THE REMORSEFUL BILLIONAIRE

Nathan’s POV

“Are you sure, you really love this woman?” Father said as we went to his study.

“Yes, father, I really do love her,” I answered affirmatively.

“I’m not going to object to it. I understand that there’s a huge difference in class, but since you love her, I’m going to support it,” he said.

“Thanks so much, father “I thanked him.

“I hope you will be able to protect and love her better than I did to your mother,” he said with a sad look. “Your mother went through a lot with my family. She was humiliated but she still stood by me. When I was told she eloped with another man, I should have tried to look for her and confirm the truth,” he said with regrets.

“I was a fool. I didn’t trust my woman enough. I wish I can turn back the hands of time; I would have made a better choice. She wouldn’t have died just like that,” he said and adjusted his glasses.” I hope she forgives me,” He concluded.

“Father, you have to forgive yourself and move on too,” I said while moving closer to him. “Mother never once condemned you. Anytime I asked about you when I was younger, she wouldn’t say anything negative, she just told me that you are an amazing man,” I said, consoling him.

“So, father forgive yourself and move on. We all make mistakes and sometimes hurt the one we love,” I said.

He looked at me and nodded with a smile.

“I’m glad you finally have someone you can share your pains and worries with. I have been strict with you because I wanted to groom you into a capable successor. I don’t want anyone to think you got here by chance. I see all you hard work and I’m proud of you, son,” he said, with a satisfied look.

“Father, I have done something disastrous, and it involves Judith. It hasn’t been disrupting my peace “I said. I’m not sure sharing it with father is the best thing, but I just needed someone to talk to and he is the only one I could trust.

“Okay, son, what is it about her?” he asked with keen interest.

I hesitated for a while, before finally telling him. “Father, I have done a very terrible thing to her, and I don’t know how to appease her” I said in a sad tone as I began narrating the assault, the rape, the kids and the paternity test.

“Ha, what have you done, Nathan?” he lamented. “This is a grave sin,” he said, his voice filled with so much disappointment

“Father, I truly regret my actions,” I said. “Then I was frustrated, stupid, and a different person. Now, I’m a better man. I truly love her and want to make things right”. Just then we heard a sound like something dropped.

“I think I hear a sound, let me check”, I said as went to the passage to check but found nothing.

“Maybe I misheard “, I said as I went back to the study.

“Nathan, you must act fast. Secrets will always reveal itself no matter how long, and its better she hears it from you. You have to tell her, if you truly love her.”

“Okay, Father. Let me check on Judith, we can continue our discussion later”, I said, as I existed the study and made my way to the living room.

On my way to the living room, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of dread and disappointment. Will she be able to forgive me, and love me still? Will she be able to forget the past, and marry me?

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

“Where’s Judith?” I asked Jessie.

“I thought you both were together, I haven’t seen her since she went to the kitchen” she answered.

“Where could she be?” I asked, worried and somewhat uneasy.

Maybe she went to the garden. She might be looking around the house”, she said as we both went to the garden to check her but she wasn’t there and her car wasn’t in the garage. “She left”. Why would she leave without telling anyone”, I thought.

Obviously very worried, I dialed her number. It kept ringing, but she wasn’t picking.” What could be wrong”, I thought as I drove to her house.

“Why did you leave without telling me?” I asked immediately she opened the door.

She didn’t say anything, she just sat down and sniffed.” Have you been crying?” I asked as I touched her teary eyes. My suspicion were right Stephanie must have terrible things to her.

She shoved the hand away and said, “I don’t want to marry you Nathan.”

Immediately, my heart raced. Why does she keep changing her mind about the marriage “Why? I thought we already talked about this? Did my step mom say something terrible to you?

Ignoring the questions, “we are too different in class and everyone keeps labelling me a gold digger that seduced you, so please, let’s end whatever it is that we have.”

She paused and then continued, “They don’t even know I have children already. What if they start calling my kids, bastard? I can take all the insults and terrible things, but I will never allow my kids to be subjected to any ill treatment.”

“I already told father about the kids, and he can’t wait to meet them. He is the most important person in my family. The rest of them can keep their opinions to themselves,” I said as I moved closer and then hugged her.

“I’m going to love, respect, and protect you always baby” I reassured while still hugging her.

We hugged for a while, not saying anything, just feeling each other’s warmth and love. Her calmness, love and trust was all I felt as we cuddle each other.

“Where are the kids?”

“They are at Granny Theresa’s, I dropped them there before coming to your troublesome mansion,” she said playfully.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Oh! So you think my exquisite and beautiful mansion is troublesome, huh?” I asked with humor. “I don’t understand how a house can be so big and yet so claustrophobic. I lived there for a week after arriving London, and that week was very tough as I could hardly breathe fresh air. I couldn’t wait to leave after my mansion was cleaned and furnished”.

“Oh! You weren’t staying in London before,” she asked with a surprise face.

“Yes, I only came to London four years back.”

“It’s like I don’t know anything about you, Nathan,” she said as she touched my hair. “Every day, I get to discover something new about you, tell me about yourself.”

I narrated everything about myself to her. I lied about the city I was in before; I told her I was Paris instead of Rome, so she wouldn’t suspect anything.

“You have really been through a lot,” she said, giving a sympathetic glance. “That was why we’re formerly an asshole”, she said and laughed.

“Who’s an asshole?” I asked as I tickled her.

“Not you. I’m sorry, sir,” she said as she laughed hard.

I spent some hours with her before heading home. While with her, my heart raced several times and my body longed for her, but I was able to control myself. She already told me that she wouldn’t want any sexual intimacy till after the wedding, and I understand her feelings.

“I’m going to propose to her next week, I should contact an event planner to help me plan a surprise proposal for her. I want the whole world to know I’m in love and getting married to the most beautiful and amazing woman I have ever met,” my heart leaped for joy , as I thought of the great future ahead….