Mr Billionaire's Regret Chasing His Irresistible Wife (Jared and Arielle) novel Chapter 172

(JARED'S POV)

After Arielle left, I buried my face in my palms, feeling a tide of frustration and guilt was over me. I couldn’t follow her. At least. I knew I shouldn’t.

She needed space, and for once, leaving her alone felt like the least I could do after everything I had said.

I exhaled sharply, trying to steady my breathing, but it didn’t help. The confrontation kept replaying in my mind, each detail reminding me how I had mishandled it.

How could I have let my emotions spiral like that? I had let my anger get the best of me, and now I was left with nothing but a mess of my own making.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d ruined everything—again. As much as I was frustrated by her reluctance to forgive me, I knew deep down it wasn’t about that. She was just hurt. I had caused her pain, and I should never have lashed out the way I did.

I should have been more patient, more understanding.

I mean, how do I win her back if the impression I always give off is that of a man who can't keep his emotions in check?

Sighing again, I looked up and my eyes landed on the first aid box on the floor, and against my will, thoughts of how she carefully tended to my wounds plagued me. She had cared enough to bring me here and take care of me when I was a mess, and yet I had completely ruined everything.

"You're an ungrateful bastard," I groaned to myself.

I pushed myself to my feet, the weight of the room pressing in on me, and walked out, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the empty space. It felt like a metaphor for my life lately—empty, silent, and painfully alone.

Outside, I pulled out my phone and ordered an Uber. The driver would take some time to arrive, but I needed to do something to distract myself from the chaos in my head.

I paced the length of the driveway, the cold evening air doing nothing to calm my restless thoughts. Finally, the Uber pulled up, and I climbed into the backseat, giving the driver the address to the family mansion.

The car glided through the streets, and I stared out the window, lost in thought. By the time we arrived, I was no closer to finding answers, but at least the ride had been an escape—if only for a moment.

I paid the driver, thanking him as I stepped out and made my way inside. All I wanted was the comfort of my room, a place where I could shut everything out.

But as I walked through the foyer, I noticed my mother sitting in the sitting room. It would’ve been rude to just walk past without acknowledging her, so I forced myself to turn in.

But the moment I stepped into the room, I froze. She wasn’t alone, with her was Sofia’s mother.

Why the hell is she here? I thought bitterly. Could today get any worse?

She seemed surprised to see me, and I could sense the heaviness in the atmosphere.

I forced myself to keep calm, but it wasn’t easy. The air felt thick with tension as I stopped just inside the doorway, trying not to show how deeply her presence irritated me.