The Runaway Bride Is Marrying His Billionaire Boss novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: Three Hundred Thousand

"It came from an address that was opened on Sunday," Laurence said, ending the call. "It's been shut down since."

"Who knew you were marrying me on Sunday?"

"Anyone at that party. Half the county."

"Or somebody who wanted it to land on your board chair's desk."

He looked at me and slid the phone into his pocket.

"I told him you're going to be my wife on Saturday," he said. "He can attend, or he can read about it."

On Wednesday evening Laurence parked in front of the house where I grew up.

It was the same house, big and white, with the same maple on the lawn.

Marlene had replaced the porch swing.

She opened the door before we knocked.

"Delaney. Mr. Hartwell. Come in, come in. Dinner's nearly ready."

She took my coat herself and hung it in the closet that had been my mother's.

My father sat at the head of the dining table with his hands folded.

Shelby sat at one side.

Brett sat beside her, with a clean white bandage on his hand, and he had been told to stay quiet.

There were six places.

Laurence took the chair next to mine and unfolded his napkin.

"Sheldon," he said. "Thank you for having us."

"I didn't have you. My daughter did."

"Let's eat," Marlene said brightly.

Nobody spoke through the soup.

The spoons clinked against the bowls in the quiet.

When the plates for the main course came, my father put down his knife.

"Delaney. I'll say this once."

"All right."

"This wedding is a mistake. You don't know this man."

"I know enough."

"You know that he needs a wife." My father's eyes went to Laurence. "Everybody in the business knows his grandfather's terms. He needs a wife by his birthday, and you walked in at the right moment."

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