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.

grin. "Looking forward to it, buddy,"

me off balance. I

There's a Men's

ask Jared, but thought

matter what, Jared was not going to replace me in Maverick's life. That, I was sure of. With that, I pushed the thought aside and

I

expression shifted immediately, his gaze steady. "Of course.

but not without conditions," I began,

nodded. "I expected

you won't interfere with my

a pause, like he was contemplating, but he

questioning my choices, no offering

clenched. And for a moment, I thought he was going to protest,

your choice,"

I run the household," I continued,

home, your rules," Jared said

only, Maverick's well-being comes first," I emphasized, ensuring I added enough emotion to

for that," he said

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

on my life, Arielle. Maverick's safety and happiness

a moment, I softened. But I pushed aside the feeling, reminding myself of

hold you to that,"

reached

that'll be

down the hallway, you can keep your stuff there while I figure out the room you'll be staying in when I'm

nodded. "Thank you so much,

I mumbled and

*********

The room I assigned to him earlier was not a bedroom, more like a cloakroom, with barely enough space for his suitcases. "Mom, I need your

"Decided you can't handle him

to my cheeks. "That's not it. I just... what room should I assign him to?"

me squirm, as if she could see right through me. "I told

him in the cloakroom," I

than giving him your bed," she said, her voice dripping a subtle

flooded my face. "That's not what I

a seat, on the couch a few meters

think he's going to take Mavericks' attention away from

snorted. "Not a

nodded, stealing glances at

be leaving on a trip

I frowned, surprised. "Already?"

at least you two will have some space,"

tried to steal a glance at Jared to see if he heard us, because mum

because he appeared equally flustered, a faint blush

hissed, returning my gaze to her. "There's nothing between us," I

said, grinning. She seemed to be enjoying herself