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

pull away this time, maybe she's too tired. But it was enough to hold me to

slipped quietly out

entered. On taking in her look, I realized her

eyes

her over me,' she

my ground, hands tucked into my pockets, bracing myself for

"Sofia, I" I began.

she cut me

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

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

turning

I need to tell you something," I said, voice low. "I've made mistakes for years. Choosing the wrong people, letting old memories

but

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

the memories of those carefree days flooded my

I was." I paused, "Clinging to a shadow of

dropping my voice. "There was never a child, was there? You