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

to hold me to her. To make me believe

out of the room. There

Sofia's room and entered. On taking in her look, I realized her injuries were

eyes snapped towards me, red-hot like

first! You chose her over me,'

hands tucked into my pockets, bracing myself for her

"Sofia, I" I began.

me

where your priorities now lie. You've suddenly forgotten everything I

the air, but I felt nothing but a strange calm. I stepped forward, undeterred. "Sofia,

snapped, turning away from me. "Leave me

need to tell you something," I said, voice low. "I've made mistakes

shoulders stiffened, but

of you as that girl from our past-the one who laughed with me, stood by me, competed

a moment, the memories of those carefree days flooded my mind, but I refused to revel

paused, "Clinging to a shadow of our past that

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