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."

wasn't just Maverick's question hanging between us-it was everything we weren't

His warmth radiated, his scent, something deep and clean...enveloped me. His large hand settled on

hold on to the comfort his words offered, but the air between us

yet there was something undeniably intense about the way we

into me, awakening something deep inside. Our

rushed. My pulse raced. The world around us faded to

free hand found my waist, pulling me closer, our

jerked back, gasping for air. "We... we can't

brow furrowed, his breathing was

flashing in

eyes

tried to reach for

"What's wrong?

en

putting distance between us. "It's not that. It's just...

we?" Dwayne

paused, averting my gaze from

it, his expression tightening. "What do

finally said. "I'm going back

He withdrew his hand completely, his posture stiffening. "You're going back?"

nodded, still avoiding his

don't have a life there anymore. You belong

I shook my head vehemently. "I don't belong

don't have to,

eyes to meet his, now.