MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE

(DWAYNE'S POV)

As I settled Maverick into the seat beside me, the tension in the room seemed to dissipate. The sudden rush of chaos had passed, and now the room was filled with the soft clinking of silverware and the low hum of conversation.

Crisis averted.

With the atmosphere settling back into its rhythm, I let my gaze wander around the table, subtly studying the faces of those present. The Langleys were deep in conversation with Matt, their voices rising and falling with bursts of laughter and lively debate. Jared and Tiana sat next to each other. She was trying to engage him in conversation, leaning in now and then, but Jared seemed far more interested in the food than her.

I once caught him staring at Arielle with so much intensity and longing and he looked away the moment he noticed I was looking at him, too.

"Poor guy," I smiled inwardly.

Sometimes I really don't understand him. Does he truly care about Arielle, or is he just angry because she's moved on and refuses to come back to him? As a man, I know all too well the darker motivations that drive us-it's probably the latter. Especially when you factor in the dirty blood of the Smith family that runs through his veins.

I just don't know what Arielle thought about all these.

She sat across from me, absentmindedly pushing her food around on her plate like she was studying it. She only occasionally exchanged a word with Maverick, and yet, there was something intensely focused in the way she approached everything, even something as simple as dinner.

Arielle was a force of nature, her mind always churning, always working. She had this way of absorbing everything around her, as though the world was a puzzle she was determined to solve. That's what I admired about her. She was sharp, unpredictable, and so much more than anyone ever gave her credit for.

I smiled to myself and shook my head.

That was when I noticed him-Tiana's elder brother, the one who was introduced as Micheal.

Tall, elegant, and decent-looking, sure. But something about him didn't sit right with me. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but my gut tightened the longer I studied him. The protectiveness I felt for Arielle and Maverick surged within me, and I found myself scanning him with a sharper focus. What was it about him that made my instincts flare?

Before I could linger on it too long, I heard a voice beside me.

"Are you interested in that young man? Why are you staring at him?" Ashley whispered, a teasing edge in her voice.

I raised an eyebrow. "Does your boss know that you're so idle all the time?" blocking out her muttered curse.

Ashley grinned. "Hey, if you're into him, go ahead. At least you won't have to fight Jared for Arielle."

I chuckled quietly, but I couldn't shake the feeling. There was something off about Micheal, something just beneath the surface that I couldn't quite pinpoint. Every time our eyes met, there was a flicker. Something unspoken, something wrong.

Ashley wasn't letting it go. "You know," she leaned in again, lowering her voice just for me, "he kind of has the same eyes as Arielle, don't you think?"

That hit me. My paranoia instantly flared, and I felt every muscle in my body tense. I glanced at Ashley, who was watching Micheal with a sharp, calculating gaze.

Who was this guy and what was it about him that had caught our attention? I couldn't help but wonder as I turned to Ashley, our eyes meeting. She raised an eyebrow, her expression questioning.

I turned back to Micheal, studying him closely this time, but I was struck by something else-something more pressing. The room, despite all the voices and laughter, suddenly felt... off. Like someone was missing. I scanned the table, looking for a face I couldn't quite place.

Mrs. Meyers. Arielle's mother.

My brow furrowed. When had she left?

*********

A few hours later, after the last glass of wine was drained and the last polite smile exchanged, the guests began to trickle out, satisfied and full.

Mrs. Meyers had returned earlier, blending back into the crowd without much fuss. I sat back, eyes lingering on Micheal.noveldrama

Everything seemed normal on the surface, but something didn't sit right with me. Instincts that had been honed through years weren't so easily dulled. This was no coincidence.

When the crowd had thinned and

most of the Langleys and their guests were scattered around the deck, some sightseeing, others making small talk, I made my move. Micheal was standing by the railing, his posture relaxed but his eyes

alert, scanning the horizon.

As I approached Micheal, Margaux was walking away from him briskly, her hips swaying gently beneath the silk skirt she had on. The way she shrugged him off made it clear-Micheal had tried to make a pass at her, and she had blatantly ignored him. My eyes narrowed slightly, and a small smile crossed my face as I stopped in front of him.

"It doesn't feel good to be ignored by ladies, huh? Believe me, man, I totally get you."

His smile was tight, forced, but there was a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "I've never been ignored by anyone in my life. Sorry, but I don't think you can understand me, and I don't see how that's your business."

I chuckled inwardly. He was trying to

put on a tough front, but I knew

ne?

exactly how to handle men like him Back in the day, I'd dealt with far worse than this, and I could see the cracks in his armor already. But I

couldn't afford to push too hard. Not

yet. I had to draw him out slowly.

I followed his gaze as it landed back on Margaux, the coldness in his stare betraying something more than a casual attraction. That shift in energy was subtle, but it wasn't lost on me.

My sixth sense instantly stood on alert, this guy wasn't as simple as he wanted to appear.

I extended my hand, keeping my tone light. "Hey, I'm Dwayne. We didn't really get a chance to talk during dinner."

Micheal looked at my hand but didn't take it. His eyes scanned me with suspicion, arrogance, and a hint of caution. "What do you want?" His voice was blunt, cutting through the air like a knife.

I flashed him a relaxed smile, leaning back just enough to appear unthreatening. "Don't be so self-conscious. Not everyone approaches you with an agenda. I'm just looking to make a friend, and you seem like someone who doesn't mind a chat." He let out a mirthless laugh, clearly unconvinced. "Save it Dwayne, or whatever you call yourself. I'm not buying this charade of yours."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. If I were younger, I'd have just slapped him with a few harsh words and called it a day.

I let my voice drop a notch, keeping the tone friendly but a little more pointed. "Alright, maybe I wasn't upfront. But if you really want to know, I'm interested in getting closer to your sister. Her name's Tiana right? She's gorgeous."

It should make him lower his defensive attitude a little.

He scoffed, waving me off in a dismissive manner. "You, too? I've seen plenty of guys come after my sister, but honestly, no one's good enough for her." He spoke in a possessive tone, like a brother would, but his eyes seemed to bear hints of sadness. "Sounds like you and your sister have a pretty strong relationship. You're quite protective of her."

A cold smile crossed his features at my words, and it seemed like his eyes took on a menacing look.

"Relationship?" he muttered, the word dripping with contempt. "What's so special about it? Family? You wouldn't understand. In a family like ours, personal interests always outweigh family ties. She's not even from the same mother of mine." He said the last words with a bitter tone to his voice, and I wondered how hurt the topic just made him feel.

That was... new. Was this the first crack in the surface?

I couldn't help myself. My alert flared, and I leaned in, my voice softer as I kept it casual still. "Really? I didn't know that. Are you...?"

Before I could finish, he stood up straighter, cutting me off. "It's old news. Don't bother."

He turned abruptly, walking away without another word.

I watched him disappear into the distance, narrowing my gaze.

This wasn't over.