MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE

JARED'S POV)

I killed the engine of my car and sat still, deep in thought. There was a battle raging in my head as I sat in the car space. I stole a glance at my reflection in the rearview mirror. Arielle's mother's fingers were still clearly imprinted on my face like an awful tattoo born from the handiwork of a wack tattooist. Maybe it was the heaviness in my heart or the helplessness painted in the mark on my face. But somehow, I finally let out an exasperated sigh as I stepped out of the car. I walked over to the front door and gently let myself in. Walking into the sitting room, I was stunned to find my mother seated on the couch, obviously waiting for me.

From all obvious indications, she was waiting up for me to air her mind about something, because the instant I stepped into the house, she leaped up from the sofa to speak. I watched her expression shift from firm to hesitant then to shocked, right before my eyes. "Oh my God! Jared. What happened to you?" she asked in concern as she walked up to me. She held my face in her hands and gently felt the skin around my cheek. "Who did this to you?"

"It's nothing, mum," I sighed sadly to her as I let her guide me into a seat.

"First, you call off your engagement, and next you're getting attacked by God knows who?" she shook her head sadly

I looked at her quizzically and then it dawned on me that Sofia must have called her.

"I see, Sofia called you," I said, trying to appear indifferent.

"Oh yes, she did, and she was in pretty bad shape."

"Where's she?" I asked.

"Upstairs, probably crying her eyes out."

"I didn't lay a hand on her so I see no reason why she should be crying," I said, shrugging my shoulders.

"What has gotten into you, Jared? I didn't raise you to be mean to women! Your engagement was in the news and everyone has been looking forward to your marriage. Sofia is a good girl. I don't see why you'd want to end things like that."Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

"For heaven's sake, I'm not awful to women. It's so easy for you to judge me when you're not even in my shoes! You think Sofia is good, then why don't we switch places so you can truly see the goodness in her?" I snapped, realizing a little too late that I was being rude. "I'm sorry, mum. I really didn't mean that," I apologized.

She rose from where she was perched beside me and walked over to another sofa. I knew I was overreacting. It was only normal for her to be interested in my life, after all she was my mother. Whatever happened with Arielle in that lifetime was also my fault-chiefly so, if I was being honest.

I was going to speak again but she beat me to it.

"Your grandmother is returning."

The news dropped like a bombshell, rattling and throwing me off guard

"It's still just talk, but we can't rule out the possibility of her returning," she added.

"But how is this possible? I thought she was supposed to be returning to Italy to 'die with her fathers'?" I said, air quoting the last parts of my sentence. "Sorry," I quipped in an apology at my mother's disapproval.

My grandmother had been certain that she was never returning to the city and for her to have changed mind, there was only a huge cloud of tension hanging in the air as a result-she never went back on a decision. So why change that this time?

Something had to be wrong somewhere. As much as she was old, she happened to have an ambition quite older than herself and it made her a force to be reckoned with.

"Well, apparently, she's realized it's not her time yet and her fathers can wait," my mother sighed.

For the first time upon hearing about my grandmother's looming return, I considered the implications it could have for me and the affairs of my life. As sour as the divorce with Arielle has been, we'd managed to keep it away from her, because she'd been very supportive of our relationship. I could only wonder what it would mean for me if she learned that we were no longer together.

"Look, son," my mother began with a sigh after a moment of silence. "I understand if you don't want me meddling in your love life anymore. I know I've done more than enough in some not so good ways. But understand that I'm just genuinely looking out for you." “Of course, mum. And I'm sorry if I made it seem you were doing otherwise," I apologized.

"I thought that with Sofia we'd have a justifiable reason for the whole drama with Arielle, but Jared you calling off your engagement at a time like this is just...," her voice

trailed off with an exasp

sigh.

"I wish we could turn back the hands of time. Arielle... There's just so

much I wish we'd do differently."

I rose from my seat and went over to my mother. The space on the floor beside her was so inviting, much like when I was younger. I slipped down beside her and let out a tired sigh. "Me too, mum," I said, taking her hand in mine.

We sat like that for a while, both

silent and in mourning over what was lost. After sighing for the umpteenth time, an idea struck past my mind. What if grandmother's return was the cue I needed to get things going with Arielle? I didn't feel strange for realizing that wanted her back. I already realized that way before her return.

"I ran into her today," I blurted out unexpectedly.

"Sorry?"

"Arielle. Mum, she's in town. I ran into her... maybe I did follow halfway across town, but for good reason, mum," I said, hope, filling my heart.

"Is this... Do you think...," she began, but never fully completed the questions I knew she meant to ask. She shared the hope I had in my heart-I could see it in the way her eyes lit up at the news. But soon, a cloud of uncertainty hung heavy before her face. "I could try and win her back, mum. It's going to be hard, but I could try."

"Is this what you really want, Jared?" she asked, her face creased in worry and concern.

"I don't know. Maybe. I just... I just want to try and make things right, you know. And maybe get you a grandson while at it," I said to my mother, watching her eyes light up in surprise at the hint I'd just dropped.