Mr billionaire's regret chasing his irresistible wife by Gabby Emmanuel

Friend zone.

(ARIELLE'S POV)

I felt my face heat up in embarrassment, and when I looked at Dwayne, he was already watching me, amusement dancing in his emerald eyes. His smile was slow, almost teasing, as if he enjoyed how flustered I'd become. "Um," I stammered, regaining a bit of composure. "Maverick, baby, can you go back to your room? I need to talk to Uncle Dwayne."

"Alright, Mama," he said and got off Dwayne's legs, before running off to the room.

I turned to Dwayne, still reeling from embarrassment. "Don't mind what he said, he's just being a child."

Dwayne's chuckle was low, his voice rich. "Oh, I don't mind. Not at all."

I breathed out in relief. "Thank you.

But then his expression changed, his gaze steady, almost too serious for the moment. "You knew this was bound to happen though, right?"

I frowned, confused. "What?"

"Maverick's question," he said, leaning forward slightly, his presence all-encompassing. "One day, he's going to ask more about his father. He's going to need answers, Arielle."

I sighed, nodding. "Yeah, I know, but I just didn't expect it to be this early. I mean, he's just three."

"Four soon," Dwayne corrected.

"I know, I know, but still he's still so young."

Dwayne nodded. "That's right, but children are smart these days."

It wasn't just Maverick's question hanging between us-it was everything we weren't saying, everything I had

moved closer on the couch, his proximity sending a shiver down my spine. His warmth radiated, his scent, something deep and

air between us was shifting. My pulse

yet there was something undeniably intense about the way we sat, bodies almost too close, every brush of skin amplifying the

into me, awakening something deep inside. Our eyes met his gaze was darker now,

suddenly, we were kissing. His lips on mine were firm, urgent, but not rushed. My pulse raced. The world around us faded to

pulling me closer, our

I jerked back, gasping for air. "We... we

breathing was

flashing

eyes

tried to reach for

"What's wrong?

en

putting distance between us. "It's not that. It's just... we don't have a

Dwayne

averting my gaze

before he slowly withdrew it, his expression tightening. "What do you

I hesitated, but finally said. "I'm

stiffening. "You're going back?" His voice was low But now there was

still avoiding

don't have a life there anymore. You belong

vehemently. "I don't belong here. I...I have to

don't have

my eyes to meet his, now. "I