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?"

the same, realizing people were looking our way. "But not here, over lunch. 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.

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

amusement again, as if he enjoyed the tension between us. "You're not going to let me off the hook, are

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

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

the previous encounters, but not this

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.

face for any sign of deception

smile back

shook my head. "Not

a

and tapped on it, before handing it to me. It

I scrolled through, my skepticism

feeling a bit silly for being

fated to meet,"

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 that a handsome fox would follow me

into small laugh. "Then I guess I owe

too, feeling a

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

take on the scholarship? I mean, it's thousands of miles away from your country of residence," I

culture, the passion - Italy has it all. And

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

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

paused, unsure

to pry,

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

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

suggestion. "We've still got some time before the

academy alone didn't sound appealing. "Okay, sure," I agreed.

Come on," he said and

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