MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE

(JARED'S POV)

As I stepped out of the dining hall, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. Arielle had disappeared, and I had no idea where she had gone. I had been looking forward to talking to her all evening, but it seemed like fate had other plans or she was intentionally avoiding me. So I decided to focus on the utmost task at hand-confronting Matt Harrison. After tricking me and going contradictory to our agreement, it was expedient that he and I had a little chat.

After a little looking around, I found him smoking at a corner of the deck, the dim night lightning casting a shadow on his face. I approached him, my footsteps echoing on the wooden floor.

My footsteps alerted him, and he turned to face me, a smile spreading across his face. "Ahh, Jared, I have been expecting you. Took you long enough to find me. Sigh, the murderous glances you kept casting at me; I almost swore you'd rip my heart out the instant dinner ended."

"Well, it's a good thing that you know that I'm not a man to mess around with," I sneaked, stopping in front of him, my stance intimidating.

"Which is why I'm surprised about why you did what you did," I continued. "You did contrary to the agreement, Matt. Why?"

His expression turned serious, and he put out the fire in his cigarette, throwing the stub on the floor. "Yes, I did," he said firmly, even though I could notice the underlying tremor in his tone.

I took a step closer, my eyes menacing for additional effect. "And I asked why!"

He scoffed, moving backward. "You seriously think I'd do as you said? Come on, Jared, I know you don't make requests unless it's something important. As much as I didn't know why you wanted to get on my family's yacht, I still couldn't leave things to chance. So I extended an invitation to your people, too, just in case you had plans to botch things in the yacht, your loved ones can witness it happen."

I stared at Matt, amused by his paranoia. "Do I take it that you're scared of me?" I asked, closing more distance between us until our foreheads were almost touching.

Matt cowered, taking more steps backward until his back was touching the back of the rails. "Shouldn't I be? I mean, I tried to dupe you of a lot of money years back, costing you money. But you unexpectedly let me off the hook. And that's rare because everyone knows you to be ruthless when it comes to business and money. And I'm not gullible, Jared. It could be your plot to exert revenge on me."

I smiled, enjoying the upper hand. Matt was more paranoid than I thought. "You might be wrong, and still be right. But what did they say about a guilty conscience, huh?" I asked, throwing my arms apart.

Matt opened his mouth to say something, clearly in defense, but before the words could leave his mouth, a noise erupted from the other side of the deck.

I raised a brow, turning to Matt. "What's going on?" I asked, and even though it sounded rhetorical, I just had to ask.

But Matt looked clueless, shrugging his shoulders. His eyes darted towards the source of the noise, and then back to me. And before we could speculate further, a domestic staff rushed towards us, looking flushed. "Excuse me, sir," he said, addressing Matt. There's a situation that requires your attention."

I frowned, interest piqued. "What kind of situation?" I asked, straightening up.

"A lady is looking for a missing property of hers," the staff member explained.

"Take me there," I said, my head already storming up with thoughts of probable scenarios. Without another word, I made my way to the direction of the commotion. My long strides took up the distance, and Matt and the staff member had to hurry to keep pace with me. I quickened my steps, my mind racing with different possibilities. What could be so important that someone would want to break down a door? And who was this lady who was causing such a commotion?noveldrama

We rounded the corner, and there she was-Sofia-standing in front of the door, surrounded by a growing crowd of crew members. She was gesturing wildly, face flushed with agitation. Of course it's her, I thought, irritation simmering beneath the surface. I approached her, my frown deepening. "What's going on?"

Sofia's eyes snapped to me as the crew members parted, allowing me to step forward. She was clearly trying to gather an audience-noble guests, crew members.

What the hell was she doing here? This wasn't a casual search for a misplaced item.

Tiana, standing beside Sofia, stepped forward to explain. "Jared... Sofia thinks Dwayne has something of hers, and she's convinced it's hidden in his room." Her voice was steady, but I could hear the edge of concern. I gave her a brief, reassuring pat on the back and motioned for her to step aside.

I turned to Sofia, eyebrows raised, my tone cool but probing. "What exactly have you lost? Dwayne doesn't strike me as the type to steal."

Sofia's eyes blazed with anger. "Are you accusing me now? I lost the diamond watch-the one you bought for me when I was eighteen!"

That's when I felt Tiana's gaze was fixed on my back now. I took a breath, trying to calm myself. "Sofia, whatever it is, this isn't the way to handle it. I could help, just don't drag everyone into your personal issue okay?"

I tried to keep my tone neutral, but I couldn't help my rising anger. Why does she have to create a scene all the time?

Sofia's eyes welled with tears, her

voice thick with emotion as she pressed a hand to her mouth, trying to hold back sobs. "You just don't believe me anymore, do you? No matter what I say. You've always resented me because of... what

happened. But it doesn't matter. I'll

get justice for myself!"

I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. She never seemed to get it. Just as I was about to respond, my eyes caught a familiar face in the crowd. It was Ashley, looking frantic, scanning the room. My stomach dropped. Something wasn't right. Ashley met my gaze and, without a word, mouthed one word: Arielle.

Arielle?

My heart skipped. Right. No, Arielle wasn't with Ashley. A cold, creeping unease washed over me. Where was Arielle?

Why was Sofia suddenly so convinced that Dwayne had something of hers? And why now? Why wasn't she reaching out to me first like she always did?

My instincts kicked in. I scanned the environment and the room from outside, my senses on high alert. That's when I saw it-on the corner of the door, the room number was Dwayne's, but the name tag on the door... It was Arielle's name. This is not even Dwayne's room?

My pulse quickened. Something was terribly wrong.

I strode forward, blocking Sofia's path just as she raised her hand to bang on the door. "Stop," I ordered sharply. "Whatever this is, just stop!"

(SOFIA'S POV)

Shivers ran down my spine at the sound of Jared's order, and I unconsciously obeyed, retracting my hand from the door. I had grown accustomed to that tone, and I knew it all too well-it's the tone he used when he was angry. I felt flustered as my chest tightened, realizing that I had triggered that anger or was on the verge of it.

But then, a burst of defensiveness surged through me, and I tried to justify myself. "I told you! Dwayne stole my diamond watch! If he hadn't, he would've come out by now and explained himself. But he's not coming out, is he? He's guilty!" Jared's expression didn't change, but his voice dropped, almost too calm. "Is that it? So why are you standing in front of Arielle's door and not Dwayne's?"

I frowned, confusion enveloping me. What was he talking about? I was certain that I did a good job earlier and there is no way anyone could have known about it. But as I looked around, I saw the faces of the others, their expressions confused and skeptical. And then slowly, my eyes rose to the doorpost and they landed on the nameplate on it. My heart immediately took a huge leap and sank in my stomach when I read the name boldly written on it: ARIELLE.

Jared's voice cut through the air. "I can't believe this, Sofia-what the hell are you all doing? You can't even read something that simple? Are you just standing around here for fun?"

The crowd shifted, murmuring at his words. My throat went dry, and my palms began to sweat.

How could I have made such a mistake? In my haste to catch the supposed "Adulterer" Arielle, I had forgotten to swap back the nameplate. Oh, what were you thinking, Sofia?

But no. I couldn't falter now. I couldn't let them see. I wasn't going to let this little slip-up ruin everything. I was too close. I just needed them to open that damn door and see them together! Who cared whose room it was? Nothing would be changed this time!

"I was sure this was Dwayne's

room," I said, drawing out the words.

"I saw him go in earlier. But now... it's Arielle's room? How curious! Who knows why Dwayne would go into her room, right? Maybe I just got confused. It's easy to mix up the numbers and names in a place like this. But I know what I saw! I'd never mistake people!"

A few people who had started to leave turned back, drawn by the bait I'd tossed out. Good. I had them right where I wanted them. Gossip, that's all they cared about!

I leaned in closer, exclaiming frantically "You don't understand... but I do! I swear, I saw Dwayne go in there! If you don't believe me, just knock on the door. Have them come out. I just want my watch back, but trust me when they come out, it's going to look bad. Real bad."

The crowd was hooked now, their attention laser-focused on me. I could see Jared's face slowly darken with every word. The flicker of doubt in his eyes was just what I needed.