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

Checking his phone; yes or no?

(ARIELLE'S POV)

I was roused from sleep by a gentle tap. My eyes fluttered open and I saw Jared peering down at me.

"Dinner is served, Mrs. Smith," he said, his voice warm and teasing as he pressed a light kiss to my forehead.

"Dinner? I was startled and sat up. "What time is it?" I inquired, looking at the window, and I realized outside looked dark, but the room was illuminated by the bedside lamp. Jared chuckled. "You have been sleeping for four hours. Come to think of it, you never slept this much. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," I quickly replied and got off the bed. I was sure my recent weakness and proclivity for sleep was because of the pregnancy, but I was not about to admit that to Jared. "Alright," Jared said with a nod. "Shall we?"

I nodded back, and we both walked out of the bedroom. As we strolled to the dining room, I asked, "So, what's for dinner?"

"Roasted potatoes, broccoli, and chicken," Jared replied with a smile.

I stopped to stare at him in surprise. "How come? You can barely boil water, let alone cook a complex meal like that."

Jared paused, then gave me a smile. "Sofia helped," he said, his tone a bit too casual.

A sharp pang of jealousy stabbed through me, quick and unexpected. I imagined Jared and Sofia in the kitchen, laughing together, working as a team. It was a foolish thought, I knew. They were both adults-exes, even-and I trusted him. But that didn't make the jealousy any easier to swallow.

I shook my head, pushing the thought aside as we entered the dining room. The table was set, and Sofia was seated, waiting. I took my seat, and Jared followed suit.

Jared cleared his throat and spoke, "Sofia has something to tell you, Arielle."

Sofia turned to him sharply, a questioning look in her eyes, but Jared nudged her slightly.

"Go on," he encouraged.

Sofia gave him a death glare before turning to me with a fake smile plastered on her face.

wanted to apologize for my slightly irrational behavior lately," she began. "I've been having mood swings, and in case you don't know, since you've never been pregnant before, mood swings are a part of every pregnant woman's

time, I wanted to laugh at her words about my never being pregnant before.

for letting me stay under your roof," Sofia continued. "Jared informed me that you gave your consent. I promise to be quiet and stay

"It's fine, Sofia. Thank you for apologizing, and

queen is here and I've tendered my apology to her, can we

the underlying sarcasm in her tone unmistakable. It might be to Jared, but not to me. Indeed Sofia was unrepentant, and I will have to

and

Jared. She rambled about their past-how they used to have breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner at each other's place, making me question her

I made pancakes?" Sofia asked Jared, in her

that day you spilled

rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up! At least I was not the

an outsider as usual. At some point, I tried to chip in a few words to indicate that I was still present at the table, but Sofia wouldn't

she wasn't

from twenty

food crumbs. "You have a little something there, Jared," she would

against his face.

when she touched him. His eyes met mine in those fleeting moments, and for the briefest second, I guessed he wasn't entirely at ease with the way

anger gnaw at my chest like worms would do to our intestines whenever we are starving, but I recalled Jared's words about Sofia's predicament. I took

table. Sofia offered to

I said, trying to sound sincere. "I'm exhausted. I think I'll head

my last words,

to the bedroom, relieved to be

into my sleeping gown. I got into bed afterwards, trying to sleep, but my mind kept wandering. I couldn't believe Sofia's audacity, flirting shamelessly with my

sounds of someone moving. My eyes went open and

on well-formed arms,

sensed my eyes on him because he suddenly

when I was caught staring. "Hey,