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

(ARIELLE'S POV)

The air had grown colder, the chill creeping into my bones. Dwayne wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. "Are you cold?" he asked, his voice soft with concern.

I wiped my tears, shaking my head.

All I could feel was exhaustion. My mind had turned to mush, too drained to form a single coherent thought.

Dwayne studied me carefully before running his fingers along the side of my face. I turned away.

He didn't say a word, just shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. Then he handed me a helmet, carefully helping me strap it on.

"Thank you," I whispered as I snuggled closer to him on the motorcycle.

I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. They came in waves as we rode, the cold wind stinging my face, but it couldn't stop the flood of emotions. Jared's words replayed in my head, over and over, like a broken record. The image of him and Sofia, sitting together, haunted

me.

"Go to the pub," I said, shivering against Dwayne's back. "I need a couple of beers."

He immediately shook his head. "You'd better not. Let's get you home." Then turned the bike down a different road, heading for my house.

"No!"

Dwayne braked suddenly, the bike lurching to a stop. "Why not?"

I wanted to explain-wanted to tell him that with Maverick at a sleepover and my mom still away on her trip, I didn't want to be alone in that empty house.

But the words stuck in my throat. This sounded so stupid. Instead, I just dropped my eyes and went silent.

Dwayne sighed and rolled the bike still into the garage of my home's direction, and killed the engine.

I was too tired to protest again, drowning my thoughts in the sound of the revving engine underneath us.

By the time we reached my doorstep, I was too drained to move. My body ached, my mind was foggy, and every step felt heavier than the last. When I tried to get off the bike, I stumbled on my heels and fell to the ground with a thud. Dwayne was there in an instant, his hands steady as he helped me to my feet. "Are you okay?"

"Think I scraped my ankle," I answered, and the tears almost started again. Luckily I forced myself to stop. Even though everything seemed to be so wrong with the world, I shouldn't act like a child.

My head hurts and I wince in pain with every step.

The house felt empty, hollow, like it was swallowing me whole. Each step toward the door felt like a reluctant surrender. Finally, I stopped and sank onto the flower bed, too tired to go any further. Dwayne crouched down beside me, his eyes soft. "Okay, okay, Arielle. You can stay at my place for one night, is that okay?"

I nodded, unable to speak the words.

With careful gentleness, Dwayne helped me to my feet again and guided me toward his house, each step taken with the utmost care. He led me to a couch, helping me lie down, before disappearing into the kitchen.

silent once he left, and I felt a crushing wait in my chest, a heaviness that

had I let him break me all over? Had he seen me before I knew? Had he said those words on purpose, knowing I was there? The thought of

my ears-louder than

him. Did he know how hard it was? Did he understand that asking me to trust him after everything he'd said was the hardest thing I'd ever been asked to do? "Marriage means nothing to me." Those words burned in my mind, and

trust. But under what twisted circumstances would

I didn't ask for

She was the source of my pain for three years, and now he was

Argh!

back and forth. I moved a little too much and grazed my ankles against each other. I bit back the urge

I jumped when he came into view and he lifted his

and came around to help me out of the jacket. He went away for a moment and returned again with a little first-aid box. "This might sting a

pain as he gently massaged the wound with the ball of wet cotton wool. Once he was done, he placed a band aid over the injury before kissing

faster. She was awesome when she found the strength," he sighed with a sad smile and rose from my side. He gave me an

"For your head."

I slowly nodded.

like to

I

okay. I'll show you to

hesitate-he swept me up into his arms with ease, holding me close as if I weighed

look away quickly, embarrassed by the intimacy of the moment, trying

bedroom, he gently placed me down on the bed and hovered above me

into my eyes intently, searching them like he could

our breathing. He leaned closer and I could feel the warmth of his breath on my face. Then he withdrew and went over

a long, heavy sigh, pulling the sheets around me like a shield. "I'd rather

"Not for anything?"

in the dim

exhaled sharply, then turned to face him. The words I'd been holding back on the back of his motorbike

I'm sorry I'm a terrible, weak person. I don't deserve a friend like you. You see how I've messed everything up with Jared. I don't want to give you any false hope. Just... Please, don't waste any more time on me." He didn't say anything

call yourself weak. You deserve everything. Don't say that anymore. You're tired tonight.

not talking about it later. I

that. Just sleep

I know it's worse for you,

lump form in my throat. "Couldn't you just stop...?" I

forced smile on his face, before hitting the bedside

at the ceiling, the hours blending together in a haze. My thoughts were a tangled mess, each one

my eyes tightly to keep the image out of my head. Sleep came faster than I expected. There was

sensed movement beside me, prompting my eyes. I blinked, and immediately regretted it as the early morning sunlight flooded the room, hitting the back of my head with a searing pain. It took me a moment to collect myself

the sight of my son, Maverick, curled up beside me, his bright smile warming me from the inside out. "...Maverick?" I sat up abruptly, the ache in my head forgotten, replaced

My eyes filled with tears that I couldn't hold back, no matter how hard I tried. Dwayne was leaning against the doorframe, hands casually tucked

slept like a baby,"

him," I said more than