Mr Billionaire's Regret Chasing His Irresistible Wife (Jared and Arielle) novel Chapter 61

(JARED'S POV)

I went quiet for a moment, lost in my thoughts. As much as I hated to admit it, Sofia had a point. If she hadn’t left, I never would’ve met Arielle. And even if I had, we wouldn’t have ended up married. But that was life. I couldn’t go back and rewrite the past. What was the point of dwelling on what could’ve been?

I shook my head as I recalled everything that had happened. “Why did you suddenly change your mind about me after twenty years?”

Sofia’s expression flickered—pale at first, then quickly recovering. “It’s okay to be angry with me, Jared. You’ve always been kind to me, and I let you down. I rejected your proposal without a second thought. I didn’t respect you. I take full responsibility. And I’m sorry.”

I nodded, a little moved by her apology. This was the first time in all these years she’d admitted she was wrong for turning me down. But... things were different now. Everything was different.

“It’s fine.” I paused. “I forgave you, if that’s what you need. Can’t hold a grudge after all these years. We’re friends, right?”

“No we're not!” She refuted, shaking her head.

“Sofia –”

“Friends don't kiss the way we do, they don't have the kind of feelings we have for each other,” she said. And then her voice became softer. “Jared, can we stop being friends? I'm sick and tired of the “she's just a friend,” and “she's my best friend,” tag. I want to be yours.”

I was silent, staring at her in shock. Was this really Sofia? The same woman who’d turned me down all those years ago, saying a relationship would ruin our friendship? Now, she wanted more?

This was all so different. Too different.

“This time, let me take the initiative. I don't mind proposing to you,” she continued.

“No.” I interrupted instinctively. “It hasn’t come to that.”

“It has,” she insisted. “Anything to prove how sorry I am, and how I want things to work out between us.”

I sighed, patting the space beside me on the couch. “Sit down, Sofia.”

She obeyed, her eyes curious. I held her hand, ignoring the feeling that coursed through mine.

“With you, I experienced what love was, and felt like, even though I was just a teenager,” I began locking eyes with her. “And yes, you turned me down, but I never held it against you. You don't have to apologize about anything, Sofia. Really.”

“Thank you for not hating me,” she said, her eyes sober.

And before I could process her next move, sfe threw an arm around me, pulling me close. I froze for a moment, completely taken aback. But then I recovered, and wrapped my hands around her too.

*******

The days that followed were full of thoughts I couldn’t shake. Sofia was right about one thing: I didn’t love Arielle—not in the way she deserved. And if I was being honest with myself, I hadn’t loved her the way I should’ve. Sofia had always had a piece of me, and I’d never truly let go.

As I sat in my office, staring out the window, I realized I'd been living a lie. Arielle deserved better than a loveless marriage, and Sofia deserved better than being “just a friend.”

My mind was made up at that point. I was going to do what was right. I looked up at the wall clock in my office, it was almost closing time. I grabbed my car key on the table and walked out of the office.