Page 1 of Christmas with Billionaire's Runaway Bride

Chapter One

Kicked Out

Claire's Point of View

Standing in front of the mirror, I look at myself and wonder what I did to warrant the kind of family I was born into. Growing up was hard for me. My mum favors Boys over girls, and it is quite sad that I am her first child. I was made to dress up as a boy for the first 10 years of my life. Going to school, I had to use the male's restroom until my brother eventually showed up. The little love I was getting from my mother suddenly ended, and everything became my brother's.

I had my father's love, but it wasn't enough too. Everything ended when my brother showed up, and I became a backdrop in his story.

I decided to fight for their love with my grades and made sure to be the best in my grade. I graduated from Furman University with a BSC in Business and thought I had made my parents proud. Little did I know, I was just a tool for them to make money. I was to find a husband or leave their house. I sigh at my terrible past as I shake my head in frustration. I look into the mirror and say to myself.

"Hi, Claire Raymond. You are a strong girl. Regardless of whatever happens to you, you are the protagonist of your story, and no one can take that from you."

I slowly clean the tears trickling down my cheeks as I shake my head in denial.

"No, Claire, you shouldn't be this. Everything would turn out to be fine."

"Claire, are you still in there, pack your things and leave already," my mum screamed angrily at me

"Calm down, Bennie," I hear my father trying to persuade her.

"I'm trying to be calm, but it's time for her to leave. All she does is feed on me, she had a perfect marriage planned, but all she could do is ruin things and run away. I wasn't like this. I obey my parents," she continued fuming.

I held my blonde hair together in a ponytail, my big, round brown eyes filled with water, begging me not to let my tears fall. So, I sniff with my eyes closed, and I feel like my confidence returns upon opening them. Dressed in black tops and shorts with a pink slide, I pull my only briefcase and step out of my room. I pause at the door and look around the room, where it all started, and I cannot lie to myself. I have feelings for this room. My mum is standing with her hands wide apart and placed over her hips as she continues to yell at me.

I know you aren't my child. You should have been happily married to Dev, but what did you do? You left him on the altar on your wedding day! You cuckolded him with his best friend! She continues to yell at me in annoyance. I'm numb to all her insults; this time, I know I have had enough. It's time for me to move out; where I'm moving to, I do not know, but there is one thing for sure, won't be homeless for too long. I tell myself as I stare at the disappointment on my parent's faces.

“I'm leaving," I say to them.

"Leave, my mum replies, and never come back."

I nod at my young brother, whom I am 10 years older than.

He looks at me with emerald eyes, just like my mum's, begging me to stay back.

I wish I could. I approach him and run my hand through his light, thick brown hair.

"Just leave already, my mum says again.

I look at my family as I step out of the house that has held all my memories.

I couldn't help but let the water fall down my cheeks as I left

Standing outside, I look back at the small cabin where I grew up, the one that has held my pains and laughter, my failure and my success, but now I have to bid it goodbye. I begin to walk around the streets of Greenwich, looking for where to stay. It's just 9 am. Where would I head to? How would I survive? Different thoughts flashed across my mind, should I go back home and beg? Should I beg Ahmad to marry me?

I continued to walk around, not knowing where to turn to or who could help me.

Should I call it friends? Yes, Kendra should be able to help.

I brought out my phone to dial her number but realized I had run out of power.

"Shit! I curse out in frustration. What do I do now?

Everyone I know has moved out of Greenwich already. All that is left is myself, so where do I go too? I began to explore my village until I got to the market. I have no money to get anything but nowhere to go. Luckily for me, a man beckons me to come to sit at his stall. With joy, I approach his store as he says to me.

"Miss, you are beautiful. If you can sit here with me, my goods will sell faster." I laugh as I take a seat to help him sell his jewelry. My looks were magic as people approached his stall to get their jewelry. All I could do was act like a mannequin to increase the sale. At exactly 5 pm, everything was sold out, and it was time for him to leave. He turns to me and says

"Miss, thank you so much for today. Here are 2 pounds to appreciate your effort. I have kids at home, and my wife is at the hospital, trying to give birth to my third child, so I wouldn't be able to give you more."

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