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.

off a boyish knowing grin. "Looking forward to it, buddy," he replied, ruffling

me off balance. I watched

Men's discussion between

but thought against it. I didn't want to

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

I

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

alright, but not without conditions," I began, my eyes still

"I expected

you won't interfere with

was a pause, like he was contemplating, but

no offering unsolicited

his eyes narrowed, his Jaws clenched. And for a moment, I

your

run the household," I continued,

your rules," Jared said

comes first," I emphasized, ensuring I added enough

me for that," he said with a

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

and happiness are

softened. But I pushed aside the feeling, reminding myself of why he

hold you to that,"

reached

think that'll be all

out the room you'll be staying in when I'm back. For

you so

I mumbled and walked

*********

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 need your help," I

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

cheeks. "That's not it. I just... what room should

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

him in the cloakroom," I argued, trying

him your bed,"

"That's not what I

They took a seat, on the couch

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

"Not

nodded, stealing glances at

be leaving on a trip

I frowned, surprised. "Already?"

you two will have some space," she

had come over her. And then I tried to steal a glance at Jared to see if he heard us, because mum was a

us because he appeared equally flustered,

my gaze to her. "There's

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