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?"

me explain," and then he turned around and I did the same, realizing people were looking our way. "But not here,

me. What was he in Italy, at the same place, and at the same time as me? I nodded. "Fine.

once seated, I wasted no time. "So, what's going on? Why are you

if he enjoyed the tension between us. "You're not going

my arms. "No. I just want to know what's going on, and why

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

an eyebrow. "Coincidental? Maybe the previous encounters, but not

I 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.

his face for any sign

the smile

shook my

wallet, flipping it open to reveal a chef's badge. "I'm a chef too,

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

through, my skepticism began to

a bit silly for being so

we were fated to meet," he said with a

Don't underestimate a woman's vigilance in today's world." I crossed my arms, tilting my head as I added, "After all, you're way too suspicious. Let's be real, I'm not narcissistic enough to believe

into small laugh. "Then I guess I owe you an apology... for both

feeling a genuine sense of ease for the first time in what seemed like

meal to arrive, I decided to ask a question I

of miles away from your

lit up. "The food, the culture, the passion - Italy

was true. Despite using the scholarship as an avenue to get over Jared and the past, I have always wanted to visit Italy. I

three whole years?"

paused, unsure of my

a chord," he quickly added. "I don't mean to pry, it's just that your Mom

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

in front of a stranger, but it was just as difficult to hide something from those piercing emerald eyes. Somehow, I felt like Dwayne saw right through me, like he could sense what had

"We've still got some time before the break is over.

to the academy alone didn't sound appealing.

Smart. Come on," he said

in different stages of their lives, were arranged in delicate displays. The vibrant colors and details of their wings caught my attention immediately. I turned to Dwayne curiously. "I thought you meant paintings and sculptures when you said