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.

wait in my chest, a heaviness that suffocated the air from my

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 him mocking

ringing in my ears-louder than the rest, triumphant and full of

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 I couldn't stop replaying

But under what twisted circumstances

this. I didn't

was with Sofia was enough to tear me apart? She was the source of my pain

Argh!

and rocked back and forth. I moved a little too much and grazed my

so I jumped when he came into view and he lifted

and returned again with a little first-aid box. "This might sting a bit," he warned with a little smile

wet cotton wool. Once he was done, he placed a band aid over the injury before kissing

to say it made the wound heal faster. She was awesome when she found the strength," he sighed with a sad smile and rose from my side. He gave me an aspirin and a glass of

"For your head."

I slowly nodded.

like to

hungry. Sorry." I finally found

show you

his arms with ease, holding me close as if I weighed nothing at all. His warmth surrounded me, and

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

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

looked into my eyes intently, searching

the syncing of our breathing. He leaned closer and I could feel the warmth of his breath on my face. Then he withdrew and went over to the chair in a corner of the room. "Wanna talk about it?" he asked

out a long, heavy sigh, pulling the sheets around me

"Not for anything?"

somehow glinted in the dim light, like a

him. The words I'd been

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...

say that

talking about it later. I mean

don't see that. Just sleep now. I'm

clear. I can't keep dragging you into this emotional whirlwind. I felt bad and I know it's worse for you, waiting for someone

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

Then came to my side with that same intense look. He leaned close with a forced smile on his face, before hitting the bedside light switch and parting me gently on my shoulder. "Good night, ostrich," he

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

on the ceiling and they formed the outline of Jared's face, a smug smile set on his lips as he watched me in mockery. I shut my eyes tightly to keep the image out of my head. Sleep came faster than I expected. There was the fresh scent of grass and

how much time had passed until I 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 and

up beside me, his bright smile warming me from the inside out. "...Maverick?"

My eyes filled with tears that I couldn't hold back, no matter how hard I tried.

a baby,"

I