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

Divorced.

(JARED'S POV)

I went quiet for a moment, lost in my thoughts. As much as I hated to admit it, Sofia had a point. If she hadn't left, I never would've met Arielle. And even if I had, we wouldn't have ended up married. But that was life. I couldn't go back and rewrite the past. What was the point of dwelling on what could've been?

I shook my head as I recalled everything that had happened. "Why did you suddenly change your mind about me after twenty years?"

Sofia's expression flickered-pale at first, then quickly recovering. "It's okay to be angry with me, Jared. You've always been kind to me, and I let you down. I rejected your proposal without a second thought. I didn't respect you. I take full responsibility. And I'm sorry." I nodded, a little moved by her apology. This was the first time in all these years she'd admitted she was wrong for turning me down. But... things were different now. Everything was different.

"It's fine." I paused. "I forgave you, if that's what you need. Can't hold a grudge after all these years. We're friends, right?"

"No we're not!" She refuted, shaking her head.

"Sofia -"

"Friends don't kiss the way we do, they don't have the kind of feelings we have for each other," she said. And then her voice became softer. "Jared, can we stop being friends? I'm sick and tired of the "she's just a friend," and "she's my best friend," tag. I want to be yours." I was silent, staring at her in shock. Was this really Sofia? The same woman who'd turned me down all those years ago, saying a relationship would ruin our friendship? Now, she wanted more?

This was all so different. Too different.

"This time, let me take the initiative. I don't mind proposing to you," she continued.

"No." I interrupted instinctively. "It hasn't come to that."

"It has," she insisted. "Anything to prove how sorry I am, and how I want things to work out between us."

space beside me on

obeyed, her eyes curious. I held her hand, ignoring the feeling

felt like, even though I was just a teenager," I began locking eyes with her. "And yes, you turned me down, but I never held it against

around me, pulling me close. I froze for a moment,

*******

one thing: I didn't love Arielle-not in the way she deserved. And if I was being honest with myself, I hadn't loved her the way I should've. Sofia had always had a piece of me, and I'd never truly

been living a lie. Arielle deserved better than a loveless marriage,

to do what was right. I looked up at the wall clock in my office, it was almost closing time. I grabbed my car key on the table and walked out

time to set Arielle free, to let her find someone who would love her with all their heart. And as for me, I

ever truly loved.

I tried again, still nothing. On the third attempt, the

you want?"

us to

that I don't want to talk to you? Go away, Jared." She made to shut the door, but I quickly stopped her. "Wait,

expression changed from anger to shock, but she quickly blinked

umm, alright." She stuttered. "I'll go get

inside and sign it," I

her gaze searching mine suspiciously before nodding curtly.

past her into

room. She followed suit,

hallway. I took a deep breath and settled myself on the couch. Arielle returned with the divorce papers, her movement brisk and rigid. Handing me the documents and

couch across

glanced up at her, meeting her stern gaze. For a moment our eyes held, before I returned