Filed to story: The Billionaire’s Regret Novel By Symplyayisha
Oscar massaged his temple, “Sorry about that. I’ve been so busy. I was definitely going to return your calls.”
Fedora sighed, taking a seat beside him. “You can’t continue living this way.”
“What way?”
“This lifestyle.”
“Hasn’t this always been my lifestyle? Working my ass off for the company?”
“You know what I am talking about. You have been this way since…”
“Please don’t mention her. He interrupted before Fedora could complete her statement.
She said nothing but stared at him for a few seconds.
“You know you can’t keep doing this to yourself?”
“Keep doing what?”
“Hiding your pain.
He shrugged, “Do I have any choice?”
“Ive got all the money in the world but yet I cannot tame the woman I love and neither get close to my daughter.”
“I just got out of a divorce which drained me of a whopping sum but that’s not even the point. Life has knocked me down in so many ways that I have no one left to be with and no one else to fight for. Nothing is exciting for me anymore so I have no choice but to put my all into my job.”
“Satisfied with my answer?”
Fedora exhaled.
“I know there is probably nothing that I can say to make you come out of these thoughts. I honestly wish that things were different. I wish that you didn’t have to go through this much pain, and I don’t like the fact that you have decided to be so far away.”
She was about to grab Oscar’s hand but he was fast enough to pull away. “Don’t! There is no need for me to get emotional.”
Fedora let out some air, a way of trying to hold back her tears. “I feel terrible.”
“You are hurting so much and there is nothing I can do about it. No matter the pep talks I give, it is really not enough to take away all the pain you feel in your heart. I honestly wish there was something I could do to make you feel better. You are my only sibling and it hurts so much to see you this way.”
“I know you care about me but you don’t have to be all stressed up. I know happiness is not for me. And I have to face reality.”
“No, don’t think that way.”
“You don’t have to convince me of anything just to make me feel better.”
Fedora was about to say something else but he cut her off. “You don’t have to feel guilty either, I will be fine.”
“Shut up
and let me talk.”
Oscar sighed, resting his back against the couch.
“You don’t expect me to act calm when you are like this. For God’s sake, Oscar, you are my only sibling. You are literally the only one in the family that I am close to and you think I am going to let you slip off my life just like that?”
“I know you are hurting so much but I promise you that I am really hurting too. I promise you that I would do anything just to put a smile on your face right now.”
“I offered to go talk to Vicky, maybe she would hear me out but you forbid me from going anywhere close to her.”
“I really appreciate your help but everything that has to do with Vee is now in the past. I went above and beyond to get her
back but I can’t force her to be with me.”
“I feel so disappointed in her. I agree that I hurt her but I also explained to her that it was caused by things beyond my
control”
“I thought I knew her well but it turned out that she never really had my interest at heart. I didn’t think she would stoop so low by telling our daughter that I died long ago when in fact I was not aware of her existence”
Oscar stopped talking for a while and with the way he was itching the corner of his eyes, it was obvious that he was trying to hold back tears.
“This is why I will forever hate that woman called my mother. If she hadn’t sent Vee out of the house, she would probably. still be by my side.”
“But it doesn’t matter anymore. She has moved on and I have moved on too.”
“You call this move on?”
“Come on, Oscar, you are literally killing yourself by burying yourself with work.”
“I know you have been cold for the last five years but it is even worse now after you met her and I can’t deny that I am so
scared.”
“I am fine, Dora.”
“No, you are not. You are only saying that to push me away.”
“I am sorry if you feel that way but I think it is best if I am left alone. I feel so disgusted with myself knowing that I have all the wealth but it can’t give me the two people that I really want to be with.
“Buying your pain at work wouldn’t make the heartache go away.”
“I know how difficult this is for you but I promise you that you won’t heal if you go on this way. You will only remain bitter.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course, it does. Oscar!”
“Your housekeeper told me you don’t eat anymore. You only live on Coffee, Alcohol, and cigars. Look, if you don’t care about yourself, I promise you that I care about you. Your niece cares about you too.”
“Mom has been worried too. She has been calling me nonstop. She said you wouldn’t pick up her call and the securities wouldn’t let her into your home or your office.”
“She’s dead to me.”
“Oscar!”
“She’s obviously the reason I am in this situation. What else does she fucking want from me?”
“She cares about you.”
“She can fuck herself.”
“She is your mother regardless. I hope you know that.”
“I don’t have a mother and please stop defending her. I don’t want to hear anything about her again.”
Fedora nodded, trying not to freak him out any further. She stared at him intently.
“I know things are tough but I want you to be happy.”
“I miss you. I miss us.”
“It’s really hard for me to say this but I want you to be happy regardless of if Vicky is in your life or not. If she made it known that she no longer wants to be with you, I am sure you will find someone else.”
“But staying alone and being sad for the rest of your life is not an option and I will never agree to it.”
“If there is anything I can do to make you happy, please tell me because I am ready to do it.”
“I am scared that you are going to remain like this forever and I don’t want that.”