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?"

turned around and I did the same, realizing people were looking our way. "But not here, over lunch. I owe you that

unsure if I should trust him. But my curiosity got the better part of me. What was he in Italy, at the same place, and at the same time as me? I nodded.

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

the tension

"No. I just want to know what's going on, and why you're at

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

"Coincidental? Maybe the previous encounters, but not this

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

mute, studying his face for any sign of deception

the smile back on his

shook my head.

to reveal a chef's

it to me.

I scrolled through, my skepticism began

back, feeling a bit silly

were fated to meet," he

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 that a handsome fox would follow me for no

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

unexpectedly contagious, and I found myself smiling too, feeling a genuine sense of

the waiter, and we placed our orders. As we waited for our meal to arrive, I decided to ask a question I had

you take on the scholarship? I mean, it's thousands of miles

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

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 features now, I guess that's never

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

unsure of my

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

a deep breath, finally deciding how much to reveal. "I'm divorced," I responded, and quickly

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 gone wrong. However, Dwayne didn't push further. He

with a suggestion. "We've still got some time before the break is over. How about we visit

here yet, and going back to the academy alone didn't

on," he said and led

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