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?"

did the same, realizing people were looking

was he in Italy, at the same place, and

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

amusement again, as if he enjoyed the tension between us.

want to know what's

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

"Coincidental? Maybe the previous encounters, but not this

was there because 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. "I was shopping for ingredients for my cooking class. Karaoke night? Just an evening to unwind, and I spotted you, so I walked over

studying his face for any sign of deception or

asked the smile

my

reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wallet, flipping it open to reveal a chef's badge. "I'm a chef too, Arielle. I'm here on

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

I scrolled through, my

back, feeling a bit silly for being so

fated to meet,"

today's world." I crossed my arms, tilting my head as I added, "After all, you're way

bursting into small laugh. "Then I guess

I found myself smiling too, feeling a genuine sense of ease for the first

As we waited for our meal to arrive, I decided to ask a question

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

eyes lit up. "The food, the culture, the passion - Italy has it all. And I wanted to learn from the

Jared and the past, I have always wanted to visit Italy. I had even

your husband handling your being away for three whole years?"

unsure

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

divorced," I responded, and quickly added, "I don't want to talk about

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 gone wrong. However, Dwayne didn't push further. He simply nodded, his gaze softening, and smoothly shifted the conversation to

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

considered it. I didn't have any friends here yet, and going back to the academy alone didn't sound appealing.

Come on," he said

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