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

Homeless.

(ARIELLE'S POV)

Maverick's curiosity was boundless, and Jared answered each of his questions with a patience that somehow irritated and intrigued me. But then Maverick dropped a bombshell. "Dad, will you stay the night?" Maverick asked, his eyes gleaming expectantly.

Heat shot up my face, and when I glanced at Jared, he looked just as caught off guard, his brows arching in surprise.

"Maverick, that's enough questions for now," I said firmly, after regaining composure.

But he persisted. "Please Daddy."

Jared's eyes met mine, and I could see the uncertainty in them. "Maverick, listen to your Mommy," he said gently, supporting me for once.

"Why not, Daddy? I just want to spend more time with you. Please, Mom?" Maverick's pleading tone was starting to break my resolve.

At this point, I knew I had to put a stop to his questions else we might get to an awkward position. "Maverick, we're still eating. Let's talk about this later, okay?"

Jared quickly nodded in agreement. "Yes, man, let's focus on dinner for now."

Maverick looked down, his shoulders slumping in disappointment, but he nodded.

And the rest of the dinner was in silence, save for a little conversation here and there. The tension in the room was thick, and I could feel Jared's eyes on me.

Dinner soon ended, and I cleared the table, trying to break the silence. Maverick and Jared stayed back, talking in hushed tones.

That's when Milo, our energetic Doberman puppy, bounded into the room and latched onto Jared's trouser leg with a playful tug. Jared startled, then laughed softly as Milo growled in mock ferocity. "He's adorable," Jared remarked, crouching to pat the puppy's head.

Maverick grinned proudly. "I got him from my best uncle!"

"Oh really? Who's this 'best uncle'?"

Maverick opened his mouth to answer, but I stepped in immediately, my tone clipped. "Alright, Maverick, time to get ready for bed, sweetie."

Jared glanced up at me, his brow furrowing slightly.

Maverick pouted. "Aww, Mommy, do I have to?" Then he turned to Jared, his last hope. "Dad, will you visit again?"

"I sure will, man." he said and I frowned.

lit up at this. "Really?

way looking conflicted. "We'll discuss that

arms and padded off to get ready for bed with his Nana, leaving Jared and me alone in the charged

him. "Why would you promise him

responded. "I thought we agreed, Arielle. He knows I'm his father now, and it's clear he enjoys spending

likely he is to get hurt. You can keep hiding the truth for now, but what happens later? How do you plan

face,

stop this. Leave us alone. Maybe he can

parenting, Arielle. That's running. You're overprotective, and it's not fair to

you were his father a week ago? And what happened right after? He was kidnapped.

my words, visibly struggling

still young. I can find someone else

wrist and pulling me closer. His breath was warm and unsettlingly close against my skin. "Don't," he said slowly, his voice rough with warning. "Don't

was dizzying, his intensity sharp enough to cut through my anger. My ears burned as I tried to push

I muttered, hating the unsteadiness in my

grip loosened, but his eyes searched mine, dark and unreadable. "Arielle," he murmured, his voice dropping an octave. "All I'm asking for is a chance. Let me prove it to you. To

shook my head, my chest tight.

moment, then finally stepped back. "Thanks for letting me come," he

meet his gaze

more. But instead, he turned and walked

watched him get into his car, before shutting the

course, reality wasn't going to give me even a moment to

idea, if you ask me," came my mom's disapproving voice

spun around.

crossed her arms, her expression unimpressed. "Don't 'can we not' me, Arielle. You know exactly

do, but

the precision

came for dinner. That's all. For

She tilted her head, clearly unconvinced. "I hate that man, but you could treat

blinked. "That's

fair, dear," she quipped, patting my

shot, she walked off, leaving me alone with

want me to get hurt for the second time. She's just a bit moved

knew exactly how to

people's buttons, mine especially.