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

Lasting effects

(JARED'S POV)

After Arielle left, I buried my face in my palms, feeling a tide of frustration and guilt was over me. I couldn't follow her. At least. I knew I shouldn't.

She needed space, and for once, leaving her alone felt like the least I could do after everything I had said.

I exhaled sharply, trying to steady my breathing, but it didn't help. The confrontation kept replaying in my mind, each detail reminding me how I had mishandled it.

How could I have let my emotions spiral like that? I had let my anger get the best of me, and now I was left with nothing but a mess of my own making.

I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd ruined everything-again. As much as I was frustrated by her reluctance to forgive me, I knew deep down it wasn't about that. She was just hurt. I had caused her pain, and I should never have lashed out the way I did. I should have been more patient, more understanding.

I mean, how do I win her back if the impression I always give off is that of a man who can't keep his emotions in check?

Sighing again, I looked up and my eyes landed on the first aid box on the floor, and against my will, thoughts of how she carefully tended to my wounds plagued me. She had cared enough to bring me here and take care of me when I was a mess, and yet I had completely ruined everything.

"You're an ungrateful bastard," I groaned to myself.

I pushed myself to my feet, the weight of the room pressing in on me, and walked out, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the empty space. It felt like a metaphor for my life lately-empty, silent, and painfully alone. Outside, I pulled out my phone and ordered an Uber. The driver would take some time to arrive, but I needed to do something to distract myself from the chaos in my head.

the length of the driveway, the cold evening air doing nothing to calm my restless thoughts. Finally, the Uber pulled up,

stared out the window, lost in thought. By the time we arrived, I was no closer to finding answers, but at least the ride had been an escape if only

driver, thanking him as I stepped out and made my way inside. All I

as I walked through the foyer, I noticed my mother sitting in the sitting room. It would've been rude to just

the moment I stepped into the room, I froze. She wasn't

hell is she here? I thought

me, and I could sense the heaviness

myself to keep calm, but it wasn't easy. The air felt thick with tension as I stopped just inside the doorway, trying not to show how

Sofia's mother demanding a monetary favor with her usual entitled aura, but halted when they

asked, her voice dripping

I'd been fighting to hold back finally erupted, but before I could say anything, my gaze drifted to the

looked... different.

imagined her. Her skin was nearly ashen, and her face usually full of fire and confidence, was now etched with sadness. Her eyes those bright, piercing eyes that had always held so much life-were

I once knew had

comment about my relationship with Sofia. A bitter

find Mrs. Gold's eyes fixed on me with an intensity that was hard to ignore. Her

good you're home, Jared. Your mother and I were just discussing Sofia. She's been in a really awful place lately. Did your mother not

mother, but she avoided my

the knot tightening in my stomach. "I'm sure she's just been busy and was

is that so?"