MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE

(SOFIA'S POV) Everyone

was against me.

It was maddening, but I couldn't sit around brooding any longer. I needed to act, and I needed to act now. My mother's words rang in my head on repeat: Let Jared know and believe. I had to let him know I was pregnant!

But just reaching Jared was a Herculean task. He had turned everyone against me, making it impossible to contact him directly. I'd have to go through someone else. Then it hit me his investigator.

I had overheard him on the phone with Jared one time and had sneakily taken his number from Jared's phone afterward. Even though I didn't have a need for him then, I was glad I took the number as it seemed to come in handy now. My only lifeline!

I snatched up the scrap of paper I'd written it on, hastily dialing the number. It rang and rang, each second stretching on like some sick joke until a deep voice finally answered.

"Mark's Investigative Services."

I tried to steady myself. "Hi, I need to speak with Mr. Mark."

"Who's calling?" the voice asked.

"I'm Sofia, Jared's..." my voice trailed off as I contemplated if I should still call myself Jared's fiance, considering the fact that our broken engagement had made it to the news and everyone probably knew about it. "I'm his friend," I finally said.

There was a pause before the voice responded, "Alright. How do I help you, miss?"

"Yeah, I need your help; I mean, I need to talk to you."

"Okay, you can go on."

"No, not on the phone. I need to meet you in person as the matter to be discussed is crucial!"

There was another pause before he spoke again. "Fine. I'll text you a location to meet me and be on time as I have other important issues to tend to," and before I could say a word, the call ended.

I huffed, clenching my fists in anger. The arrogance! If things were as they should be, he wouldn't dare speak to me like that or even choose the location where we meet. But the tables have turned, and I have to swallow my pride, just this once if this was what it took to get to Jared. Fine.

Shaking my head, I walked to the closet to change into a decent dress while waiting for Mark's address. A few minutes later, my phone dinged and I grabbed my purse, ready to leave.

Mark had chosen a cafe close to town. Fair enough, I decided as I walked out.

I arrived at the Cafe, scanning the area for Mark. At the far end of the room, someone waved their hand at me and I figured it must be him, so I made my way towards the direction. "Mark?" I asked, approaching him.

He nodded, standing up, and I used the moment for scrutiny. He was dressed in all black-face cap, shades, and nose mask, making his face elusive.

"Sofia," he called, extending his hand for a handshake and I took it.

"Would you like to order anything?" He asked, gesturing to the menu.

I shook my head. "No, thanks. I'd prefer we go straight to the point."

He nodded and gestured for me to sit down.

"I've been trying to reach Jared for days, but he's been avoiding me for some reason," I began, trying to sound as pitiful as possible. "And I...I can no longer keep the news I bear to myself, I'm desperate to tell him something important, something he needs to know. You are the only one who can help me get to Jared."

Mark's expression remained neutral, his eyes betraying no emotion. If he was surprised by my request, he didn't show it.

He simply nodded and asked, "So what exactly do you want me to do for you, Miss?"

"I want you to pass a message to Jared."

"What message?"

I took a deep breath, assuming the practiced innocent expression I had mastered in my say here, as I dropped the news.

"I'm pregnant," I announced. "With Jared's child," I added, for more emphasis.

Again, if he was surprised, Mark didn't give off any reaction. There was a momentary silence, and I held my breath, praying he didn't turn me down.

"Fine, I'll help you," Mark finally said, and I let out the breath I was holding.

"Thank you."

He nodded, already grabbing his key fob. "I'll message him and get back to you with his response."

"Oh, no, can't you like, you know, call him here and now and break the news? Just tell him. Please?" I asked, almost grabbing his hand.

Finally, he gave a reaction, and I was able to see it because my eyes were trained on his face. It wasn't pronounced, just a tick on his jaw, and even though I couldn't see his eyes, I knew he was surprised.

I could feel his judgment radiating off him, but I didn't care. Pride? Dignity? Those were useless now. Only Jared mattered.

With a sigh, he dropped his keys, "I'll call him now."

He took out his phone and punched on it, dialing Jared's number. He placed it on speaker afterward, and let it ring.

As the phone rang, my heart jumped into my mouth as I thought of Jared's reaction. Would he be happy I was bearing his child and finally come back to me? Would he finally realize how much I meant to him? The sound of his familiar voice buzzing in through the phone jolted me out of my thoughts, as I sat upright, fixing Mark an expectant look.

"Hello?"

It was Jared's voice! Finally, I heard his voice again.

"Hello, Sir, I..." Mark paused and fixed me a look before continuing. "I'm sorry I have to do this," and then he shoved the phone on the table, in my direction.

Grateful, I took hold of it.

"Sorry about what -?" Jared started to ask, but I cut him short.

"Jared, it's me," I said, and quickly added, "Please, don't hang up. I have something important to tell you. I promise!"

"Sofia?" He called like he was doubting I was truly the one on the other end.

"Yes, it's me."

"Why are you with Mark? What do you want?" He asked, and I could imagine the frown on his face.

"You weren't taking my calls or replying to messages, and you haven't been home in days, so I decided to seek help from your Investigator. Jared, I had no choice!" "Sofia -"

"I'm pregnant!"

"I'm pregnant, Jared," I repeated. "With your child."

A heartbeat of silence, then a scoff. "You're joking, right? Whose child did you say you're carrying?"

"Yours," I snapped, my voice rising. "Who else's?"

His tone instantly turned ice-cold. "You're delusional," he said, and I winced, glancing at Mark, who looked uninterested, but I knew he was listening to the exchange, making me regret why the phone was on speaker. "I have never been intimate with you, Sofia, there's no way whatever child you're carrying is mine."

"Oh, but you don't remember that night, do you?" I snarled. "You were drunk, and I-"

"If I recall," he interrupted harshly, "you told me nothing happened."

"News flash; Guess what Jared? I lied! Something did happen, and the outcome is pregnancy."I forced a laugh, bitter and mocking.

Silence. I could almost see his face twisting in disgust on the other end, and my skin prickled with fury.

"If something happened, which I

highly doubt, he finally said, his tone

glacial, "then it should have

happened long before now. But listen carefully, Sofia, because this is the last time I'll say it: I want nothing to do with you."

The finality in his voice was like a slap to the face. I bit my lip to stop myself from screaming.

"What do you mean? What do you mean, Jared? You heard me, I'm pregnant!"

His voice came through, colder than

I'd ever heard it. "Okay. Once the child is born, if there is a child, I'll have a paternity test done. If it's mine, you'll get enough money to raise it That's it. Now, if you need care during the pregnancy, I' arrange for the best sanatorium in New York to accommodate you. But as for anything else between us? It's over."

His words stung like a thousand bees sting. I was shaking, rage and humiliation flooding every part of me.

"You... you heartless bastard! How could you be so cruel?"Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

"Don't play games with me, Sofia," he said, his voice a lethal warning. "I know what you're capable of." The line clicked dead.

Jared had ended the call.

I was left staring at the phone, my vision blurring with tears. Mark's voice snapped me back.

"Well, that didn't go as planned," he said, his expression neutral. "Can I have my phone back?"

I threw it at him, seething, my hands clenched into fists as I stormed out.

Tears stung my eyes so badly, but I stubbornly held them back as I trudged on. I had arrived at the Cafe in cab because I couldn't even afford gas for my car.

My life was a terrible mess, and I was so ashamed of the level I had been reduced to. Jared was now determined to get rid of me, and not even news about being pregnant with his child could change his mind.

How could he be so ruthless? This wasn't the Jared I've ever known anymore!

And it was all because of her, Arielle!

I would make him pay. I'd find a way,

no matter what it took. Jared wouldn't get away with treating me like this. And if Arielle thought she'd won, she was wrong. That woman had been a thorn in my flesh since her return, and had been the pioneer ofall my problems!

With that in mind, I changed direction and hailed a cab, rattling out my destination to the driver. This wasn't over.

Not by a long shot.