THE REMORSEFUL BILLIONAIRE

Nathan’s POV

“Check the mail on the laptop,” she said, handing me the laptop.

It was just as I had speculated. I opened it to find the paternity results from the hospital. At this point, I knew that nemesis had caught up with me. There was no hiding place or any explanation I could give that would make sense.

“Judith, I’m sorry. I can explain,” I said, trying to move closer to her.

“If you try to come close to me, I’m going to kill you,” she threatened. “Is this true or not?” she asked furiously, wiping her tears.

“I’m sorry, please just let me explain,” I pleaded. “It was all in the past. I was stupid and ruthless then,” I said, already crying. “I’m a changed man now.”

She continued crying, sat on the floor, buried her face in her lap, and held her head with her hands. All I could do was keep saying, “I’m sorry.” That was all that came to mind.

“So the reason why you loved me and the kids and wanted to marry me was because you pitied me after you ruined my life?” she asked amidst her tears.

“No, babe, I truly love you. I never pitied you. Yes, I felt bad about what happened, but I was hoping to tell you and ask for your forgiveness. I was scared it would break us,” I explained.

“You didn’t tell me, and you still tried to trick me into getting married to you. You must take me for a fool, someone you can use and dump anytime, right?” she thundered.

“I’m sorry, Judith. Please forgive me. I have never taken you for a fool. I truly love and value you, even then and now. I regretted it every single day and wished I hadn’t done it.”

We stopped talking for a while; only her sobbing resonated in the room. I kept staring at her, and my heart broke. I wished I hadn’t done it or, better yet, had told her. Finding out on her own must have been so shocking and unbelievable.

Suddenly, she stood up, went to her box, opened it, and started throwing her clothes from the wardrobe into the box.

“Judith, I can withstand any punishment. You can call the police on me, but please don’t try to leave me. Please, Judith. I can’t survive without you and the kids,” I pleaded desperately.

“You must be crazy to think I will report you to the police. I don’t want to expose the kids to such a traumatic experience. All of London would now know that my lovely kids were conceived as a result of assault,” she said with a disgusted face.

“No, I won’t do that. We are done, Nathan. Whatever it was that we shared, whether true or false, we are done. The wedding won’t be holding,” she said, removing the ring from her finger and throwing it at me.

She finished packing and went into the bathroom to wash her already red face. I just sat there, confused about what to do next.

“I don’t want to ever see you. Stay away from me and my kids,” she said, struggling to close the box.

“It’s almost 9 pm,” I said as I looked at the wall clock. “It’s not safe for you and the kids to drive this late or in this devastating state. Please wait until tomorrow before you leave,” I pleaded with deep concern.

“I might die if I spend any more seconds with you,” she said as she pushed the box out of the room.

If anyone had told me that the happiness I felt two hours ago would vanish into thin air, I would have argued with them.

“Why do I make everyone I love miserable? Am I such a misfortune? I’m left all alone again, and this time I might not find someone to love and to love me,” I thought as I wallowed in self-pity, regret, and remorse.

“I wish I hadn’t gone to that house.”

Judith’s POV

It was truly late, like he said, but I had to leave the house. I couldn’t spend any more seconds with him, or I might end up doing something worse. I went to the kids’ flat and woke them up, not minding the fact that they were fast asleep.

“Where are we going, Mommy?” Oliver asked as he rubbed his eyes with the back of his palm.

“We need to go back to the old house,” I answered with a faint smile.

“Why are we leaving?” he asked again.

“I thought you said you liked the old house better,” I answered while packing their clothes into their boxes.

“Yes, but Mr. Nathan is here. Is he coming with us too?” he asked.

I paused for a while, speechless. I hadn’t thought about what to tell the kids when they asked about him. “I should make up something to tell them,” I thought as I scanned my brain for the most believable lie.

“No, he’s traveling soon,” I answered, smiling broadly at him, trying hard to stop another fresh set of tears forming in my eyes.

“Mommy, Mr. Nathan is traveling?” Olivia asked weakly, and I could see the disappointment on their faces. I ignored their looks and continued packing the bags. I didn’t have the zeal to comfort or pamper anyone. I just watched them stare on with grumpy faces.

“Yes, baby,” I carried her and got them dressed in sweatshirts to prevent them from catching cold.

The workers were so shocked, and that was understandable. They had seen me today full of life; we even prepared dinner together some hours ago. Now, I was a shadow of myself, struggling to fight back my tears and maintain my sanity.

I was set to leave. I looked around the house for the last time, knowing I was going to miss the house and the amazing people there. I was starting to get comfortable in the house and even become closer to the people.

Nathan wasn’t in sight, and that was understandable; he never really loved me anyway.

“I hope you both will be able to solve your problems and come back home soon,” Isabella said as she took my hands in hers.

“I have to leave. I just need to get out of here,” I said, and a tear escaped from my eye. She drew me into a hug and patted my back, “You will be fine.”

I drove out of the house into the empty street. The only people in sight were the estate security guards at the gate, whom I greeted, and then drove into the bustling streets of London.

I knew my life was going to get worse and tougher than it had ever been. I knew I was in for another set of years filled with pain and sorrow. I just felt like driving over a cliff and ending my life, but I wasn’t going to do that for the sake of my kids.

“When life gets tough, I should become tougher too. But how am I going to do that? I’m on the verge of losing my sanity already,” I thought as I drove back to the old house I had put on sale before.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .