MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE
Can a man and a woman be merely friends?

(ARIELLE'S POV)

momentarily speechless.

I looked up to stare at the person I had bumped into. It turned out to be a young man, and in the fleeting moment I looked at his face, I couldn't help but notice how attractive he was. His eyes were a drowning emerald green, and his features, chiseled and rugged, left me I shook my head, snapping out of the spellbound. "I'm so sorry," I quickly began to apologize.

My eyes darted a short-distance away, and I saw a phone lying on the floor. "Is that your phone?" I asked, not waiting for an answer as I scurried towards it, picked it up, and handed it back to him. "Fortunately, no harm was done to the phone. I'm sorry again."

All this while, the young man had not uttered a word. And when he finally did, he had an amused smile on. "No need to apologize, really. I should be the one apologizing."

I shook my head, "No, I was the one who wasn't looking and bumped into you."

He chuckled softly, the sound low and warm. "Then let's call it even. I wasn't paying attention either."

I couldn't help but smile, caught off guard by how effortlessly charming he seemed. He extended his hand. "Dwayne, by the way."

Just as I reached out to shake his hand, Ashley's voice called out, cutting through the moment. "Arielle, where have you been? I told you I'd be right back after the call!"

I withdrew my hand quickly, giving Dwayne an apologetic look before turning to Ashley. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wander off."

Dwayne's gaze lingered on me, his smile not fading. "That was Jared Smith in that garden, right?"

Yeah, with his best friend. I held that sentence back but nodded, a bit surprised he recognized Jared, but that's not a rare thing since Jared is quite famous in New York city.

I hesitated, "Um, do you come here for him?"

He smiled, "No. I just had a feeling that you and me, we'd cross paths again."

His words struck me, but before I could respond, Ashley pulled me along. "Come on, we need to go."

!!

As I walked away, I cast a glance back at Dwayne. He stood there, watching me with a gentle yet unreadable expression.

Ashley gave me a curious look. "Who was that alluring fox?"

I couldn't help but smile at her choice of words-classic Ashley. Shaking my head, I replied, "Just a weirdo I bumped into."

She laughed, giving me a teasing nudge. "Really? Isn't it always the case that the hottest guys are the craziest? Total package."

I chuckled, rolling my eyes. "I don't know about all that."

Ashley raised an eyebrow, her playful grin returning. "So... do you still want to explore the garden?"

I thought of it, but the image of Jared and Sofia conversing flashed in my mind, and I quickly shook my head. I would rather not bump into them again. "No, I'm tired. I need to rest." "That's right. Let's head back inside," she said and led me back to my hospital room. We got inside, and she helped me into bed.

"Try to rest, okay?"

I nodded, but the images of Jared and Sofia in the garden alone kept blocking my vision, making me restless.

The thoughts of what they could be doing or saying wouldn't leave me, and I didn't realize I was tossing on the bed until Ashley's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Are you okay, Arielle. You seem restless, should I get the doctor?"

"I'm fine -"

"No, you're not. Did something happen in the garden while I was answering the call?"

"No, nothing happened," I quickly said, trying to brush it off. I can't tell her I saw Jared and Sofia in the garden.

"Why do I feel like -" Ashley made to say, but the door swung open, and the doctor Wade walked in, an interruption I was grateful for because I didn't have the strength for Ashley's interrogation.

"We are back to check on you like I promised, Mrs. Smith," Doctor Wade said, flashing me her signature smile.

I nodded and braced myself for the examination. She was done in no time and straightened up, signalling the nurse to hand her a file.

Her expression turned serious as the nurse handed her the file. "Mrs. Smith, these results just came in from the lab from the series of tests we ran on you. Congratulations, you're two weeks pregnant."

Silence descended upon the room as I couldn't look up. I felt a knot in my stomach, and my heart raced with anxiety. What was I expecting? This was a hospital, and they were bound to replace out. I'm even surprised it took them this long. Ashley broke the silence, sounding surprised. "Are you sure, Doctor?" She asked, her eyes darting from the doctor to me.

Doctor Wade nodded, "Yes. Very sure."

Ashley let out a loud scream and jumped on me, "You're pregnant, girl! I'm going to be a godmother!" She wrapped her arms around me, and I managed to smile, trying not to give away my unhappiness.

I felt guilty for not telling her sooner. Seeing her this happy made me feel like a devil.

Doctor Wade, now smiling, said, "Congratulations, once again. I will take my leave now."

But I surprised them, and me, by blurting, "Does my husband know?"

The doctor stopped in her tracks, surprised, and I felt Ashley's arms around me, stiffen. "No, I haven't seen him to break the news. Why?"

I shocked them further with my next words. "Can you please not tell him?"

Doctor Wade's face stiffened, "Why, if I may ask?"

"Umm..." It's our first pregnancy, and I want to break the news to him myself." I winced inwardly at how easily the lie rolled off my tongue.

Doctor Wade's face relaxed, and the smile returned to her face. "Alright, I wouldn't ruin the surprise for you. Congratulations once again," she said before leaving the room.

After doctor Wade left with the nurse, Ashley continued squealing about being a prospective godmother, but I wasn't in the right mindset to respond. She eventually stopped when she noticed I wasn't as excited as her. "What's the matter, Arielle? Aren't you happy to be pregnant?" she asked, concerned.

I sighed, "I am, Ashley."

"Then why the gloomy look? And you don't even look surprised by the news."

I sighed again. There was no point keeping things from her. "I knew I was pregnant, Ashley. I have known all this while.

Ashley's expression changed from excitement to shock, as her arms around me loosened. "You don't mean that, do you?"

"I do," I responded, and then proceeded to narrate how I discovered about the pregnancy on the eve of my wedding anniversary. Jared's call that night, to the caller turning out to be Sofia, down to how I have not been able to break the news to Jared because Sofia kept getting in the way.

"This is bad, and to think you have kept all of these from me. How many more secrets are you hiding from me, Arielle Smith?" Ashley asked, upset.

"None, I promise. I'm sorry, Ashley. Believe me, I didn't mean to."

"Shhh...it's fine. The past few days have been hectic for you, and I can't blame you. Just promise you won't keep things from me again," Ashley said, taking my hands in hers.

"Pinky promise. It's never gonna happen again."

"Alright. Your little secretive ass is forgiven."

"Thank you."

Ashley nodded in acknowledgement, and then her expression turned serious. "On a serious note, I think you should inform Jared. You can't keep such a secret for long. Pregnancy is not something you hide-"

"I know, and I do want to inform him, but with his attitude lately, and Sofia clinging on to him like a life jacket, it seems impossible. I feel he will not react to the news the way I expect him to because Sofia will butt in and ruin the moment."

"Still, you should tell him. He is probably doting on Sofia because she is pregnant. Realizing his own wife is pregnant too, could do the magic. Don't you think?"

I shook my head. "I doubt. I don't think Jared's sudden nonchalance towards me is because of the pregnancy. I think it's because of his past with Sofia."

"I don't think -"

"Can I ask a question?" I asked, interrupting her.

Ashley looked surprised, but nodded. "Sure. Shoot."

"Do you think a man and a woman can be together for a long period of time and be just friends?"

Ashley looked thrown off balance, and it was evident on her face. "I... I don't think I understand your question."

"Can a man and a woman be merely friends for a long period of time without growing feelings that are not platonic for each other?"

"Umm... I don't think so. At some point, they should feel something for each other. Why?"

I shook my head. "It's nothing. I was just wondering."

Ashley gave me a reprimanding look. "No secrets, remember?"

I groaned. "Fine, I will tell you. Jared has been friends with Sofia for twenty years, yet he claims their relationship was strictly platonic. He only admitted to having a crush on her which he claimed he was over, and merely sees her as his best friend. Do you think he's telling the truth, or I'm being paranoid."

"I can't say, but that night you two were rushed to the hospital, it was glaring that Jared cared about her. He was genuinely concerned and worried for her safety. On the other hand, you might be wrong, Arielle. His kindness might stem from a place of concern for her, since she is pregnant."

I nodded, but I had a gut feeling it was more than that. Three years of being Jared's wife and I have never doubted his intentions. But with Sofia's arrival, that was beginning to change.

Maybe three years was not enough to know everything about a man. Maybe we should have dated for a year or a few months before we got married, like most couples do.

Too many "maybes" filled my head, until my head throbbed with a migraine.

"You should rest," Ashley said, patting my back.

I nodded, but just as I rested on the pillows, the door went open and Jared stepped in.

"Hey," he called, and gave Ashley a polite nod before walking towards me.

"Hi," I called back.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, placing a peck on my forehead.

""Better."

"That's impressive. The doctor said you are responding to treatment, and you can be discharged tomorrow."

I nodded.

"Do you want something?"

"No." Then locking eyes with him, I asked, "where have you been?"

Jared paused, like he had not expected the question but quickly wore a smile. "I went to the cafe across the road to grab a cup of coffee. Why?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just wondering where you have been all afternoon. I hope you don't mind, are you coming directly from the cafe?"

Jared gave a nervous laugh. "Of course. Why all this question, Arielle? Is anything the matter?"

Of course, everything is the matter, because you just fucking lied to me, Jared Smith!

But I didn't say that out, I merely shook my head. "No, nothing's the matter. I just came back from a walk in the hospital's garden and I need to rest."

At the mention of the garden, I saw Jared's eyelids twitch nervously. I felt bitter. I had struck a chord; He was lying, and he knew I knew.