The Billionaire and the Runaway Bride Read online

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Preface a.k.a. What You Should Know Before Starting

  Classical Music Mentioned/Referenced

  Korean Proverbs or Sayings

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Chapter Sixty

  Chapter Sixty-One

  Chapter Sixty-Two

  Chapter Sixty-Three

  Chapter Sixty-Four

  Chapter Sixty-Five

  Cultural Notes

  Titles by Nadia Lee

  About Nadia Lee

  The Billionaire and the Runaway Bride

  Copyright © 2021 by Hyun J Kyung

  Kindle Edition

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  www.nadialee.net

  Other Titles by Nadia Lee

  Standalone Titles

  Flirting with the Rock Star Next Door

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Mister Fake Fiancé

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Marrying My Billionaire Hookup

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Faking It with the Frenemy

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Marrying My Billionaire Boss

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Stealing the Bride

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  ——

  The Sins Trilogy

  Book 1: Sins

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 2: Secrets

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 3: Mercy

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  ——

  The Billionaire’s Claim Duet

  Book 1: Obsession

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 2: Redemption

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  ——

  Sweet Darlings Inc. Series

  Book 1: That Man Next Door

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 2: That Sexy Stranger

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 3: That Wild Player

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  ——

  Billionaires’ Brides of Convenience Series

  Book 1: A Hollywood Deal

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 2: A Hollywood Bride

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 3: An Improper Deal

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 4: An Improper Bride

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 5: An Improper Ever After

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 6: An Unlikely Deal

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 7: An Unlikely Bride

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 8: A Final Deal

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  ——

  The Pryce Family Series

  Book 1: The Billionaire’s Counterfeit Girlfriend

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 2: The Billionaire’s Inconvenient Obsession

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 3: The Billionaire’s Secret Wife

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 4: The Billionaire’s Forgotten Fiancée

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 5: The Billionaire’s Forbidden Desire

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 6: The Billionaire’s Holiday Bride

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  ——

  Seduced by the Billionaire Series

  Book 1: The Billionaire’s Revenge

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 2: The Billionaire’s Pursuit

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 3: The Billionaire’s Baby

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 3.5: The Millionaire’s Crush

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 4: The Billionaire’s Secret

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  Book 5: The Billionaire’s Scandal

  US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia

  ——

  If you want to receive notices about my latest books, please join my VIP List at www.nadialee.net/vip!

  The Billionaire and the Runaway Bride

  Nadia Lee

  Preface a.k.a. What You Should Know Before Starting

  Hello there,

  I’m thrilled you picked up The Billionaire and the Runaway Bride! It’s a super fun story about an heiress bride on the run and a billionaire underwear model.

  The book has several references to Korean culture and customs. So I thought it’d help to explain some of the creative decisions I made.

  Some of you familiar with K-dramas or K-pop might wonder why I didn’t use words like unni, oppa, umma, appa, hyeong, nuna and so on with the Korean characters in the story.

  It was a creative decision on my part since the literal use of Korean addresses can be complicated and confusing, and it isn’t easy to find the exact word in English to use.

  For example, oppa means “older brother,” but only women can use this term. (Men have their own.) Although oppa means “older brother,” you can also use
it with your older male cousins and men who are of no blood relation. But at the same time you don’t really use it with your brothers-in-law and older male students in high school or college because there are specific words reserved for them. You also cannot use oppa with coworkers since it is too familiar for a professional setting. You can use oppa with your boyfriend, but not all the time. See how confusing it is, with just one Korean address?

  Furthermore, the Korean language has multiple levels of politeness. Japanese has something similar, but Korean is much more granular. (This is why most foreigners find Korean difficult.) I stripped all of that out so the story would read more smoothly in English.

  Some of you might also notice that many Korean characters call each other Mr. or Ms. It’s mainly because Koreans don’t use each other’s name unless you’re very close to them, i.e. family or friends. And even in the case of family, you would never use the actual name of a person older than you, except to fill out legal documents, perhaps.

  In addition, Korean people working for the same company usually use job titles to refer to each other. For example, Secretary Kim, Chief Secretariat Park, Section Chief Min, etc. This allows you to instantly understand the precise form of politeness you need to use with the other person when you first meet them. (Using an improper level of politeness is considered extremely rude. It might seem like a great idea to use the most polite form of Korean with everyone. But in reality, if you use Korean that’s too polite given the circumstance and people involved, it sounds like you’re being sarcastic or ridiculing them.) However, we don’t have this issue in English, and using job titles in front of people’s last names would sound awkward and clunky in English. So I used Mr. and Ms. instead.

  Finally, Ryder Reed, who is referenced in the story, is a super hot actor from some of my previous books.

  I hope this helps you enjoy the story better! I’ve also included a list of Korean proverbs / sayings. And I’ve added extra cultural notes at the end of the story (mainly because they are spoiler-y).

  XOXO,

  Nadia Lee

  Classical Music Mentioned/Referenced

  Frédéric Chopin - Waltz in E minor — Evegeny Kissin’s performance is quite astounding.

  Franz Liszt - Consolation in D-flat major (S.172 No. 3) — This is what Yuna played at the airport before she started the Schubert piece. Daniel Barenboim’s recording is marvelous if you’re interested.

  Franz Schubert - Impromptu for Piano, Op. 90 No. 2, in E-flat major

  “Erlkönig” from Twelve Songs by Franz Schubert, S.558, No. 4, Arranged for Solo Piano by Franz Liszt — This is what Yuna played after Schubert’s Impromptu at the airport

  Sergei Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 2

  Franz Liszt - Etudes D’Exécution Transcendante No. 4 in D minor “Mazeppa” — The specific recording referenced in the story is by György Cziffra. He is considered one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century.

  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Piano Sonatas

  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Sonata Facile

  Sergei Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No 3

  Frédéric Chopin - 3 Waltzes, op. 62 no. 1 in D-flat major “Minute Waltz”

  Dimitri Shostakovich - Suite for Variety Orchestra, 7th Movement Waltz No. 2.

  Franz Schubert - Impromptu for Piano, Op. 90 No. 4, in A-flat major

  Sergei Rachmaninoff - “Tarantella” from Suite No. 2, Op. 17

  “Ellens Gesang III (Ave Maria)” from Twelve Songs by Franz Schubert, S558, Number 12, Arranged for Solo Piano by Franz Liszt

  Euphemia Allen a.k.a. Arthur de Lulli - The Celebrated Chop Waltz “Chopsticks”

  Johann Strauss II - Frühlingsstimmen, Op. 410

  Frédéric Chopin - Étude Op. 10, No. 11 in E-flat major “Arpeggio”

  Sergei Prokofiev - “Montagues and Capulets” from Ten Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75 — Evgeny Kissin’s performance is superb if you’re interested.

  Tomaso Antonio Vitali - Chaconne in G-minor, arranged for violin and organ by Ottorino Respighi — Jascha Heifetz’s recording is marvellous, and it’s the one specifically referenced in the story. He was a child prodigy and the Los Angeles Times called him the greatest violinist since Paganini. There is a version of Chaconne arranged for violin and piano, which is what Lady Min references.

  Sergei Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 3

  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - “Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen” from The Magic Flute — This is also known as the Queen of the Night aria.

  Claude Debussy - Andante très expressif in D-flat major “Clair de lune” from Suite bergamasque, L.75

  Frédéric Chopin - Waltz in A-flat major, Op.42

  Frédéric Chopin - Grande Valse brillante in E-flat major, op. 18

  Frédéric Chopin - 3 Waltzes, op. 34 no. 1 in A-flat major

  Franz Schubert - Fantasie in F minor for Four Hands D.940

  Frédéric Chopin - 2 Waltzes, op.posth.69 no.1 in A-flat major “L’Adieu”

  Frédéric Chopin - 2 Waltzes, Op. Posth. 69 No.2 in B minor

  Frédéric Chopin - Waltz No. 19 in A minor, B. 150, KK IVb/11, P. 2/11

  Frédéric Chopin - 3 Waltzes, op.64 no.2 in C-sharp minor

  Franz Schubert - The Fantasie in C major, Op. 15, “The Wanderer Fantasy”

  Richard Wagner - Prelude to Act III and Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin, WWV 75

  Korean Proverbs or Sayings

  “The bankrupt rich who go bankrupt can live well for three generations.”

  Meaning: A rich family usually has assets that enable them to live well even when they’re faced with financial disasters.

  Special Note: There are other variations of this, such as “The bankrupt rich can eat well for three years.”

  ——

  “You saved your nation in a previous life.”

  Meaning: It is believed that if you did something good in a previous life, you’re blessed in your present life (karma and reincarnation). The two greatest virtues throughout Korean history are patriotism and filial piety. So obviously saving your country in a previous life is worthy of an amazing thing happening to you in your present life.

  ——

  “If you like free stuff, you will become bald.”

  Meaning: According to my research, this saying is relatively modern. It came about because some places gave free haircuts with electric hair clippers in the post-Korean War era. Unfortunately, they didn’t understand the importance of sanitation and hygiene, and they spread scalp diseases that made people’s hair fall out! Ouch. This is no longer an issue (thankfully), but the saying remains.

  ——

  “The person who likes more loses.”

  Meaning: This saying is generally applied to romantic relationships. The person whose love is greater than the partner has to work harder in the relationship to make it work.

  ——

  “Lay a steel sheet on one’s face.”

  Meaning: To be absolutely shameless even though anybody else in the same situation would be embarrassed.

  ——

  “A man and a woman over the age of seven cannot be in the same space together.”

  Meaning: It came from the old Confucius ideal, practiced during the last dynasty in Korea. This was said to be for the preservation of virtue.

  ——

  “You can’t spit at a smiling face.”

  Meaning: It basically means you can’t be nasty to somebody who’s treating you with kindness and friendliness.

  Chapter One

  Yuna

  My friends in America think I have the best brother in the world because he paid for a private charter plane to bring adult cream pies to one of my parties. But, in fact, he’s Machiavelli and Lucifer’s bastard love child.

  So for the good of mankind, I’m going to murder him. Then ask Dad for understanding and forgiveness.

  It’s too much to wait for the silver Mercedes to come to a complete stop. Or for my chauffeur/bodyguard
to open the door. Seething, I jump out and march into the glossy skyscraper that houses the Hae Min Group’s headquarters in downtown Seoul.

  I walk through the vast lobby, the clacking of my Chanel heels like a metronome on the marble floor. My entourage follows. They’re really my mom’s spies, but I tolerate them and pretend I don’t know what they’re really up to because they can be useful. Look at Exhibit One—Ms. Kim, who serves as my assistant when she isn’t reporting my every move to my mom. She’s rushing forward to hit the button for the executive elevator car to make sure that the doors are open and ready for me to step right in.

  I’m not an executive at my family’s giant multinational conglomerate, but I get to use the special glossy black elevator anyway because my doting dad, who’s chairman of the Hae Min Group, gave me access.

  It’s too bad Eugene hasn’t received the memo. But I’m going to make very sure he gets it in the next few minutes.

  The elevator doors shut, and Ms. Kim hits the button for the thirty-ninth floor, where my brother’s office is located. My temper is boiling, but I try not to scowl. What Eugene did was infuriating, but it’s not worth getting wrinkles for.

  No. Instead of having fury create lines on my face, I’m going to unload on my older brother. He deserves nothing less.

  How dare he.

  The second the elevator stops and the door opens, I walk out. Ms. Kim follows, along with two bodyguards.

  Ms. Hong, the most senior of Eugene’s four executive assistants, starts to rise from her desk. She’s also the most conservatively dressed, in a black skirt suit with pantyhose and heels. She even has pearls in her ears. Her face is covered in multiple shades of nude makeup, which, unfortunately, makes her appear oddly colorless.

  “Ms. Hae,” she says, her tone very circumspect. “Mr. Hae isn’t avail—”

  I raise a hand. “Don’t. I know he doesn’t have an appointment.”

  I have my own eyes and ears at the headquarters. Although I have no managerial power at the company, I have something better—ready access to my father. He indulges me and lets me have what I want, as long as it’s within reason. But “within reason” is pretty wide when it comes to my requests. Everyone at Hae Min knows this, and they suck up to me—some overtly, some subtly. And I use it to my advantage. I need to, to survive cases like this.

  Ms. Hong bites her lip, but doesn’t try very hard to stop me. Getting in my way wouldn’t end well for her.