MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE

(JARED'S POV)

I felt something snap and twist inside of me. The news hit me harder than I expected, and for a moment, my anger towards her evaporated.

Sofia kept talking, her voice small, apologetic.

"Jared... I wasn't supposed to interrupt you with all this, it's my mum-she asked me to "

But she was cut off by her mother's steely gaze. I watched as Mrs. Gold's grip on her daughter's wrist tightened, almost painfully, as if she could crush Sofia's hand into silence.

My eyes flicked back to Sofia-there was something so vulnerable about her now. It hit me like a punch to the gut.

I stared at her longer than I should have, unable to look away from the pain and helplessness reflected in her eyes.novelbin

Mrs. Gold broke the silence with a sharp, accusing tone, her voice like the crack of a whip. "You see, Jared, we've been trying to get your family to help us. After all, I saved your mother's life those years ago..."

I could feel my eye twitch with the familiar irritation. There she goes again, using that same tired line. No matter how much we'd done for the family over the years, nothing ever seemed to compensate for her self-proclaimed 'favor' in saving my mother's life. It was like she thought that one act gave her a permanent claim on everything we owed her.

A slow simmer of anger started to rise in my chest, the kind I thought had dissipated moments ago. "What are you talking about?" I asked in feigned ignorance, my voice coming out surprisingly cool.

Mrs. Gold's tone grew sharper, a high-pitched mixture of hurt and accusation that grated on my nerves. "You're not even grateful, are you?" she snapped. "I did your family a great favor, saved your mother's life, and this is how you repay me? A daughter I placed in your care got hurt, and now you can't even do right by her? Can't even take care of her?"

My face paled at the outright accusations and blame she placed on my family, it was even worse with how much bitterness and venom her eyes bore.

It was just too much for me to handle, and I knew I couldn't stay in that room a moment longer.

"I'm sorry, excuse me," I mumbled, and without waiting for an approval, I turned and walked out of the room.

I needed space to think and process the news about Sofia.

I was already overwhelmed from the conversation with Arielle, and now this? I was frustrated, and I didn't know how to deal with it all.

In my room, I uncuffed my shirt, trying not to dwell on what had just happened back at the sitting room. For a moment, I was tempted to match back there and give Mrs Gold a piece of my mind, but held back.

I just hated it when she tried to guilt trip my mother and I, my mother especially, by making the consequences of her daughter's actions our fault.

Sofia chose her path. Her mistakes led her to this moment. But still... I couldn't completely dismiss the pain of her news. I hoped, for her sake, that what she said about not being able to have kids wasn't true. No woman deserved to lose a child, only to be told she could never have another.

My thoughts ran in peace as I tried to undress, but peace wasn't something one could find easily in solitude.

Sofia came to me. She didn't knock, probably did not see the need to. She just appeared in the doorway, as though she was still entitled to my attention.

I didn't have the energy to argue, I just stared at her, my eyes taking in her fragile dorm from where she stood. She looked so different from the Sofia I knew, the one who was always so confident and bold. This Sofia looked broken, her eyes sunken in their sockets, and face pale.

I sighed, my voice heavy. "Come in."

She nodded and walked to the couch, lowering herself on it. I sat in the bed, across from her. We sat in silence for a while, the weight of everything hanging between us.

But to my surprise, she spoke up, breaking the silence. She spoke without her usual edginess. Her voice was calm, almost with an understanding that I hadn't expected.

"I know you're probably wondering why I'm here," she began, offering me a weak, nervous smile.

"Jared, I don't want you to feel responsible for me. I've made mistakes and they were all products of my choices. I also know that I hurt you, but please...don't let that hold you back. Focus on your happiness. Focus on your future instead."

I blinked and shot her a look of surprise and confusion. "What are you talking about, Sofia? Why are you saying all these things?"

Her smile was small, sad, and it

twisted something in my chest. "I'm saying this because I've realized something," she said softly. "I was wrong, Jared. I was wrong to try and manipulate you, to control you into staying with me. You're a good man, and you deserve more than what I tried to give you."

I stared at her, stunned, blinked, trying to ascertain that indeed the person seated across from me was Sofia.

Alright, I think-today is just full of

surprises. At least the Sofia I knew was selfish, always trying to get

what she wanted from me. She'cet

never say something like that. The Sofia knew would have never admitted to any mistake, much less apologized.

"I appreciate your honesty, Sofia," I said, finally finding my voice. "But why are you telling me this now?"

She looked at me intently before responding, "Because I want you to be happy, Jared. I want you to be with someone who can give you what I never could."

"And what's that?"

Her eyes dropped, and she looked away. "Peace. Stability. Children, Jared..." she said the last word in a whisper. "A family. I know I can never give you that, but someone else can. Please...don't give up on your dream life because of me."

A lump grew and formed in my

throat as I stared at her, and heard those words tumble out of her lips naturally The woman who had onee tried to control me was now letting me go, wishing for my happiness in a way I never expected. She's advising me to live my best life.

This was someone new, someone who was finally ready to be accountable for her actions.

"Thank you, Sofia," I said, my voice low and soft. "Thank you for understanding."

She nodded, a faint smile flickering on her lips, though it was still sad. But then, she surprised me again. "And I heard your mom's been trying to set you up with dates," she said with a quiet smile. "I think you should go on those dates."

I wasn't sure what to make of it. Her words were kind, even thoughtful, but they left me more confused than before. I couldn't reconcile this Sofia with the one I had known for so long. Was this really a change, or was it just another manipulation? Before I could voice my thoughts, something unexpected happened. Sofia's face crumpled, her body shaking as she began to sob.

I was taken back, momentarily unsure of how to react. I had never seen Sofia cry in this way before. She has always been so strong, so in control.

"Hey, Sofia," I called. "It's okay."

I got up from the bed and walked over to her, sitting down beside her on the couch. I put my arm around her, pulling her close. She leaned into me, her head resting on my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Jared," she sobbed. "I'm sorry for everything. How did we end up like this?"

I didn't know what to say. I just held her, letting her cry, unsure of how to comfort her, but feeling the weight of it all. The anger, the hurt, the confusion-it all seemed so irrelevant now, replaced by something much heavier.

I just held her. Because, for the first time in a long while, that was all I could do.