MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE

(ARIELLE'S POV)

As the party got underway, I insisted on stepping aside for a moment to call Rebecca and Stephen. I needed to let them know about my decision to take two days off.

They readily agreed, assuring me they'd keep things running smoothly at the restaurant in my absence. Relieved, I thanked them and ended the call before heading back inside.

What Ashley called a pre-party turned out to be a lively, classic celebration-music, drinks, dancing, and endless chatter. It had been ages since I'd attended something like this, and I couldn't help but feel a little thrill as I mingled, catching up with people and sneaking in a few moments to casually promote my restaurant.

But as the evening wore on, the fatigue of the day finally caught up with me. My energy waned, and I felt the telltale weakness creeping in.

Dwayne, as if sensing it, stayed close by. At one point, he gently patted my shoulder, leaning in to whisper, "If you're tired just go back to your room and rest. You've got tomorrow and the next two days to enjoy your little vacation, Ostrich."

I shook my head, unwilling to dampen the mood for anyone else. "I'll just rest on one of the lounge chairs over there," I said, gesturing to a quieter corner of the deck. "It's fine, really. You all keep enjoying yourselves."

His eyes softened with concern, but when I smiled and reassured him, he finally relented. "Alright," he said with a small, understanding smile.

I playfully added, "My mother's over there too. I'll go chat with her."

With that, I turned and headed toward that short but steady figure.

Mom stood by the railing, the endless ocean stretching before us, her smile knowing. We'd found a quiet spot on the ship to sit and talk, away from the noise of the party. She glanced at me, her eyes filled with curiosity and warmth.

"Finally found some peace," she said, shaking her head with a small laugh as she took a sip of her drink. "These young lives... always so busy. So, how's everything going, sweetie? Work, Maverick?"

I sighed, already feeling lighter just being able to talk to her. "Work's been hectic, as usual. Maverick... he's almost four now, Mom. Can you believe it? He's becoming his own little person, and he's so excited about life. He's made new friends, and next week is his school's Open House. He's been talking about it nonstop."

I paused, the mention of the Open House tugging at a thread of unease. Mom noticed immediately, her perceptive gaze softening.

"And his father?" she asked gently. "Will Jared be there?"

I hesitated, my voice quieter. "Yeah, he will. Jared wants to come, and I agreed. It felt like the right thing to do for Maverick."

What I didn't tell her was how Jared had leveraged Uncle Ashley's business for this opportunity. Some truths felt too heavy to share, even with her.

Mom studied me closely. "You don't sound entirely comfortable with that. Are you really okay with it?"

"I'm fine," I said quickly, "It's just... Jared and I have a complicated history. We always have. But Maverick needs us both, and I'm trying to keep things civil-for him."

She nodded, sensing I wasn't ready to say more, but her silence spoke volumes. Mom could read me like an open book, and I knew she was piecing together the parts I hadn't shared.

"And Dwayne?" she suddenly asked with a pointed look. "I saw the way he was talking to you earlier-the way you were talking to him. Don't tell me you don't feel it. That kiddo definitely has a thing for you. He looks at you like you hung the moon."

I couldn't help but laugh at her phrasing, though I shook my head in disbelief.

Mom, if only you knew. That 'kiddo' you're talking about is a mafia boss.

"It's not what you think," I said carefully, trying to put my tangled emotions into words. "I've been trying to keep things clear between us, but it's not working the way I want. It's... complicated."

The thoughts came rushing in. I had tried to set boundaries-I really had-but Dwayne never quite stayed within them. He didn't want to remain in the 'just friends' zone, and it wasn't hard to read that.

"He's so stubborn," I admitted with a small, almost bitter laugh. "More stubborn than I expected, especially when it comes to talking about... us. And I know why. I know he's scared of hurting me. He's always so careful, always thinking ahead, like he's tiptoeing around a minefield."

I paused, my thoughts drifting to his identity and the weight he carried. Dwayne wasn't just Dwayne. He was someone tangled in a blood feud, someone with a story so complicated it could swallow both of us whole.

Then there was Jared his half-brother, his rival. Their relationship was already fractured beyond repair, and the idea of stirring up that storm even more made my chest tighten.

There was no way I could allow myself to complicate things between them any further.

"It's just... too much," I finally murmured. "Too heavy. I wouldn't even know where to start explaining it all to you, Mom."

She frowned slightly, processing my vague explanation, but after a moment, she nodded, her expression softening. "Honey, you don't have to tell me everything. Not until you're ready."noveldrama

I let out a quiet sigh, grateful for her understanding. But before I could respond, she shifted the conversation back.

"But then, what about Jared?" she asked gently. "If Dwayne isn't the right one... does that mean you've already made up your mind? Is Jared the one? How's it going with him these days?"

I couldn't help the bitter smile that crept across my lips. "Mom, you just had to pull a forced confession out of me, didn't you?"

She raised an eyebrow, waiting patiently as I met her gaze. Finally, I took a deep breath and told her everything about me and Jared recently-well, almost everything. I left out the part about his new fiancée. I didn't want to worry her or invite more judgment on Jared. It felt pointless.

When I mentioned Jared's business course and how we'd been working together, Mom raised an eyebrow. "So, you've been spending quite a bit of time with him lately. How does that feel?"

"It's... strange," I admitted, my voice uncertain. "I've been trying to keep my distance, but the more we work together, the harder that gets. Mom, I don't know if you understand, but there's this calmness when we're aroun@each other, this sense of... peace. I don't want to deny that. But I know it only exists because we're pretending. I treat him like a stranger, or maybe just a friend, and

he acts like his motives are pure-or

at least he pretends they are.

"But deep down, I know that peace is fragile. It's built on the idea that we're just coworkers, not exes. And the moment I remember who he really is-who he's been to me it all falls apart. He's my ex-husband, Mom. He always will be. And that's a wall I can't climb over, no matter how much I try."

I stared out at the ocean, the weight

vel.

of my emotions pressing down on me. "We've been through so much, Mom. Too much. Jared and I-we've been torturing each other for years. I see the pain in his eyes when I speak harshly to him, and I feel it in my own heart when he tries to reach out. But none of it compares to the pain I felt when we divorced. I can't forget that. Even if being around him feels good now, I can't let myself ignore what's happened. "

She let out a sigh, her voice gentle. "I'm not implying anything, dear. It's just... you've always been such an understanding girl. You know, in the past, Mom made her share of mistakes too, but you never held them against me. I still remember that day in the hospital-how I hesitated, unsure if you'd even want to see me. But then you came over and hugged me.

"You have such a big heart, Ari. You've always been so tolerant, so forgiving. So why," she paused, her gaze searching mine, "why are you so stubborn when it comes to Jared?"

I froze, her words striking a raw nerve.

The silence between us stretched, heavy and unbroken, until my voice, barely above a whisper, finally escaped.

"Because, Mom... I loved him," I said, the words trembling in the air. "I had trusted him, I had loved him so deeply three years ago. I gave Jared everything I had. And he... just trampled on it."

Hours had passed, and the ship was quiet. Everyone had retired to their quarters except for the crew, who respectfully stayed away from this part of the deck. The night air was cool and crisp, the ocean stretching endlessly under the silvery moonlight. Mom pulled me into her arms, holding me tightly, her warmth steadying my trembling frame. Her voice was soft, yet firm. "Mom's here."

I smiled faintly, finding some comfort in her embrace. "It's okay, Mom. I'm not that weak. And it's not shameful to admit I once loved the wrong person. We had good times back then, but..." I paused, taking a deep breath. "That time is never coming back."

She let me go, her eyes lingering on mine as though searching for something. After a long moment, she spoke, her tone filled with pride. "You know, I'm really proud of you. Sometimes, you make me feel like you're braver than I ever was. Far braver."

I blinked, caught off guard by her words. She smiled wistfully, her gaze turning toward the distant horizon. "I've never been brave, at least not when it came to relationships. If I had been even half as honest and courageous as you, maybe my story would've had a different ending... with him." "Him?" I asked, my voice tentative. "Do you mean Dad?"

Her expression shifted as she looked away from the ocean. It was a mix of tranquility and something colder-something solemn I couldn't quite place. She shook her head gently. "The past is gone, Arielle. There's no point in digging it up again."

Her gaze softened as she turned back to me, her voice filled with quiet conviction. "I just hope that when you're my age, looking back on your life, you'll only feel moments of pity, not regret."