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

Retrospect.

(ARIELLE'S POV)

I returned home feeling a whirlwind of different things in my mind. My eyes were open, but not quite focused on anything in particular.

It felt like I stood at a crossroads, burdened by the weight of past choices and the one glaring decision looming ahead.

I sighed with relief, taking a sip of water from the glass on the coffee table, trying to ground myself. A throbbing headache creeped in from my relentless overthinking. Jared's face suddenly popped up in my head and I rolled my eyes involuntarily.

I replayed the day's events in my head by default-mostly because I couldn't shake the memory off my head, try as hard as I did. An image of Jared's face, sad and forlorn just sat in front of me, superimposed on every other thought. If I'd heard him right, he sounded really repentant. I was almost convinced that he was a different man from the one I'd run away from three years ago.

But could a leopard really change its spots? The trauma of that time still haunted me. It felt like my husband had morphed into a stranger while with Sofia. Now that she was gone-maybe gone but what if another "Sofia" appeared? Would he choose her over me too, just like before? The answer felt painfully predictable.

Think, Arielle. Think about the child you lost. What if I had lost Maverick too? Just the thought sent a sharp pain through my chest. Would Jared ever even know it? Would Jared be guilty? And would Jared pay the price? I was so lucky in the world to have my Maverick, but I still remembered the heartache of loss. I couldn't betray the past myself.

What's wrong with you, Arielle? I slapped my forehead in frustration.

I should be moving on from Jared, not forgiving him. And just when I thought I could find my footing, his grandmother chose the perfect time to return.

My eyes felt heavy with tears but I just couldn't bring myself to cry them out. I thought about both Jared and Dwayne, trying desperately to draw lines of comparison between them but I soon gave up the effort. There really wasn't much to compare. Dwayne was the better man of course, but there was just something different now. It was all too much to process at once.

And the kiss we shared seemed to hold more words than either of us could ever speak to each other. It touched my heart that he could fly all the way from Italy to give me such a perfect moment. But there was something foreboding in his choice of words, something I couldn't quite place. Maybe it was my mind reacting to the fact that our meeting was cut short abruptly by Jared's call.

My mind switched to thoughts about my son. Maverick wasn't home. He'd gone out with a new friend from school -a boy from a big, close-knit family. That little bit of detail pricked my heart every time I thought about it.

Maverick had stopped talking about meeting his father after I'd told him that we were just fine on our own, but I knew just how much he longed for one. It crushed me to watch my baby pine helplessly for something I couldn't give. Or could I?

With a heavy sigh, I reached for my phone. Calling Ashley might bring some relief, but I remembered the last time I saw her and she had been too busy with work. I had leaned on her so much.

rely on your best friend for every little

fine.

table and reclined my back on the sofa. Another tired sigh escaped my lips

was too lost in thoughts to hear my mother

Honey, are you okay?" she asked me,

responded a little too quickly as I sat upright on

but

sadly as my eyes welled up with

sofa and took me in

just

narrated everything

to her. My mum listened to me speak without interrupting, sparing me an occasional smile every now and then By the time I was done speaking, she let out a light chuckle which I found instantly contagious as my lips stretched into a weak

funny?"

are fighting for a chance to be with

disrupt my peaceful life? I thought I could manage on my own with you and Ash. We're a

listen," she began

"They didn't force you into any choices, which is good but yes I was so mad at them. But I do believe in you, you I at

I

a single mother yet

be more

of course,

her finger in soothing circles

you need my suggestions, I'd

anyone who hurts you and I hope you feel the same, because you're my daughter. But you don't need that. You just need my backup. Then let's make it clear

"Mum?"