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

Fated to meet you.

(ARIELLE'S POV)

I had arrived in Italy and settled in, although the first week was a maze of orientation and waiting for students who had delays in arrival, to arrive. The academy provided accommodations, but I chose to stay outside campus due to my pregnant state. I got a decent apartment and spent the week touring the city, registering for antenatal in a hospital, and keeping in touch with Mom and Ashley.

But none of it filled the emptiness gnawing inside me. Late at night, when the city was quiet and my thoughts drifted back to Jared and the child I had lost, I felt the weight of it all. I tried hard to stay distracted, burying myself in activities so I wouldn't have to remember those painful memories.

Classes finally began, and during a break, I stepped out for some fresh air. As I made my way through the courtyard, my heart skipped a beat.

A familiar figure caught my eye-broad shoulders, tall frame, dark hair... My breath hitched. Jared?

But when he turned around, I immediately knew I was wrong when seeing that drowning emerald green eyes.

It was Dwayne.

I stumbled backward by the impact of the collision, shocked.

"D... Dwayne?" I called, eyes widened.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as his eyes locked with mine. "Hi, Arielle." The light breeze tousled his hair, and there was something about his easy charm that made it hard to look away.

My surprise quickly morphed into suspicion. "What are you doing here?" I asked, taking a step backward.

"I know you're surprised-" he said, taking a step closer.

"Are you stalking me?" I asked, trying to process the unexpected encounter.

He sighed. "No, Arielle, I'm not stalking you."

I narrowed my eyes. "Then how are you here? At the same academy, in the same city?"

"I'm a student here, too."

My eyes dimmed. "What? How is that possible?"

then he turned around and I did the same, realizing people were looking our way. "But

me. What was he in Italy, at the same place, and at the same time as

to a small café just outside the campus, and once seated, I wasted no time.

again, as if he enjoyed the tension between us. "You're not

to know what's going on, and why you're at every

"Okay, let's get this out of the way. I wasn't stalking you, Arielle.

previous encounters, but not this

stepped out to get some fresh air. I was admitted a few days ago for food poisoning after trying out a new dish," he gave out a small laugh, but I maintained my straight face. "And the mall?" He shrugged. "I was shopping for ingredients for my cooking class. Karaoke night? Just an evening to unwind, and I spotted you,

for any

He asked the smile back on his

my head. "Not

a small wallet, flipping it open to reveal a chef's badge. "I'm a chef too, Arielle. I'm here on a scholarship as it has

tapped on it, before handing it to me. It was his F******k page, filled with

I scrolled through, my skepticism

phone back, feeling a bit silly for being

were fated to meet," he

Don't underestimate a woman's vigilance in today's world." I crossed my arms, tilting

a moment before bursting into small laugh. "Then I guess I owe you

was unexpectedly contagious, and I found myself smiling too, feeling a genuine sense of ease for the first time

placed our orders. As we waited for our meal to arrive, I decided to ask a question I had been wanting to

it's thousands of miles away from your country of residence," I

Italy has it all. And I wanted

Jared and the past, I have always wanted to visit Italy. I had even thought of convincing Jared that we visit during one of our anniversaries. A bitter smile crossed my

your husband handling your being away for three whole years?" Dwayne suddenly asked, as if he knew what

unsure of

struck a chord," he quickly added. "I don't mean to pry, it's just that your Mom mentioned you were married that day at the

took a deep breath, finally deciding how much to reveal. "I'm divorced," I responded, and quickly added, "I don't want to talk about

a stranger, but it was just as difficult to hide something from those piercing emerald eyes. Somehow, I felt like Dwayne saw right

surprised me with a suggestion. "We've still got some time before the break is over.

any friends here yet, and going back to the academy alone didn't sound appealing. "Okay, sure," I

on," he said and led the

the museum, and Dwayne guided me to a section labeled "Butterfly Diorama." Butterflies of various species, in different stages of their lives, were arranged in delicate displays. The vibrant colors and details of their wings caught