Mr Billionaire's Regret Chasing His Irresistible Wife (Jared and Arielle) novel Chapter 83

(ARIELLE'S POV)

I had arrived in Italy and settled in, although the first week was a maze of orientation and waiting for students who had delays in arrival, to arrive. The academy provided accommodations, but I chose to stay outside campus due to my pregnant state.

I got a decent apartment and spent the week touring the city, registering for antenatal in a hospital, and keeping in touch with Mom and Ashley.

But none of it filled the emptiness gnawing inside me. Late at night, when the city was quiet and my thoughts drifted back to Jared and the child I had lost, I felt the weight of it all. I tried hard to stay distracted, burying myself in activities so I wouldn’t have to remember those painful memories.

Classes finally began, and during a break, I stepped out for some fresh air. As I made my way through the courtyard, my heart skipped a beat.

A familiar figure caught my eye—broad shoulders, tall frame, dark hair... My breath hitched. Jared?

But when he turned around, I immediately knew I was wrong when seeing that drowning emerald green eyes.

It was Dwayne.

I stumbled backward by the impact of the collision, shocked.

"D... Dwayne?" I called, eyes widened.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as his eyes locked with mine. “Hi, Arielle.” The light breeze tousled his hair, and there was something about his easy charm that made it hard to look away.

My surprise quickly morphed into suspicion. "What are you doing here?" I asked, taking a step backward.

"I know you're surprised–" he said, taking a step closer.

"Are you stalking me?" I asked, trying to process the unexpected encounter.

He sighed. "No, Arielle, I'm not stalking you."

I narrowed my eyes. “Then how are you here? At the same academy, in the same city?”

"I'm a student here, too."

My eyes dimmed. "What? How is that possible?"

"Let me explain," and then he turned around and I did the same, realizing people were looking our way. "But not here, over lunch. I owe you that much."

I hesitated, unsure if I should trust him. But my curiosity got the better part of me. What was he in Italy, at the same place, and at the same time as me? I nodded. “Fine. But just lunch.”

We walked to a small café just outside the campus, and once seated, I wasted no time. “So, what’s going on? Why are you really here?”

Dwayne leaned back, his eyes glinting with amusement again, as if he enjoyed the tension between us. “You’re not going to let me off the hook, are you?”

I crossed my arms. “No. I just want to know what's going on, and why you're at every place I go."

He sat up on the chair. "Okay, let's get this out of the way. I wasn't stalking you, Arielle. Our meetings were purely coincidental."

I raised an eyebrow. "Coincidental? Maybe the previous encounters, but not this one. Try something else."

"Believe me. The first time we met at the hospital garden, I was there because I stepped out to get some fresh air. I was admitted a few days ago for food poisoning after trying out a new dish," he gave out a small laugh, but I maintained my straight face.

"And the mall?" He shrugged. "I was shopping for ingredients for my cooking class. Karaoke night? Just an evening to unwind, and I spotted you, so I walked over to say hi."

I remained mute, studying his face for any sign of deception or lies.

"Convinced?" He asked the smile back on his lips.

I shook my head. "Not yet."

And then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wallet, flipping it open to reveal a chef's badge. "I'm a chef too, Arielle. I'm here on a scholarship as it has always been my dream."