MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE

(ARIELLE'S POV)

I tried to sit up again, but my body was hit by a jolt of cold sensation. I shivered terribly, and my teeth chattering in response.

Fear gripped me as I realized I was alone and helpless. I couldn't call for help, as my voice was cracked and hoarse.

Goosebumps invaded my skin as my mind raced with thoughts of how I ended up like this. I was fine the previous night, laughing and having fun with family and friends. Had I overexerted myself at the party? Had I stayed up too late, thereby stressing my body? Tears brimmed at the corners of my eyes as I thought about Mom and Maverick. What if I didn't make it? What if I died in this bed, alone and unattended? Fear gripped me at the thought, and I fervently prayed, begging for someone to come and find me. Just as I thought I couldn't take it anymore, a knock sounded on the door. Hope returned to me, and I tried to respond, but no sound came out.

"Arielle?" Mom's voice sounded behind the door.

I tried to respond again, but all that came out was a weak whimper.

"Arielle, are you not up yet? You'll be late for work," she said, and almost immediately, I heard the doorknob turning. Her concerned face soon appeared in the gap as her eyes landed on me.

"You're late.." she continued, but her words trailed off as she took in my appearance. Her eyes immediately widened in alarm, and she hurried over to the bed.

"Are you okay?" Her hand was reaching for my forehead now. But she withdrew it the instant they connected like it was a hot object.

"Oh my God, you're running a temperature!" she exclaimed.

I tried to respond, but my voice was feeble as usual. Mom's face was masked with worry now as she leaned over me, feeling every part of my body.

"Don't worry, baby, Mom's here now. It's just a cold, nothing serious."

With those words, she immediately sprang into action. She rushed into my bathroom and returned with a bowl of lukewarm water and a towel. Getting back in bed, she shed some part of my clothing and began to sponge my forehead, arms, and legs, all in a bid to bring down the temperature.

"It's okay, sweetie, Mom's with you. This will help bring down your fever," she cooed, palming my face softly.

I nodded as the cool sensation of the towel felt like a balm to my overheated skin, and I let out a sigh of relief. But at some point, it felt like a switch for more hotness was flipped and my body began to overheat again. The cool towel automatically felt hot on my skin, and no matter how much sponging Mom did, it only made my skin burn more, and my fever worsened.

"Mom...call...help," I muttered. The words felt like they were stuck in my throat, and I had to force them out. Her efforts alone were not enough, and I was getting worse by the minute.

Her expression deepened with more worry as the realization of that dawned on her, too. "Okay, dear, I'll call the closest hospital around to send an ambulance."

Quickly, she grabbed my phone on the bedside table and placed it in front of my face for face unlock.

The phone unlocked, and she began to tap away on the screen, probably scanning through the hospital's website. And then she was placing the phone on her ear, her expression tense.

I watched anxiously as she waited for someone to pick up. After a while, the phone was answered. "Hello?" She answered the phone. "We need an ambulance... My daughter has a high fever...Okay, how long will it take?"

My anxiety grew as I watched her listen to the response on the other end, her grip on the phone tightening. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she bit her lip, jaws clenching.

"What do you mean two hours? That's a lot of time," her voice went off with frustration. "But that's Okay, fine."

There was a pause in her reaction, and they were back again as she began to pace. "Can't you do anything to help us?" Her voice has turned pleading now. "She is getting worse by the second. Can't you send someone sooner?" The person on the phone must have offered some sort of consolation because Mom's expression softened slightly. She nodded, her eyes turning to me.

"Okay, thank you," she mumbled and dropped the call.noveldrama

She returned to the bed, frustration

vivid on her face. Her eyes were red

like she would burst into tears anytime soon. "What do we do? They can't get here until after two hours because of a delay. The other hospitals are hours away, and I can't get you out of bed on my own. I don't know what to do."

My heart broke at how helpless she looked and sounded. I tried to say something, but I already exhausted my little strength on the ones I said earlier. She noticed my feeble movement and leaned in closer, trying to hear me. "Dwayne...Call Dwayne," I managed to whisper, and despite how low my voice sounded, her eyes lit up in understanding.

Her expression changed to one of realization, and she nodded. "That's right, I should have thought of that."

Immediately, she began to tap on my phone again. The phone rang and came to an end with no response. Her face fell, and she cast me an apologetic look.

"I'll call again."

I nodded, desperately praying that

Dwayne answered his phone. I

needed medical attention as soon as possible, or else I feared that something might go wrong. My heart pulse had increased, and my body was literally burning like it was set on fire.

On the second ring, he answered the phone. Mom quickly explained the situation, and after a brief conversation that I couldn't make out, she ended the call.

"He said he left town this morning for a business deal and can't leave," she explained to me. "But he promised to call Jared to come help us."

I blinked, but couldn't show my

surprise properly because of my state. I had so many questions to

ask; like when did Jared and Dwayne

become close enough for one to call the other and send him on

an

errand? But for now, I just nodded weakly.

"We'll wait for Jared to arrive while I put more effort into keeping the fever under control," my mom said, her voice soft and reassuring.

I nodded again as that was all I could do without my body crying in protest. She resumed sponging my body, and even though it brought little comfort, it was something.

Just then, it struck me that I was missing something, or someone, rather. Maverick. I have not seen my son since this morning. "M-Maverick?"

Mom paused the sponging, her face softened and she reached out to stroke my hair. "He's already left for school, sweetie. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

I bobbed my head and closed my weak eyes. A few minutes later, the phone rang.

"Jared's calling," Mom announced.

My eyes shot open and I looked up in anticipation. She answered the phone and placed it on speaker when she saw how eager I looked.

Jared's agitated voice came on. "I got Dwayne's message and I'm on my way right now. Please, try all you can to manage her."

Something in me shifted on hearing how he sounded, but I didn't know what it was.

"Okay, thank you, Jared. We'll wait," Mom said.

After the call ended, Mom turned to me. We exchanged looks, and I could see the surprise and questions in her eyes. There was so much to say and ask but now was not the time.