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

Father and son moment.

(ARIELLE'S POV)

As I watched Jared and Maverick walk ahead, Jared's suitcases rolling behind him, I decided that now was not the time to be overwhelmed. This was temporary. I had to brace up and tough if I wanted to scale through this. Maverick's chatter filled the hallway as he beamed up at Jared, clearly delighted by his father's presence.

"Traitor," I muttered under my breath. The moment his dad shows up, I might as well be invisible.

But just then, my mother appeared in the hallway, stopping dead in her tracks as she stared at Jared, sizing up the loads in his hands. Then her surprised face trailed past him to dwell on me, screaming "what's going on?" I tried to make a calming gesture, but she frowned. She was obviously not having it.

"Kitchen. Now," she ordered, before spinning around and stomping off.

I sighed and brushed past Jared and Maverick, trailing behind her. As I entered the kitchen, she was already pacing.

"Arielle, what is he doing here?" She demanded, pausing to face me squarely.

"I can explain, Mom," I said.

"Explain? Oh, please. Go ahead. This should be good."

I took a breath, silently praying she doesn't freak out from all I'm about to say.

"Jared says someone is sabotaging his company. To catch them, he needs to lie low and act vulnerable for a while. He asked if he could stay here."

My mom's expression contorted in disbelief. "And you believed him?"

"Not really, but let's say I don't have much choice. Your grandson begged me," I explained.

Her expression softened slightly, as I knew it would. "Ah, that boy," she murmured.

"Mom, I just need your support. This is temporary, and I'll set clear boundaries."

She sighed. "I can't say I'm happy about this, but fine. Someone has to protect you from yourself and from him."

A smile crossed my features. "Thank you -"

"Oh, save it. Go get ready for work and that little man of yours has to leave for school."

"Thank you, Mom. I love you! You're taking him, right?"

"I sure am," she said with an eye roll.

I laughed and patted her hair, before walking out of the kitchen.

On returning to the sitting room, I assumed a poker face, carefully masking my emotions. I had to appear serious, as I didn't want Jared to misinterpret my feelings about his presence in my home. I met him chatting with Maverick, their laughter filling the room.

"Maverick, go to Nana and finish up your preparation for school. You're running late," I ordered, my tone firm but gentle.

Maverick nodded, his eyes sparkling with excitement but they were not directed at me.

"Bye, Dad. We'll continue our men's discussion when I get back," he said, his small voice filled with forced importance.

"Looking forward to

I watched him disappear into the hallway to meet his

Men's discussion

moment, I was tempted to ask Jared, but thought against it. I didn't want to appear jealous or overly

Jared was not going to replace me in Maverick's life. That, I was

talk," I

shifted immediately, his gaze steady. "Of course. What's

letting you stay, alright, but not without conditions," I began,

nodded. "I

First, you won't interfere with my

like he was contemplating,

questioning my choices, no offering unsolicited

for a moment, I thought he

life, your

how I run the

home, your rules,"

I emphasized, ensuring I added

can count on me for that," he

Smith. No using my child as a leverage or putting him in harm's way," I

and happiness are my top priorities, too," he

I pushed aside the

hold you to that," I

we've reached a

that'll be all for now.

right down the hallway, you can keep your stuff there while I figure out the room you'll be staying in when I'm back. For food?

"Thank you

I mumbled

*********

in, I found myself agonizing over where Jared should sleep. The room I assigned to him earlier was not a bedroom, more like a cloakroom, with barely enough space for his suitcases. "Mom, I

her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Decided you can't handle him after all?" She teased,

rolled my eyes, feeling heat rush to my cheeks. "That's not it. I just... what room should I assign him to?" I asked,

mom's knowing glance made me squirm, as if she could see right through me.

can't just leave him in the cloakroom," I argued, trying to

bed," she said, her voice

"That's not what

on the couch a few meters away from us, engrossed in whatever conversation they were

take Mavericks' attention away from me completely?" I asked Mom, eyeing the two

snorted. "Not

nodded, stealing glances

a trip

I frowned, surprised. "Already?"

you two will have some

with embarrassment, wondering what had come over her. And then I tried to steal a glance

he did seem to have heard us because he appeared equally flustered, a faint blush crawling to his

to her. "There's nothing between us,"

course, I know," she said, grinning. She seemed to be