His Runaway Bride

Chapter 1

Grimsfield, Zermira.

Ryth sipped on her vanilla latte. Nakatuon ang mata niya sa cover letter na inabot ni Mr. Gaston para sa Documentary film na balak gawin ng station nila. Her heart thumped fast when she saw the exact location.

"Bakit sa lahat ng probinsya, Zemira pa ang napili niya?" her brows arched.

Grimsfield is her hometown. Walang masama sa napili nitong lugar. Siya ang lang naman ang may problema sa lugar na iyon. Maglilimang taon na rin simula ng umalis siya.

"I'm not going back to that place," she whispered to herself. Pinahid niya ang tumakas na luha sa kanyang pisngi.

Simula nang malaman ni Mr. Gaston, ang direktor na ngayo'y boss niya, na taga Grimsfield siya, hindi na ito tumigil kakakwento sa kaniya na nais nitong gumawa ng isang documentary film sa lugar na iyon. Siya ang nais nitong kunin na anchor dahil ilang beses na rin silang nagkatrabaho at nagustuhan nito ang professionalism niya.

But now, she didn't know if she's being professional with her decisions. She know that there's nothing wrong with the location. It's just that her past was buried there.

Tumayo siya mula sa swivel chair saka kinuha ang backpack sa desk niya. Hinubad niya ang press ID at inilagay sa doon. She heave a deep sigh bago lumabas ng office.

Ryth took a deep breath and tried to focus on the task at hand. She knew that convincing Mr. Gaston to change their plans wouldn't be easy, but she had to try.

"Sir, I really don't think Grimsfield is the right choice for our documentary. It's a small town with very little to offer. We should consider Dalmvel instead. It has a much richer history and more interesting stories to tell."

Mr. Gaston looked at Ryth skeptically. "I've already made up my mind, Ryth. Grimsfield is the perfect location for our documentary. It's where we're going and that's final."

Ryth could feel the tension rising in the room. She didn't want to argue with her boss, but she knew she had to stand her ground.

"Sir, please hear me out. I understand that you've made a decision, but I strongly believe that we should reconsider. Dalmvel is just as accessible and it has so much more potential. We could create a really compelling story if we focus on that town instead."

Mr. Gaston looked at Ryth for a moment before speaking. "I appreciate your input, Ryth. But we're going with Grimsfield. End of discussion."

Ryth sighed and nodded, feeling defeated. She knew there was nothing more she could do to change his mind. Just as she was about to pack up and leave, her phone rang.

Ryth's phone suddenly rang in the middle of the tense discussion with Mr. Gaston. She looked at the screen and saw that it was from the hospital. She hesitated for a moment before picking up the call.

"Hello?" Ryth said, her voice shaking.

"Ms. Melendres?" a nurse from the hospital asked.

"Yes, this is she," Ryth replied, her heart racing.

"I'm calling from St. Mary's Hospital. Your grandmother, Matilda, was brought here earlier today and she's now in the ICU. We need you to come here as soon as possible."

Ryth felt like her world came crashing down on her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before responding. "I'll be there. Thank you for letting me know."

She ended the call and stood up, her hands shaking. Mr. Gaston immediately noticed her distress and asked, "What's wrong?"

"My grandmother is in the ICU. I have to go to the hospital," Ryth said, her voice breaking.

Mr. Gaston's expression softened. "Go. Don't worry about this pitch. Family comes first."

As Ryth rushed out of the conference room, she couldn't help but feel frustrated. First the pitch, she had been so close to convincing Mr. Gaston to change the location of their documentary, but now everything seemed so insignificant compared to her grandmother's health.

As she walked out of the building, she could feel tears streaming down her face. She hadn't been back to her hometown in years, not since the day she left everything behind. And now, she had to face all of it again, the memories and the people she had left behind.

But none of that mattered right now. All she could think about was her grandmother. Ryth couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. She didn't know what she was going to face when she arrived at the hospital. All she knew was that she had to be there for her grandmother, no matter what.

Ryth has always been close to her Lola Matilda. Her grandmother had been her constant source of love and support, especially after her father's death and her mother's abandonment. Lola Matilda was the one who raised her and took care of her. She was Ryth's only family, and she cherished her dearly.

Nang makarating siya sa basement ng station ay pinatunog kaagad niya ang Honda Civic niyang pula saka pumasok sa loob noon.

Ilang sandali siyang napatitig lang sa harap. Habang tumatagal ay pabigat ng pabigat ang dibdib niya. Remembering all of the pain she's been through. Tears pooled in her eyes. She then closed her eyes for a brief moment as all of the memories came flooding back.

Frustrated, she muttered, "D*mn."

Anxiety rushed through her body. Her hands went cold.

Her Lola Matilda.

Tumungo siya sa manibela ng sasakyan. F*ck! She can't help but let out her frustration. Maybe she can't escape her past. Kahit anong gawin niyang iwas sa lugar na iyon ay hindi siya makakatakas.

And now, destiny forced her to face the past she's been running for the last five years.

She's coming back to Grimsfield, and she doesn't have a choice.

As Ryth drove slowly through the familiar streets of Grimsfield, feeling a pang of nostalgia wash over her. The green fields of rice paddies stretched out in every direction, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and familiarity in the landscape. But as she approached the hospital, she couldn't shake off the feeling that this wasn't her home anymore. She had left Grimsfield years ago and had made a new life for herself in the city.

Ryth could feel her anxiety building. She had left this town years ago, running away from the memories and the pain that had haunted her for so long. She had never wanted to come back, and now she had no choice.

As she parked her car and made her way to the ICU, Ryth's mind wandered back to her childhood memories of this town. She remembered playing in the fields with her cousins, watching the sunset over the hills, and helping her lola Matilda cook traditional dishes in the kitchen. But those memories felt distant now, and Ryth couldn't help but feel like an outsider in her own hometown.

As she entered the hospital room, Ryth was greeted by the sight of her lola Matilda lying on the bed, hooked up to machines and tubes. Her heart broke at the sight, and she felt a wave of sadness wash over her. Ryth took a seat by her lola's side and held her hand tightly, feeling grateful for the opportunity to be here with her in her final moments. Despite the feeling of detachment from her hometown, Ryth knew that she would always cherish the memories and the love that she had shared with her family in this town.

Ryth's heart sank as she approached the bed. She couldn't believe how frail and fragile her grandmother looked. She took her grandmother's hand in hers and whispered, "Lola, it's me. I'm here."

Tears welled up in Ryth's eyes as she sat down next to her grandmother's bed. Ryth spent hours keeping watch over her grandmother Matilda. Feeling hungry, she left to buy some food. However, upon returning to Matilda's room, she was surprised to find a man there.

Ryth froze as she saw Enoch standing near her lola's bed—the guy she had hoped never to see again.

Enoch James Echeverra, her ex-fiancé and the man she had left at the altar. Ryth's heart sank as she looked into his eyes, filled with bitterness and anger. He still looked the same, tall and handsome with piercing blue eyes. But now, there was a hint of bitterness in his expression that Ryth couldn't ignore.

"Enoch," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I didn't know you were still working here."

Ryth felt a pang of guilt and regret as she looked at Enoch's cold and bitter expression. She wanted to explain, to make things right, but she knew it was too late.

Enoch looked at her and Ryth saw the anger flash in his eyes. "Hello, Ryth," Enoch said, his voice cold and hard. "Long time no see," he chuckled, sarcastically. "Why would you?" he said coldly. "You left me at the altar, remember? You didn't even bother to tell me you were leaving town."

Ryth winced at his words, not knowing what else to say. She felt the weight of the past pressing down on her, threatening to overwhelm her. She tried to smile, to pretend that everything was okay, but she knew that Enoch could see through her façade. He knew her too well, and he knew the pain and regret that she was feeling.

For a moment, they just stood there, silent and awkward, surrounded by the beeping machines and the sterile smells of the hospital. Ryth wanted to run away, to hide from the memories and the emotions that flooded her mind.

But she couldn't. She had to be strong for her lola, to put aside her own pain and be there for her family.

"Can we please put the past behind us for Lola Matilda's sake?"

Enoch didn't say anything for a moment, his eyes fixed on her. Ryth felt a wave of regret wash over her as she saw the pain she had caused him.

Finally, he spoke, his voice icy. "Fine, for Lola Matilda's sake," he said. "But don't expect me to forget what you did to me, Ryth," he said before leaving the room.

Ryth sat by her lola's side, holding her hand and praying for a miracle. She closed her eyes. Guilt slowly crept into her heart, realizing that she had been running from her past for too long. Maybe it was time to face it, to confront her fears and her regrets, and to find a way to move forward.

But for now, all she could do was wait, hope, and pray. And as she remembered Enoch's bitter face, she knew that whatever happened, she had to face this moment – the moment when her past and her present collided, and everything changed.

CHAPTER 2

Enoch felt his heart pounding in his chest as Ryth walked into the room. He couldn't believe she was there, standing in front of him after all these years. But as he looked at her, all he could feel was the pain and hurt that she had caused him when she left him at the altar.

He tried to keep his emotions in check, but he couldn't help the bitter words that escaped his lips. He felt like he needed to protect himself from the pain of being hurt again by Ryth. He didn't want her to see how much she had hurt him, so he tried to show her that he had moved on.

He knew he should be professional and focus on his patient, but he couldn't help feeling resentful towards Ryth. He didn't know how to deal with the conflicting emotions inside him, and he didn't know if he could ever forgive her for what she had done.

Enoch took a deep breath when he closed the door and walked down the hallway, trying to calm himself