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

(ARIELLE'S POV)

I relied on my memory to remember the box Jared had been in earlier. My heart was beginning to race, and I could feel my hands growing sweaty. I wiped them on my dress, trying to calm myself down.

For a moment, I hesitated in front of the door. I hadn't planned out exactly what to say, but I knew I was ready to talk. If it came down to it, I was even prepared to apologize, to lower my pride for the sake of the conversation we needed to have.

This wasn't just for Jared-it was for our son, for myself, and for all the tangled pieces of our past and present.

A strange flicker of excitement mingled with my nervousness.

But before I could knock, the door swung open abruptly, and a drunken stranger stumbled out, nearly colliding with me.

I winced, recalling my encounter with the three men earlier.

Flustered, I hurriedly slipped inside, scanning the room as well. But as soon as I entered, I couldn't help but frown. The heavy smell of alcohol and bodies hit me instantly. The atmosphere was loud and chaotic. I pushed through the crowd, my eyes scanning for a familiar face.

I kept squinting my eyes until I spotted him; Jared.

He was surrounded by a group of people, admirers obviously. They were all laughing and chatting, completely smitten by his presence.

My steps faltered for a moment. A knot of hesitation tightened in my chest again, but I forced it aside. This was not the time for cold feet. I had come here for a reason, and no amount of nerves would stop me now.

We need a conversation, and everything will be alright.

And so I forged ahead, managing to squeeze closer, but Jared didn't see me at all. He was too busy charming his audience, laughing and smiling with ease like it was the most natural thing to do.

I inhaled sharply, hands by my side as I braced myself to calm him. But before I could, the lady sitting next to him suddenly spoke up, persuading him not to drink. On looking closely, I recognized it was Sofia. Sofia again? I wondered, raising my brows.

Her voice was low, and probing. "Jared, you've had enough to drink," she said, trying to take the glass from him. "why don't we get out of here?"

Jared laughed, a sound that didn't get to his eyes. "I'm fine, Sofia," he said, his voice slightly slurred. "I can handle the drink."

mentally smacked myself when I realized their conversation was nothing serious. I can't believe I stood here just to listen to something as

I took a step forward to approach him

still unhappy about

she talk about

and

marriage? Who's getting

I got my answer in the next few

getting married?" Jared's

mumbled to myself,

hell? It was hard to believe that

to him chimed, "Bro, you talk as if you

made me shiver. "I was indeed married before," he said, gulping the liquid in his glass. "But it didn't matter much. If you don't marry who you love, it's as good as not being married at all."

"Seriously, Jared?"

room like a blade,

eyes turned to

snapped in my direction, his face paling as his gaze locked onto

felt ice-cold, the blood draining from my face until I was certain I looked like a ghost. My heart clenched painfully as his words

all our

spent together, the moments I

they all been nothing more than a careless mistake,

my voice trembling but cold as frost. "Say it to

toward me. "Arielle," he began, his tone rising now. "Listen, it's not what you think—" Sofia's wide-eyed stare darted between us, clearly shocked to see me. But I

sudden hesitation cutting deeper than any

he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a

"Oh, don't I?"

tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might yell. But instead, he whispered, "Trust me. Just

erased everything we had in front of a room full of strangers, and now you're asking me to trust you?"

his face. And then I did a bitter, humorless laugh that tasted