MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE novel Chapter 43

(ARIELLE'S POV)

Ashley hesitated, her eyes dropping for a moment before meeting mine again.

“No,” she said softly. “I've been trying to reach him, but his line has been unreachable. I intended to go look for him but…" Her voice trailed off, and she squeezed my hand gently. “You were unconscious, and I didn't want to leave your side for long.”

I nodded, pain piercing my heart. What was I expecting? That Jared would leave the bosom of his lover –Sofia, to come look for me? Even though I lost my child and i'm in this state because of them?

I felt a bitter laugh rising in my throat, but it died before it could escape.

Ashley broke into my thoughts. “I'll try calling him again,” she said, reaching for her phone. “If he's still unreachable by phone, I'll go look for him. It's so weird that he hasn't looked for you all this while.”

“Don't,” I whispered.

Ashley paused to look at me quizzically, but I just shook my head again.

“Don't bother, Ash. He's probably busy.” The words stung, but I knew it was the truth.

Jared had made his choices, and it took me so long to accept that. Took me to lose my baby, before I came to terms with it.

Remembering my child was gone, opened the floodgates, and tears were soon rolling down my cheeks.

Ashley looked at me, surprised. “Don't make excuses for him, Arielle. He can't be too busy to notice you've been missing for nearly twelve hours, or too busy to look for you.”

But when I sobbed harder, she grabbed my hand, peering at me closely. “Whats wrong? Why are you crying, Arielle?”

“It's… his… fault,” I managed in between the sobs. “Their fault.”

“They? Who? What are you talking about?”

*************

“You're kidding me!”

“No, Ash. You've been nothing but a good friend who wanted to see my marriage work. You did what any good friend would do, and I love you,” I said, crying with her.

“I know you're trying not to make me feel bad, but it doesn't change the fact that I put you to it. You wouldn't be here if I hadn't come up with that stupid idea. Gosh, I hate myself right now.”

My heart broke at the sight of Ashley crying. The last thing I wanted was for my friend to feel guilty of of my situation when the real culprits are somewhere enjoying each other's company. So I tried a different approach.

“Okay, look at it this way, Ash. What if things had turned out differently? What if the idea worked and Jared actually listened to me, and Sofia left and I had my marriage back? Would you be feeling bad?”

That seemed to get her attention and she looked up, her eyes red and cheeks tear streaked. “Of course not. I'll be happy for you.”

“Exactly! So stop beating yourself up. The plan went south doesn't make you guilty or a bad person. You're the best friend anyone could ask for, so stop feeling bad. You're not the culprit, the real culprits are Jared and Sofia.”

Ashley nodded, and she rose and crushed me in a hug. “Promise we will make them pay,” she asked after pulling away.

I hesitated, but nodded. “I promise.”