Mr billionaire's regret chasing his irresistible wife by Gabby Emmanuel

Trouble in paradise

(ARIELLE'S POV)

While Sofia clamped her mouth shut, startled by Jared's sudden appearance, I slowly rose from the chair, still reeling from the shock of all I had heard.

My heart ached-it wasn't just what Sofia had said, it was the fact that I had to hear it from her, not Jared.

I got to Jared and ignored him completely as I walked past, but he tried to talk to me.

"Arielle, please listen-" he said, trying to reach for me.

I shrugged his hand off and walked upstairs, my eyes welled up with tears. I got to the room and collapsed on the bed, numb, exhausted and disappointed.

Just then, a text arrived on my phone. It was from Jared. "I'm sorry," it read.

I stared at the screen for a moment, then switched off my phone, unable to deal with his apologies. Sleep didn't come easily, and when it finally did, it was restless and full of turmoil. The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed.

It meant one thing; he didn't sleep in our room last night. He probably slept in the visitor's room adjacent to our room. He always does, whenever we had a fight.

"Or, did he sleep in the same room as Sofia?" A voice whispered in my head.

I stopped for a moment to think about the possibility of that, but quickly thought against it. I might be having doubts about Jared because of recent occurrences, but I still am aware of what he was capable of.

I soon finished preparing and walked downstairs only to find Jared waiting for me at the foyer.

"Good morning," he said, planting a light kiss on my cheek as though nothing had happened.

"Yeah, good morning," I responded, trying to act cool too.

"Arielle, about yesterday..." His voice was calm, almost too calm. "Sofia's just struggling with the pregnancy. It's her first, and it's making her... needy. Please, don't take everything she said to heart. She didn't mean any harm."

Instead of softening my heart like the words were intended to, they only made me bitter at the fact that my husband was in defense of another woman.

of pregnancy, was he aware that I too was pregnant? Of course not, he had prioritized his ex over me on the day I was supposed to

my husband lied to me? That you left me to comfort another

composure slipping just slightly. "I wasn't lying. I did spend the night

tone icy. "I don't care about your stupid old crush Jared. But hiding things from me? That's different! I

my head, feeling a lump rise in my throat. "I'm going to work. And when I come home, I don't

was in my office wrapping things up when a knock echoed on the door. ""Who is

waiting outside for you with a massive bouquet," she announced, and I

an appointment? I quickly grabbed my bag. "I'm coming out

the entrance, looking as effortlessly charming as ever, bouquet in hand. For a moment, I was taken aback. Really? For god's sake, he's pulling the 'charming husband' card again? Trying to win

hunk-it's just my husband. I know, I feel sorry too." Rebecca's eyes widened. I wouldn't blame her,

smile warm but tinged

are you

smoothly, stepping closer, "for being a jerk. Arielle, I should have told you about Sofia a long time ago. I have no excuse, and I know

at me. "To make it up to you, how about a weekend getaway? Just the two of us. At

we'd chosen and decorated together after our wedding-made my heart soften instantly. That place held so many happy

beyond the moon with excitement. Finally, a gateway that will help me forget all the dramas of the past days and who knows, it

know how to please a woman,"

against mine. "And for accepting the offer." He handed me the bouquet, his eyes twinkling. I inhaled deeply, savoring the

door for me with his usual grace. As we drove toward the penthouse, the air between us was light and hopeful, a much-needed

him playfully. "So... seriously, twenty years of crushing on Sofia? I

a sideways glance, his expression amused but warning. "Careful," he said in that smooth, low tone, "or you'll be

but blush, a soft croon escaping my lips as I turned away, my cheeks

later, we pulled up at the parking lot of the house. It was located inside a reputable estate. But as we alighted, something

place what it is and a few seconds of racking my brain brought it to my cognizance. There was a light on, in one of the

me a confused look. "What

to the

paranoid. You probably forgot to turn off the lights the last time we were here," Jared said, waving off my

argue when, to my shock, the front door swung open. There,

froze, exchanging

I snarled