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?"

realizing people were looking our

of 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

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

just want to know what's going on, and why you're

chair. "Okay, let's get this out of

Maybe the previous encounters,

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,

mute, studying his face for any sign

asked the smile back on his

my head.

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

it to me. It was his F******k page, filled with culinary creations and

I scrolled through, my

phone back, feeling a bit silly for being

to meet," he said with a

arms, tilting my head as I added, "After all, you're way too suspicious. Let's be

bursting into small laugh. "Then I

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

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

the scholarship? I mean, it's thousands of miles away

up. "The food, the 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 thought of convincing Jared that

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

paused, unsure of my

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

deciding how much to reveal. "I'm divorced," I responded, and quickly added, "I don't want to

hide something from those piercing emerald eyes. Somehow, I felt like Dwayne saw right through me, like he could sense

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

going back to the academy alone didn't sound appealing. "Okay, sure," I

he said and led

vibrant colors and details of their wings caught my attention immediately. I turned to Dwayne curiously. "I thought you meant paintings and