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 the couch.

eyes curious. I held her hand, ignoring the feeling

what love was, and 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 you. You don't have to apologize about anything, Sofia. Really." "Thank you

me close. I froze for a moment, completely taken aback. But then I recovered, and

*******

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

realized I'd been living a lie. Arielle deserved better than a loveless marriage,

wall clock in my office, it was almost closing time. I grabbed my car

Arielle free, to let her find someone who would love her with all their heart. And as for me, I was finally ready to take a chance with the one

ever truly loved.

I tried again, still nothing. On

do you want?" She snapped,

want us to

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

shock, but she quickly blinked in

alright." She stuttered. "I'll go

sign

suspiciously before nodding curtly.

walked past her into the

room. She followed suit,

with the divorce papers, her movement brisk and rigid. Handing me the documents

the couch across

her, meeting her stern gaze. For a moment our eyes