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

Can a man and a woman be merely friends?

(ARIELLE'S POV)

momentarily speechless.

I looked up to stare at the person I had bumped into. It turned out to be a young man, and in the fleeting moment I looked at his face, I couldn't help but notice how attractive he was. His eyes were a drowning emerald green, and his features, chiseled and rugged, left me I shook my head, snapping out of the spellbound. "I'm so sorry," I quickly began to apologize.

My eyes darted a short-distance away, and I saw a phone lying on the floor. "Is that your phone?" I asked, not waiting for an answer as I scurried towards it, picked it up, and handed it back to him. "Fortunately, no harm was done to the phone. I'm sorry again."

All this while, the young man had not uttered a word. And when he finally did, he had an amused smile on. "No need to apologize, really. I should be the one apologizing."

I shook my head, "No, I was the one who wasn't looking and bumped into you."

He chuckled softly, the sound low and warm. "Then let's call it even. I wasn't paying attention either."

I couldn't help but smile, caught off guard by how effortlessly charming he seemed. He extended his hand. "Dwayne, by the way."

Just as I reached out to shake his hand, Ashley's voice called out, cutting through the moment. "Arielle, where have you been? I told you I'd be right back after the call!"

I withdrew my hand quickly, giving Dwayne an apologetic look before turning to Ashley. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wander off."

Dwayne's gaze lingered on me, his smile not fading. "That was Jared Smith in that garden, right?"

Yeah, with his best friend. I held that sentence back but nodded, a bit surprised he recognized Jared, but that's not a rare thing since Jared is quite famous in New York city.

I hesitated, "Um, do you come here for him?"

He smiled, "No. I just had a feeling that you and me, we'd cross paths again."

His words struck me, but before I could respond, Ashley pulled me along. "Come on, we need to go."

!!

As I walked away, I cast a glance back at Dwayne. He stood there, watching me with a gentle yet unreadable expression.

Ashley gave me a curious look. "Who was that alluring fox?"

I couldn't help but smile at her choice of words-classic Ashley. Shaking my head, I replied, "Just a weirdo I bumped into."

She laughed, giving me a teasing nudge. "Really? Isn't it always the case that the hottest guys are the craziest? Total package."

I chuckled, rolling my eyes. "I don't know about all that."

Ashley raised an eyebrow, her playful grin returning. "So... do you still want to explore the garden?"

I thought of it, but the image of Jared and Sofia conversing flashed in my mind, and I quickly shook my head. I would rather not bump into them again. "No, I'm tired. I need to rest." "That's right. Let's head back inside," she said and led me back to my hospital room. We got inside, and she helped me into bed.

"Try to rest, okay?"

Jared and Sofia in the

thoughts of what they could be doing or saying wouldn't leave me, and I didn't realize I was tossing on the

Arielle. You seem restless, should I get

"I'm fine -"

the garden while I

I quickly said, trying to brush it off. I can't tell

door swung open, and the doctor Wade walked in, an interruption I was

promised, Mrs. Smith," Doctor Wade said, flashing me her

nodded and braced myself for the examination. She was done in no time and straightened up, signalling the nurse to hand her

the nurse handed her the file. "Mrs. Smith, these results just came in from the lab from the series of tests we

stomach, and my heart raced with anxiety. What was I expecting? This was a hospital, and they were bound to find out. I'm even surprised it took them this long. Ashley broke the silence, sounding

Wade nodded, "Yes.

out a loud scream and jumped on me, "You're pregnant, girl! I'm going to be a godmother!" She wrapped her arms around me, and I managed

for not telling her sooner. Seeing her this

"Congratulations, once again. I will

I surprised them, and me, by blurting, "Does

felt Ashley's arms around

them further with my next words. "Can you please not tell

stiffened, "Why, if

to him myself." I winced inwardly at how easily the lie rolled off

smile returned to her face. "Alright, I wouldn't ruin the surprise for you.

with the nurse, Ashley continued squealing about being a prospective godmother, but I wasn't in the right mindset to respond. She eventually stopped when she noticed I wasn't as excited as her.

sighed, "I am,

gloomy look? And you don't even look surprised by

was no point keeping things from her. "I knew I was pregnant, Ashley. I have known all this

arms around me loosened. "You

do," I responded, and then proceeded to narrate how I discovered about the pregnancy on the eve of my wedding anniversary. Jared's call that night, to the caller turning out to be Sofia, down to how I have not been able to break the

of these from me. How many more secrets are you hiding

I promise. I'm sorry, Ashley. Believe me, I

blame you. Just promise you won't

It's never

Your little secretive ass is

"Thank you."

nodded in acknowledgement, and then her expression turned serious. "On a serious note, I think you should inform Jared. You can't keep

attitude lately, and Sofia clinging on to him like a life jacket, it seems impossible. I feel he will not react to the news the way I expect him to because Sofia will butt in and ruin the

on Sofia because she is pregnant. Realizing his own wife

doubt. I don't think Jared's sudden nonchalance towards me is because of the pregnancy. I think it's

"I don't think -"

I ask a question?" I asked, interrupting

but nodded. "Sure.

you think a man and a woman can be together for a long