MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE

(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.novelbin

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."

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

Collecting myself, I took a step forward to approach him now, but was stopped by Sofia's next question.

"Are you still unhappy about the marriage?"

Did she talk about marriage?

I halted immediately, confusion and shock attacking me simultaneously.

What marriage? Who's getting married? To whom?

My head was swirling and buzzing now, but I got my answer in the next few seconds.

"What's there to be happy or unhappy about getting married?" Jared's voice was calm, detached, almost careless. "Marriage means nothing to me."

"Huh?" I mumbled to myself, frowning.

What the hell? It was hard to believe that those words emanated from his mouth.

Just then, a man next to him chimed, "Bro, you talk as if you have been married before."

Jared laughed, a cold sound that 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." IF you don't marry who you LOVE.

"Seriously, Jared?"

I didn't even realize I had moved until my voice cut through the room like a blade, sharp and unyielding. The hum of chatter vanished, and a heavy silence filled the space.

All eyes turned to me.

Jared's head snapped in my direction, his face paling as his gaze locked onto mine.

My whole body 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 replayed in my head. He said it didn't matter much.

Was that all our marriage was to

him? The years we spent together, the moments I thought we

shared-had they all been nothing more than a careless mistake, a random choice in his life?

"Repeat it," I said, my voice trembling but cold as frost. "Say it to me, Jared. Say it again."

He stood instantly, his drink forgotten as he made his way 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 didn't care.

My attention remained fixed on Jared, his sudden hesitation cutting deeper than any words. His silence was louder than anything he could've said.

He stopped a step away, and then he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You don't know the situation."

"Oh, don't I?"

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might yell. But instead, he whispered, "Trust me. Just this once, Arielle. Trust me."

"Trust you?" I repeated, incredulous. "You just erased everything we had in front of a room full of strangers, and now you're asking me to trust you?" "Arielle, please "

I almost laughed in his face. And then I did a bitter, humorless laugh that tasted of humiliation and heartbreak.

"How, Jared? Tell me how. Am I

supposed to trust you as your ex-wife? Or as the irrelevant standby you never loved at all?"I snapped, unable to control my voice rising. "You're impossible. You're

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impossible, Jared Smith!"

Jared's frown somehow deepened as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. But I couldn't stop now. The floodgates had opened.

"What am I to you? A roadblock to your happiness? A mistake you can't wait to erase? After everything, after all your so-called pursuit, after you begged me to start over again this is it? Why have you been acting so nice to me since I came back? Was it all for Maverick? Is that all this is to you?"

Gosh, I feel so stupid! I involuntarily let out another low laugh at myself, cold, and bitter. "How could I ever think... No, forget it. Forget you."

He suddenly interrupted, his voice tinged with urgency and frustration. "What are you talking about, Arielle?"

"What am I talking about?" I repeated, my disbelief turning to fury. Before I could go on, Sofia stood, her expression painted with concern.

"Jay, don't do this," she said, glancing nervously between us. "Arielle, I'm sorry if—"

"Don't." I held up a hand, cutting her off. My eyes burned, but I refused to let her see my tears. I turned my gaze back to Jared, meeting his stare head-on.

"I'm sorry," I said, my voice steadier now, colder. "Sorry for embarrassing you in front of all your admirers."

Without waiting for a response, I spun on my heel and walked out.

I didn't need to look back to know he wouldn't come after me.

Outside, the cool night air stung my face, but it wasn't enough to stop the tears that blurred my vision. Dwayne stood by his bike, his relaxed stance tensing the moment he saw me.

I approached him like a ghost, hollow and broken. He didn't say a word, just leaned away from the motorcycle and opened his arms.

The moment I saw him, my tears finally spilled over.