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

The call

(JARED'S POV)

I had just wrapped up a virtual meeting and was about to dive back into work when Arielle's call flashed across my screen.

The unexpected sight of her name made my heart skip a beat. There was a flicker of hope. Stupid, maybe, considering how firmly she'd shut me out before, but I couldn't help it. Perhaps this was it. Maybe she had a change of heart. Maybe she was calling to let me meet my son.

I know, it sounded foolish. But a man was allowed to dream.

"Hello," I answered the call, trying to sound casual but I knew it betrayed how my heart was leaping with anticipation.

But no amount of preparation could've braced me for what I heard next. Her voice-sharp, frantic, panicked-broke through the phone, jagged and hysterical. "Maverick's missing! Someone took him from school... I thought it was you..." Her words hit me like a gut punch, stealing my breath.

I hated hearing her so terrified, so out of control. I immediately tried to calm her, assure her that I hadn't taken Maverick and that I would never do something like that. But as I pressed for more details, the line went dead.

I stared at the screen in disbelief. She hung up.

Frustration boiled inside me, and I immediately redialed, but the call wouldn't go through.

What happened? Was Maverick okay? I felt my stomach twist in knots.

"Oliver," I snapped, voice sharper than I intended. "Call off the meeting. We're done for now."

My personal assistant blinked, clearly taken aback. "But, sir, this project is critical for the next queue_"

"Then postpone it. Until I get back." I was already turning away, heading for the door. My voice was low, but the tension in it was undeniable. "Take me to Valley View School."

The drive to the school was a blur of thoughts and questions, each one darker than the last. Nothing about this made sense. Arielle was meticulous about security, about keeping her family safe.

the

my feet barely hitting the

drained of color, eyes wide with terror. She

flashed in her eyes, before it quickly dimmed again. "Jared, Maverick..." Her voice broke on the last word. She stepped

her shoulders to steady her. Her body stiffened for a moment, and I could feel the tension between us, a gulf of unspoken words, but

gave a small nod, though

ice-cold. "Mr Robert. I'm Jared Smith. You know who I am. Now, tell me what

with thinning hair, was sweating under the pressure. "We've done everything we can, Mr. Smith, but there are few clues. The teacher who saw the man said he had a J&S Capital license, and... she assumed it was one of your

that careless? Get your damn teachers together. Find out everything about this man. What did he look like? Who saw him? From the custodians to the students-everyone who was here during that

Oliver were both standing there, stunned into silence. But I couldn't help myself. My thoughts were racing, spinning with

the principal, before turning back to Arielle. She was pale, and her hands were trembling-cold,

held her tighter, trying to calm her, but

whispered, but it was a lie she was telling herself. I could see it in her

be fine," I repeated, my voice more firm

"He will be fine, right? Jared... please... tell

my gaze. "Look at me, Arielle. Look at me. Yes, our son's fine. We just need

not really. Seconds dragged into minutes,

storm of doubts and questions, none of which

someone take Maverick? Why hadn't he fought back? Most likely he's not a stranger to Maverick. But Arielle couldn't think of

had returned,

time to interact

it made no sense-was Sofia. But she'd been in bed for two days, lying low, recovering from whatever had been plaguing her. According to Oliver, she hadn't met with anyone, hadn't gone anywhere. It didn't add

"uncle" had shown a J&S Capital worker's license. But that detail made

to know that Maverick was my son. Hell, I had only learned about it myself recently. Arielle had kept that part of our lives tightly under wraps. So, how could this man possibly know?

from her mother, her voice carefully neutral, but her exhaustion