Mr Billionaire's Regret Chasing His Irresistible Wife (Jared and Arielle) novel Chapter 213

(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?

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.”