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

He had broken free.

(JARED'S POV)

"Why

did you save me first this time?"

Her question hit me like a jolt, slicing through the silence. She asked it so directly, as if it were a simple thing to answer. But I had no words for her.

Not for this.

What could I even say? Should I confess how my heart nearly stopped when Rebecca's voice trembled over the phone, telling me Sofia was at the restaurant? How my mind had been a storm of dread as I drove, running red lights, my only thought was to get to her? Should I admit that I'd spent years wrapped in regret, haunted by the choices that led us here?

When I saw Sofia holding her, willing to drag them both into death, I didn't think. There was only one truth pulsing through me: I can't lose you, Arielle. I couldn't live with myself if I did.

But now? Now I had no right to say any of that. My words felt hollow-especially when I thought of everything I'd done three years ago, all the ways I'd chosen wrong. And then there was Sofia, spinning tales about her pregnancy, leaving me in knots of guilt and doubt. What had she told Arielle? What did Arielle say to provoke Sofia's madness? I didn't know. I couldn't even begin to fathom it.

When I didn't answer, Arielle finally looked away, her voice soft. "Forget it. I'm going to rest."

bitterly, reaching to hold

But it was enough to hold me to her. To make me believe she's alive,

until she fell asleep, then slipped quietly out of the room. There was

and entered. On taking in her look, I realized her injuries were mostly minor but her

noticing my presence, her eyes snapped towards me, red-hot

chose her over me,' she

my ground, hands tucked into my pockets,

"Sofia, I" I began.

cut me off, her voice

your priorities now lie. You've suddenly forgotten everything I did for you, everything we shared. And

the air, but I felt nothing but a strange calm.

turning away from me. "Leave

I said, voice low. "I've made mistakes for years. Choosing the wrong people, letting old memories cloud

but

to the idea of you as that girl from our past-the one who laughed with me, stood by me, competed with me, even tried to protect me once from

my mind, but I refused to revel in them, pushing

how blind I was." I paused, "Clinging

closer, dropping my voice. "There was never a child,