hesitation. "I only accept unconditional love. If you’re gonna go along with this and give your time to someone else, then we’re done."
At those words, Rowan’s face dropped instantly, and he swore up and down he’d never cheat on Elara.
She thought that ridiculous mess was over. But turns out, Rowan didn’t just sneak off and marry Serena behind her back—he was keeping her as his side piece. He was with Serena night and day, not a care in the world that their wedding was only two weeks away.
Not receiving a response, confusion laced Rowan’s voice. "Elara, are you listening?"
Elara responded softly, "I’m not at the house. I’ll head to the old mansion on my own later—no need for you to come get me."
Rowan's tone was concerned. "When’d you head out? Why didn’t you ask me to come with you?"
Elara heard the rustle of fabric and a woman’s soft panting in the background.
Her face went cold. "I’ve got a surprise for you for our wedding day. I just stopped by to hash out some details with the wedding planner."
Rowan’s voice was buzzing with barely contained excitement. "What surprise?"
Elara's lips twitched. "If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise now, would it? You'll find out on our wedding day."
Rowan tamped down his excitement and replied softly. "Whatever you say, Elara. I’m dying to see this surprise. See you tonight."
Before he hung up, Rowan even blew a few over-the-top kisses into the phone. But Elara knew those kisses weren’t for her. He was kissing someone else.
She played dumb, staring at the dead phone screen calm as ever. Her chest was in knots.
"Rowan, I hope in two weeks, when you see what I’ve got planned for the wedding, you’re really surprised," she thought silently.

READ FULL NOVEL HERE