Mr Billionaire's Regret Chasing His Irresistible Wife (Jared and Arielle) novel Chapter 2

(ARIELLE POV)

Oh well, color me surprised!

I blinked severally to ensure that I was not seeing wrongly. My eyes widened in shock, my mind trying to process the scene before me. My husband, Jared, was standing beside another woman, a pregnant woman who claimed to be his wife, in a restaurant where I worked.

The woman's words earlier reverberated in my ears, “my husband will have you fired!” My heart pounded, breathing suddenly becoming difficult.

I felt like I had just been punched in the gut. I took a step forward, my voice raspy and barely a whisper, “Jared?”

Jared met my gaze, his composure unwavering. “Hey, Arielle,” he said in a casual tone,, as if being seen in the restaurant his wife worked in with another woman who claimed he was her husband, was a normal occurrence.

My eyes narrowed at him, as I expected him to offer me an explanation.

Before Jared could respond, Sofia stepped forward, her face a mask of surprisement, “Oh, you must be Arielle! I’m so sorry for the confusion. I’m Sofia, Jared’s old friend.”

Looking at my expressionless face, Sofia continued, her voice syrupy sweet, “Jared’s been so kind, helping me get settled in town. I just returned from abroad and I’m going through some tough times. He’s been such a wonderful support."

My eyes never left Jared's face, my gaze unnerving. “Support?” I asked, unable to mask the disbelief in my tone.

Jared nodded. “Yes, support. She's pregnant, new in town and almost helpless. She needed someone to talk to and to help her navigate her way around town. I was just being that friend.”

Still, I was not convinced, and my eyes shifted to Sofia, who stood there with an air of vulnerability, her eyes pleading for understanding. “And the child?”

Jared frowned and his voice became serious, “Of course not! The child isn't mine, Arielle.”

I relaxed a bit, deciding to trust my husband. Just then, Sofia cleared her throat to get my attention.

“Umm… Arielle, right? I apologize for my behavior earlier. I was totally out of line, you see, being a pregnant woman in a new city alone isn’t easy. I needed some support, so I may have exaggerated Jared’s role a bit. You understand, don’t you? How do we sometimes need to feel protected?” she said, and I could tell her apology was insincere.

I looked away, reluctant to accept her apology. She was rude, claimed my husband as hers, and even threatened to have me fired. But Jared noticed my reluctance, and signaled me to forgive her.

“It's okay, I forgive you,” I mumbled, but then my eyes caught the glint of a vibrant blue gem on her wrist.

Wait a second, is that the Blue Diamond limited edition? The one I glimpsed in Jared’s bag last night? I thought it was an anniversary gift for me!

Sofia was definitely aware of my stare.

She turned to me, making puppy eyes. “Oh this bracelet? It’s from Jared. Arielle, surely you don't mind Jay-Jay getting his best friend a little gift for coming back home?”

Jay-Jay? Seriously? I smiled coldly, my lips pressed together in a thin line. I didn't bother responding to Sofia's question, instead, I turned to Jared and said, “I need to speak with you in private, in my office.”