Reginald "Reg" Thompson, a successful billionaire CEO in his late 20s, stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse office, gazing out at the city skyline. His chiseled jawline and piercing blue eyes seemed chiseled from the same tone as his business tactics – ruthless and cunning.
Yet, his dark hair, always perfectly styled, hinted at a glimmer of humanity in him.
Being at the peak of his expectations, he was a successful and rich powerful man. He was everything any man would wish for himself. And also any woman's dream. But Reg's personal life however, was a stark contrast to his professional success. His tumultuous marriage to Sophia, a beautiful and charming woman in her prime, had ended in a messy divorce.
It was like he got tired of her with time. Sophia on the other hand, always tried her best to please Reginald, but it always seemed she couldn't meet his satisfaction. Along the line, their relationship ended with Reg's focus on business often leaving Sophia feeling neglected.
The final blow came when Reg's dealings with a rival company led to a public scandal, which made Reginald upset for a while. His rage from the unfortunate turn out of the event always fell back on Sophia anytime he made his way back home or interacted with her. So Sophia decided to talk to her husband about how she felt.
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"All I'm saying is we need to plan our marriage life properly I just feel you take your work more important than…..me. That's all I'm saying." Sophia said, following her husband Reginald downstairs from their bedroom.
"This isn't the plan we had for our future together, you seem to misunderstand me my love."
"So what you are trying to say is you feel I don't give you the best married life you wished for ?" Reginald asked as he stopped halfway down the stairs and looked back at Sophia, with a calm but intimidating gaze.
Don't say that Reggie, that's not what I meant. ," Sophia said, trying to hold herself together as she reached for his hands. "Please, Reggie I didn't mean any—"
"Don't you dare Reggie' me woman," Reginald said, taking steps away from her as he raised his finger."
"Woman"?
"Yes you heard me right. and you know what? I have had enough of you. Apart from the painful fact that I am your husband, you seem to forget my position to the world: there are women out there who are willing to give their all for me, you know .Women who have worth and essence.
"Excuse me?"
It's a shame I ended up stuck with you. I regret the day I made vows to you".
Reggie, what are you saying?" Sophia asked, tears already rolling down her cheeks as she went after her husband running down the stairs.
"You've changed a lot; this isn't my Reggie. This isn't the man I loved... the man I fell in l—
"Well, maybe that Reggie is dead! Reginald raised his voice back at Sophia so loudly that he gave her a fright.
This is the new me… and if you don't like the it….to hell with you Sophia".
"What have I done to deserve this?"Sofia asked below her breath.
Now she could definitely see the rage and hatred burning in his eyes. It had actually gotten this worse. He had said hurtful words to her before but none of them matched the words leaving his lips at the moment.
"Reggie" a calm female voice broke into the silence from the living room downstairs. "That is just too much on the poor girl wh—"
Mum please just stay out of this.!! Reginald interrupted his mother raising a hand making her fall silent immediately. Just the sniffs and the uncontrollable sobs of Sophia in the background.
"I'll get the lawyer to get the papers ready by morning," he said, breaking the few seconds of silence. "And you are going to sign them and leave my life alone, or else….I'll make yours a living nightmare and trust me i can. You should know me by now".
Reg said with a cold irritated gaze, then made his way down the rest of the long stairs of the huge living room and out the main door : a heavy silence following suit. Leaving Sophia surprised and heart broken at the same time.
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Although she didn't want to, Sophia had no choice but to sign the divorce papers and leave Reginald's life. The harsh treatments from him intensified to the extent he developed the habit of hitting her, and over petty arguments like a cup of water or preparing a meal he didn't really expect for dinner. So Sophia just signed the papers for her dear life and left before things got worse.
But their separation hadn't lasted for more than a month before Reginald began regretting his actions. He had already brought different women back home even against his mother's will. But at the end of everything, it was either the new wife was more authoritative lazy, or just looking for a way to get to his money. He just couldn't find or feel the same way he felt for Sophia for any other woman, even after trying. It wasn't just the same without her.
All these thoughts went through his mind as he stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse office, gazing out at the city skyline. Sophia's memory lingered in his mind. As he sipped from this glass, half-filled with scotch, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon, when his mother, Catherine, entered the room, her presence unnoticed by her son.
Catherine Thompson, a beautiful widow and mother in her early 60s, with short, curly brown hair, warm hazel eyes, and a quiet face. She wore a soft, silken nightgown in a pale shade of blue, its delicate fabric draping elegantly around her slender frame.
A matching robe was wrapped around her shoulders, cinched at the waist with a satin belt. Her eyes, though tinged with concern, shone with warmth and love as she gazed at her son as she approached him her voice, firm but laced with concern, cut through the silence.
"Reggie," she called out to him, as he snapped back into reality and quickly stood upright, clearing his throat. "Mum, what are you doing up at this time of night? It's past two in the morning."Reginald said sliding his phone from his pocket as he took a quick glance at it.
"I wanted to ask you the same," Catherine said, her eyes fixed on the glass in his hand. "Don't you think it's becoming too much?"
"Just had a few….. I promise," Reg said calmly, his expression nonchalant. "I just needed to ease my mind and think a little."
"Well I can't stop you can I?".Catherine asked without getting a response.
"Darling, I know it's quite late, but we need to talk," Catherine said, her voice firm but laced with concern as Reg turned back to her with an unreadable expression. He knew that voice; he knew she was about to talk about Sophia again.
"What is it, Mother? You know you aren't meant to be up from bed. You need rest and besides this isn't a good time to talk…. I'm not in the mood" Reg said, his tone gentle but evasive.
"It's like they say. Catherine said hart gaze fixed on the beautiful city view. You never know what you have until you loose it.
"Mum no this again" Reginald complained. "I've noticed you've been... distant lately. Catherine added ignoring his statement. "I don't like seeing you like this my love. Something isn't right with my son, and I want to know why," Catherine said, her eyes locked on Reginald's. As she drew nearer to him.
"Who said I've been distracted? I'm never distracted from work, Mum. I'm perfectly fine. There's no need to worry," Reginald replied, trying to reassure her.
But Catherine saw through his facade she knew he was lying. "You're missing her, aren't you?" she asked, her voice piercing.
Reginald's jaw clenched as the words hit him. He avoided eye contact. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, turning away to pour himself another glass of scotch.
"It doesn't matter how much you drink, the alcohol can't wash the pain away permanently".
Catherine walked over to him, her eyes locked on his. "Look into my eyes and tell me you don't love that girl," she said, her voice firm but gentle.
Reginald avoided eye contact, his gaze fixed on the floor. Catherine sighed, as she placed her hands on his cheeks, making him emotionally vulnerable to her words. "Don't lie to me, Reg. I know you loved her, but you are too proud to admit it. Why are you punishing yourself?"
Reginald's eyes flashed with anger, as he took a quick glance at his mother but Catherine continued, "You need to swallow your pride and win her back. You owe it to yourself and to her. Don't you think? You put her through a lot already."
Catherine's words caressed Reginald's face, her touch softening his expression. He knew she was right; he did miss Sophia, and every day without her broke him down gradually. But he wasn't ready to feel the defeat of admitting it. He was really that stuck in his pride.
"Mum, she was the wife," Reginald said, pointing outside the window. "If anyone should come back begging, it's her, not me." Reg said with an outburst. "She doesn't know my worth, because if she did, she wouldn't have left me." Reg said, as tears ran down his cheeks. He quickly wiped them off.
"But you were the one who sent her away and forced her to sign the papers. Why are you putting...?" "Um, mum, please, we have talked about this," Reg cut in, before his mum could complete her statement.
"I have made up my mind over this issue. I don't intend on going back to it again. I stand by my word, mum. You should know me by now." Reg said, as he slowly took Catherine's hands off his face and walked out, leaving her alone in the silence as she let out a deep breath.
Reginald stood in his closet, staring at the pictures of Sophia that he had kept hidden away. He couldn't shake off the words his mother had said to him, they ran through his mind all night, making it hard for him to sleep. He thought about the memories he and Sophia had shared, the laughter, the tears, the moments they had spent together before they separated.
As he gazed at her smile, he felt a pang in his heart. He couldn't believe it had come to this. His mother's words echoed in his mind, "You were the one who sent her away, Reginald. You were the one who forced her to sign the papers."
Reginald's eyes drooped, heavy with fatigue. He had hardly gotten any sleep, his mind racing with thoughts of Sophia and what his mother had said.
But after hours of thinking on his bed he finally made a decision. His mind was clear, his heart heavy, but he knew what he had to do.