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

Make–believe.

(SOFIA'S

POV)

I lay down on my back, staring aimlessly at the ceiling. The sound of the humidifier in the background was my only touch with reality.

My mind flashed back to the past. The first man I ever married was wealthy-decades older, but wealthy. That's what mattered to me at the time. He promised a life of luxury and affluence. I never married him for love. I wish I never did.

He turned out to be a control freak who hoarded most of his wealth from me and made me put up with an entire planet of rules and regulations, hollow promises and disgusting sex.

I took it till I couldn't do so anymore. I'd planned to wait until he died—he was nearer to his death day or so I thought so I could inherit his wealth. But when an easier way out came to me on a platter of gold, I jumped at it.

I was out at a pub one night and then a stranger walked up to me. He offered to help me in a way I hadn't expected. The terms of his offer were strange to me: he was going to help me get out of my marriage, but in return, I had to go back to the city where I'd grown up in and reconnect with Jared. I recall looking at him incredulously, amused by his inference of the terms of his offer as a price to be paid. For me, it represented the actualization of every dream I'd ever had the option to marry for love.

I took him up on his offer without giving it much thought anything to get away from the old man I'd ted myself to. When my husband died a few weeks later from an 'unknown' cause as the doctor's described it, the strange helper approached me again to remind me of my own end of the deal. How he'd gotten my husband out of the way remained a mystery to me but it didn't matter. It was all part of the plan.

With my husband dead, I returned to my old city and sought out Jared. It wasn't a very hard thing to do because he'd made a name for himself and become a billionaire. It was all good for me-like icing on the cake. I was more than sure that the bond we'd once shared was stronger than any new attachment he could form.

When I heard he was married I brushed it off as nothing, like it was a complete joke. All it took was for me to show up and Jared became entranced by my charm instantly leading to an inevitable divorce with his wife. But the story didn't quite go as planned.

After Arielle left him, Jared grew a little reserved. He seemed to be waking up to his senses. His thoughts were on everything else but me. He thought about her more even when we were together. It was completely unbearable.

I was desperate for his attention and in my desperation I caused my own miscarriage. I'd hoped that his sympathy and grief would be the bond to hold us together more permanently. I also wanted him to know that he wouldn't have to raise another man's child because I'd have only his.

I was shocked beyond reason when after the first few words of comfort, Jared's attitude to me remained unchanged. If anything, he seemed more entranced by thoughts about Arielle. Of course, he wouldn't admit this to me or anyone else for that matter, but I knew without doubt that his mind was engulfed by thoughts of his ex-wife.

For years after his divorce, I tried everything I could to get his mind away from her and on me. I pulled out every trick in the book to win his attention but it just was never enough. I was losing a battle to Arielle even in her absence. It was very humiliating losing a battle to an invisible presence, a mere shadow. How could Jared want her so badly even with me around, as if I'd never even mattered to begin with?

I clenched my fists by my sides as I dug my nails into the flesh of my palm. Arielle had taken everything from me and I was going to make her pay.

mind. I'd not thought about it before because it was a door in my life I didn't want to open-my strange helper from the past. But these were desperate times, I convinced

waited hopefully as the

background was a

Sofia," I introduced

I had to look at the screen to be sure he

called me?" he finally

you helped me get back in his life. I was umm... I just need your help. He's thinking of getting back with his ex-wife and I can't let that happen. Please help

helped you once but I'm afraid there's nothing

There has to be something you can do, please,"

help you, Sofia. You're on your own. Now if you'd excuse me, I've got work to do,"

"No. Wait. Hello?"

with silence from

was going dark around me. It felt like being forcefully submerged in water. I shut my eyes as the tears flowed freely. I was slowly coming to terms

nothing I couldn't do

me and my eyes flew

you pay

a while before I left myself in and you still

mum

sorry, mum," I apologized, wiping my tears as I rose to my

on her face. "Anyway I'm here for something more important. Did you get my text? I need some money,"

urge to snap at her for being

do you mean you don't have

stack of white envelopes strewn across the floor. "Those are the bills I have to pay and I don't have the money for them. Go and sort

I held my face in shock. She looked away from

"So it's true."

true?" I asked, still stunned

And when I tried reaching your fancy boyfriend about it his secretary told me he was too busy to speak with me. Can you imagine that!" she said dramatically. Slowly,