Billionaire's regret: "Mommy, please forgive Daddy"

It was a few minutes past 8 pm on a serene Friday when Octavia Davis arrived at her marital home, having been discharged from the hospital merely an hour ago. She had taken a cab down to the mansion unaccompanied, without any support from anyone. It's not like she had anyone anyway.

Her billionaire husband, Carl Dawson, hadn't even visited her during her stay at the hospital following the miscarriage she had experienced a week before. Despite this absence, Octavia felt a flicker of hope and excitement as she stepped out of the cab and approached the imposing gate of Carl's mansion.

She grimaced at the pain that radiated from her abdomen, struggling to keep her breaths steady as she navigated her way inside after passing the security check.

Octavia was still physically weak. The emotional turmoil weighed heavily on her, to say the least, as this was the second time she had endured a miscarriage in her marriage. Though she couldn't comprehend why such fate had befallen her for a second time, she longed to seek solace in the comfort of her beloved husband, who felt so far away yet very close. Carl was her everything. He was her comforter, her confidant, her best friend, and, in fact, everything she needed him to be. He was the sweetest and most caring man in the world. He had always been there for her, well, except this one time, a fact which Octavia still tried to rationalize.

Despite the discomfort coursing through her, a faint smile crept onto her face as she made her way toward the place that housed the love of her life.

Although she had initially felt hurt by Carl's absence during her stay at the hospital, She couldn't find it in her to muster anger toward him. After all, it was her fault for losing their child again. She recalled the joy that had been etched on Carl's face when they learned she was pregnant two months ago. His excitement had been palpable as he eagerly anticipated their future together. He just couldn't stop yapping about how excited he was to meet their mini-selves. Well, Octavia guessed those dreams lay in ruins now. And it was all her fault.

When she had also learned of the miscarriage a week ago, she had been so heartbroken and sorrowful. She wept for hours, days, and the whole week with no one even there to comfort her. The pain was excruciating and all she longed for was for it to stop.

Though she had experienced a miscarriage before, Carl had never placed blame on her. Instead, he had always reassured her of his unwavering support and affection. Octavia thought she understood his recent silence about the whole situation; Carl must have been grieving the loss of their child, especially considering how desperately he had been seeking an heir.

*

But all of these assumptions dissipated the moment Octavia entered her home, only to find Carl sprawled on the couch, in the arms of an unknown woman, who was just cladded in black lingerie.

Octavia's heart thudded in disbelief, her heart plummeting to her feet as she grappled with the painful sight before her. Was that truly her husband, Carl?

She remained frozen by the door, still staring at the two of them in disbelief as they remained oblivious to her presence. She watched as her beloved husband, Carl leaned into the strange woman and claimed her lips in a passionate kiss right before her very eyes.

Octavia's eyes widening into saucers, she staggered back in bewilderment, her hand accidentally knocking a ceramic vase to the ground, which shattered loudly on the marbled floor, breaking the tranquility of the room. The noise reverberated throughout the house, startling Carl, who abruptly broke the kiss and turned to face her.

His eyes locked with hers.

Octavia had anticipated a glimmer of remorse or shock in his expression upon seeing her, but instead, Carl only rolled his eyes at her, a wave of frustration washing over his features as he huffed with irritation.

Octavia's heart raced as she struggled to process his dismissive reaction. What was happening? Why was he being this way? Like her night couldn't get any more heartbreaking, she wasn't prepared for her beloved husband's next reaction.

Exhaling heavily, Carl's baritone voice resonated through the room to Octavia's ears as he spoke with irritation. "Oh, here she comes again. The murderer of babies!" He added cruelly, his emerald orbs directed at Octavia in a cold, calculating gaze.

Octavia's heart sank to her feet as she heard him. Her gaze faltered and she gasped lightly, unable to fathom the cruelty in his words.

"W- What?" She stammered, confusion flooding her mind. Her heart broke further as she witnessed her husband turn his attention to the other woman, and claimed her lips again for another deep kiss, completely disregarding her presence.

Tears streamed down Octavia's face, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to comprehend Carl's sudden hostility. Why was he treating her this way? Was it because of the miscarriage? Wasn't he the same person who had reassured her that everything was going to be alright? What had changed? Who was this strange woman even?

Desperate to reach him, Octavia sniffled, wiping away her tears as she summoned the courage to walk up to him, hoping he would recognize her and apologize. Maybe he had mistaken her for someone else earlier. He couldn't possibly have said those words to her.

'Who had he said them to then?' A small voice berated Octavia but she quickly dismissed the possibility.

She knew Carl loved her just as she loved him. It was impossible.

She called out softly as she made her way towards Carl, who remained on the couch with his mistress, Kristine Stewart.

"Carl. Carl, what are you doing, honey? It's me, alright? It's Octavia? Baby, it's me, your wife." She finally halted before him, adding in a cracked voice, despite her attempts to conceal the hurt in her tone. "Hey, baby,"

Octavia battled with tears that welled in her eyes as she stared down at Carl, also ignoring the bold mistress who had the audacity to remain there by his side, regardless of her presence.

Her heart shattered even more as Carl shot her a look of disdain and irritation, lifting himself to face her. "Who's your honey? I can never be the honey of a murderer like you!" he bellowed, his contempt evident.

It was then it finally dawned on Octavia; he hadn't mistaken her for someone else before. Those words were exactly meant for her.

Octavia staggered back in shock, tears flowing freely from her eyes as she muttered in disbelief. "W-what?"

Carl scoffed derisively before rising from the couch, his 6'5 frame towering over Octavia.

She shuddered beneath him as he glared daggers at her. He then hissed bitterly before turning away, leaving her alone with his mistress, who regarded Octavia with disgust and a smug smirk.

Although Octavia had noticed her expression, she was too stunned and confused to even react as she redirected her gaze towards Carl, who was now returning to them with a brown envelope in his hand.

Octavia's heart leaped at the sight of it, her mind spiraling with turmoil. It couldn't be what she was thinking it was, could it? Carl couldn't do that to her, could he? Not after what she had just been through.

Carl stood before her again, his shirtless frame and abs on full display. They locked eyes, and he smirked, his eyes gleaming with menace as he brought out the contents of the envelope.

"Here," He said curtly, hurling the papers at her face. "They await your signature, Octavia."

Her eyes still locked on his, she asked weakly, not wanting to believe her intuition. "W-what is this, Carl?"

But he only snapped at her. "Are you dumb? Did you think I was still going to keep you after what happened? You must be deranged! Fucking sign those papers right now! I can't stand being with you anymore, you disgust me!" He bit out nonchalantly, his words stabbing her heart all over like a merciless wife.

Eyes stinging with painful tears, Octavia wrestled with the urge to maintain composure as she struggled to process his words.

"You're divorcing me, Carl? Now? In the presence of this stranger? After my miscarriage...?"

"Yes! It's not like it's the first time you experienced once, neither is it the second, and I'm definitely sure it won't be the last either..."

"Carl, please," His words broke her.

But he only persisted resolutely. "There's something seriously wrong with you, Octavia, and I can't keep putting up with this shit called marriage." He said harshly, not mincing words or caring if he was hurting her. "As for this beautiful lady you just called a stranger, you're wrong. She isn't. She's my girlfriend. Just so you know, Kristine here is carrying my child and we're getting married next week. At this point, I don't think I still need to spell it out for you. You know what to do." He gestured toward the scattered papers on the floor.

Octavia's insides churned with anguish, strong tears of heartbreak pooling in her eyes as she gazed at her husband. She found it difficult to recognize the man standing before her as the loving man she had fallen in love with. Octavia couldn't understand what happened? What changed overnight?

Shaking her head vigorously, she cried out, not wanting to believe him. "No, no, you're lying, baby. You're lying. You can't do this to me. You can't."

"I can, and I am already." Carl bit out impatiently, his eyes blazing with rage. "Just sign the fucking papers already, you cursed woman! And get the fuck out of my house." He leaned into her face, and told her blatantly, emphasizing on each word. "You. Make. Me. Sick. To. The. Stomach, Octavia. You had just one job! But you killed them! I can't stand the thought of you being my wife any longer. You're nothing but a murderer! You killed our babies in your womb! Yes, you did! Gosh, move!" He cursed, and in a fit of rage, he shoved Octavia to the ground.

"Ouch!" Octavia exclaimed as she stumbled on the floor, a painful moan slipping from her lips as pain shot through her.

Slowly regaining her composure, Octavia looked up at him again, only to meet his unwavering and unremorseful gaze.

She felt her insides twist with anguish as reality sank in. Her husband had just branded her a murderer; the murderer of their babies. He blamed her for everything. And he had also been cheating on her all this while. While she had remained in the hospital without his support, Carl hadn't been mourning the loss at home; he was busy preparing to replace her. Octavia's heart clenched painfully at these realizations, tears streaming down her eyes.

The weight of his betrayal crushed her. How could he label her a murderer? After everything they had been through together, he was throwing it all away due to unfortunate circumstances. It wasn't her fault what happened. How could she kill her own children?

Tears cascaded down her face as she looked up at him, feeling utterly betrayed. Nonetheless, Carl remained unremorseful, his expression one of pure disgust and resentment. He hated her. She could see it all now.

There was no point crying for him, Octavia thought. She won't cry for him. She won't beg him either. He was a cheater, who's unworthy of her and she wouldn't let him see her break, especially not in the presence of the wench he had just called his fiancee.

Gathering the pieces of her broken heart, Octavia swallowed hard, her sobs momentarily halting as she struggled back on her feet. Ignoring the searing pain she felt in her stomach, she stared at Carl with resolve before averting her gaze again. She bent and picked up the scattered papers on the floor and turned to him once more.

Starting undeterred and unwavering, Octavia nodded, sniffling. "Okay. I'll sign them. And I'll sign them right away." She hesitated, swallowed hard before adding in a broken voice. "But just know this; I'll never forgive you for this, Carl. And I will never forget--"

"Like I care about your stupid forgiveness. Sign the fucking papers and get the fuck out of my face, you disgraceful woman." He retorted arrogantly.

His words hurt Octavia deeply, but she remained resolute in her decisions. She won't cry for him. She wouldn't succumb to his cruelty.

With that, Octavia turned away from him, walking over to the table nearby. Though her heart ached badly and tears stung her eyes, she fought to keep them at bay as she placed down the documents and signed each of them respectively. When she was done, she returned to him and handed him the papers with a sense of finality.

"I'll go get my things," She said flatly before turning away from him without looking back.

She swallowed the lump in her throat, her vision blurring with tears as she ascended the stairs to their bedroom.

It was over. She was done. Though she had never envisioned her marriage ending this way, she knew she couldn't remain with someone like him. He was a scumbag. Carl Dawson was a scumbag and she was done.

Octavia finally allowed the tears to stream down her cheeks as she entered her former marital bedroom. The familiar scent of Carl, now her ex-husband, engulfed her senses, stirring up a whirlwind of anguish as memories of his betrayal flooded her mind. She still struggled to believe that Carl had chosen to divorce and leave her for someone else, blaming her for everything that had transpired.

As she continued to grapple with the reality of their divorce, Octavia felt lost. She loved him deeply; he was her entire world, and her obsession with him had left her feeling hollow. The trust they once shared had been irreparably broken the moment he had been unfaithful. How was it possible that Kristine was now pregnant with his child? Had he been cheating on her even before she suffered her miscarriage? This tormenting question gnawed at her, leaving her without answers.

Fat and ugly tears streamed down her face as she approached the wardrobe that held their clothes. As she opened it, her gaze fell upon Carl's neatly arranged suits, and her heart constricted painfully. Reaching for one of his posh suits, she brought the fabric to her nose, inhaling his musky scent.

"Here comes the murderer of babies."

Haunted and hurt by his cruel words echoing in her mind, Octavia sobbed profusely.

The memory of Carl with Kristine was etched in her mind, and a lump formed in her throat. After a moment of silent tears, Octavia blinked back her sorrow and looked down at her stomach, caressing it gently as she struggled to maintain composure.

More tears rolled down her face as she contemplated the possibility that if she had been able to have a child, none of this would have happened. Carl would not have divorced her. This painful reality consumed her, but she soon realized that ruminating on the past would not change Carl's decision.

Sniffling, Octavia fought to regain her composure and retrieved her phone from the bed, dialing for her best friend, Jana.

The ringing soon ceased as Jana's dulcet voice broke through the silence, filling Octavia with a flicker of relief. "Hey, Octavia. What's up? Are you alright?"

Octavia shut her eyes and swallowed hard, struggling to keep her voice steady. "Please, can you come and pick me up at Carl's? Please."

"Right now?" Jana sounded surprised. "Girl, it's past 9 PM. You know you don't go out that late."

"Please," Octavia pleaded.

Noticing the tremor in her voice, Jana asked softly, "Did something happen, Octavia? Is it Carl?"

"I'll be waiting for you, Jana. Please come now." Octavia's tone was resolute; she had no desire to share her abrupt divorce at that moment, especially not over the phone.

"Okay..." Jana relented. With that, Octavia hung up, exhaling heavily.

For a moment, she paused, her thoughts swirling as she sought a way to navigate her current situation. As the silence enveloped her, tears began to cascade down her cheeks once more, and she collapsed onto the bed, burying her face in her hands and sobbing uncontrollably. How could she live without him? He was everything to her, and the thought of a life without Carl was excruciating.

Her moment of despair was interrupted as the bedroom door creaked open to reveal her worst nightmare.

Sniffling and lifting her gaze, Octavia's heart sank as she recognized Kristine entering the room. Her sobs quieted as their eyes locked, Kristine's expression filled with pure disdain.

Octavia couldn't understand the hatred reflected in Kristine's gaze, but one thing was clear: she had no intention of engaging with her. She wasn't worth the trouble. With that resolve in mind, Octavia disregarded her presence.

Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, she turned back toward the wardrobe, but Kristine's firm grip on her arm stopped her abruptly.

Startled, Octavia looked back at Kristine, her confusion mingling with annoyance. "What do you think you're doing?" she demanded.

Kristine huffed, her eyes filled with malice. "I think I should be asking you that, MURDERER!" she spat, emphasizing the last word.

Octavia's heart twisted painfully at the accusation, leaving her momentarily speechless. "W-What?" A tear slipped down her cheek as she stammered.

Kristine continued, her voice dripping with bitterness. "Listen, I want you as far away from here as possible. Carl has made it clear that he cannot be with a barren woman like you. So don't even think about trying to win him back. If you do," she added, her gaze piercing, "I will fucking end you."

Shock coursed through Octavia as she struggled to process Kristine's threats. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Kristine chuckled darkly, releasing Octavia's arm.

Shifting her demeanor, she informed Octavia. "Carl said you shouldn't take any of my clothes with you..."

Octavia furrowed her brows in disbelief, confusion marring her face. "What?" She thought she hadn't heard her right.

"He said I should make sure you don't take any of my stuff with you," Kristine reiterated, her expression hardening. "You don't own anything here anymore. I'm his wife now. Leave."

Octavia grew ballistic. "What do you mean, your clothes? They're mine!" she retorted, her eyes flashing with annoyance.

"Who bought them for you?" Kristine shot back, cutting her off.

Octavia fell silent, struggling to articulate an answer.

Recognizing her silence, Kristine continued, "Exactly. They're not yours. They're mine now." She moved to push Octavia aside, but Octavia refused to back down.

In a moment of desperation, Octavia grabbed Kristine's shoulder, trying to pull her away. Suddenly, a searing pain pierced her side as Kristine plunged a knife (she hadn't noticed was with her before) into her abdomen, much to her bewilderment.

Octavia's eyes widened in horror, her vision blurring as she locked eyes with Kristine, who twisted the knife deeper. "What were you saying?" Kristine taunted, her voice cold as Octavia gasped for breath.

Octavia's body shook, instinctively grasping her wound as warmth seeped through her fingers. Staggering back, she collapsed onto the floor, blood pouring from her. Panic surged through her, but her voice failed her as she felt helpless under Kristine's looming presence.

Struggling to crawl away, Octavia found herself too weak to move. "P-please, please," she begged, tears streaming down her face as Kristine crouched closer.

Kristine smirked wickedly, yanking the knife from Octavia's side, accelerating the flow of blood from the wound.

Face contorted in agony, Octavia pressed her hand to the wound, desperately trying to stop the bleeding. Just when she thought the night couldn't get any worse, Kristine's scream shattered the air.

"Carl!!" she called, her voice echoing through the house.

Octavia watched in disbelief as Kristine cut herself with the knife and collapsed, feigning tears. What kind of twisted game was she playing?

Before she could process what was happening, the bedroom door swung open, and Carl rushed in, visibly agitated.

Octavia's heart sank as she observed Carl's gaze darting between the two of them on the floor. She had hoped he would rush to her aid, but instead, he hurried to Kristine, crouching beside her anxiously.

"What is it, baby? Are you alright?" He asked her, his voice thick with concern.

Octavia's heart twisted painfully at the sight of her husband displaying affection for another woman while she lay injured. She couldn't fathom the betrayal. But the worst was yet to come.

Still sobbing, Kristine clutched Carl's arm, stammering, "It's her, honey. Your ex-wife tried to hurt me because I wouldn't let her take the clothes." Tears streamed down her face as she added, "I was only doing what you asked, Carl. Why... why did she hurt me?"

Octavia's heart raced in shock, momentarily overshadowing her own pain.

She watched as Kristine spun a tale of deceit, accusing her of something she hadn't done. Terror gripped Octavia as Carl's face turned to her, his expression filled with rage

"You did what, Octavia? You tried to harm the woman carrying my child?" he seethed as he approached her, his rage palpable.

Noting his anger, Octavia staggered back, shaking her head vigorously. "I didn't do it, Carl. She's lying. I-I didn't do it."

"Oh, you didn't?" Carl retorted, his voice dripping with contempt. "Like you didn't also kill the babies in your womb?"

"Carl, please," his words cut through her like a hot knife.

"How dare you, Octavia? You tried to harm a pregnant woman! A woman pregnant with my child?!" He roared.

"Please," Octavia cried, retreating from him, but it was too late. Carl's fist struck her cheek with brutal force, his expression devoid of any remorse.

The world around Octavia quieted as pain flared through her. She fell to the floor, her consciousness fading as she heard Carl's bitter voice echoing behind her.

"Murderer..."

Octavia squinted, her eyes slowly adjusting her surroundings as a heavy throbbing pulsated through her head. With a groan, she fluttered her eyelids open, revealing a stark white ceiling above her. Confusion crossed her face as she struggled to comprehend her surroundings, until the familiar voice of her friend, Jade, broke through the haze.

"Oh my goodness, thank goodness you're awake," Jade said, her voice laced with relief as she approached Octavia.

As Octavia turned her gaze toward Jade, the reality of her situation began to sink in: she was in a hospital ward.

"J-Jade," she murmured, confusion evident in her voice. "What's going on? How did I end up here? My head is pounding." With a grimace, she carefully lifted herself to a sitting position, leaning against the headboard in an attempt to gather her thoughts.

"We need to hurry, Octavia. We don't have much time," Jade insisted urgently, grasping her hand and locking eyes with her.

Octavia's brows knitted together in bewilderment as she couldn't comprehend her words. "What do you mean? What time? What's happening? Where are we going?" She bombarded Jade with questions, her mind racing to piece together how she had ended up in the hospital.

Jade's frantic tone pulled Octavia from her thoughts. "It's Carl, Octavia. He's about to arrest you for attempting to harm the woman carrying his child."

The weight of Jade's words hit Octavia like a thunderbolt. "What?" She exclaimed in shock.

Ignoring her reaction, Jade urged her again. "We have to leave, Octavia. You've been unconscious since last night. For all we know, he could be on his way here with the police right now. We must hurry..."

"What are you talking about? I didn't do anything!" Octavia shot back, annoyance flashing in her eyes. A memory of the blow from Carl that had knocked her unconscious flooded her mind, prompting her to ask, "How did you find me, Jade?"

Jade hesitated, her voice thick with sympathy as she replied, "You're fortunate you called me earlier, Octavia."

Still dazed, Octavia waited for Jade to continue.

"I found you..." Jade's voice trembled as she fought back the tears welling in her eyes. "I found you lying unconscious in a pool of blood outside Carl's mansion, last night..." She said, swallowing hard.

"What?" Octavia's heart raced, shock coursing through her.

"I'm so sorry, Octavia..."

Painful tears welled in Octavia's eyes as disbelief and despair washed over her. "That's impossible. Carl wouldn't do that to me..." she protested, shaking her head in disbelief.

"I'm so sorry, Octavia..."

"You're lying, Jade. He wouldn't betray me like that. He loves me..."

"He doesn't, Octavia. He sees you as the murderer of his child. I'm sorry, but you need to let go... He's an asshole."

"No, no," Octavia sobbed, her heart constricting with anguish as she struggled to breathe.

Jade's tone was soft as she tried to sympathize with her. "I understand, Octavia, but we need to leave now unless you want to be jailed for a crime you didn't commit."

"She framed me! That bitch set me up! I didn't do it!" Octavia cried, her voice heavy with grief.

"I know, my love. It's going to be alright," Jade said, wrapping her arms around Octavia and gently patting her back. "You'll be okay..."

Their moment of sorrow was interrupted as Doctor Franklin, who had treated Octavia the night before, entered the room with some documents in his hand.

They broke their embrace as they noticed his presence.

"Doctor Franklin," Jade greeted, turning to him while Octavia remained silent, lost in thought, a torrent of tears still streaming down her cheeks.

"Miss Jade," he acknowledged with a nod before addressing Octavia, who still remained silent. "Miss Davis."

Octavia sniffled at the sound of her name, slowly turning her tear-streaked face toward the doctor.

"How are you feeling?" he inquired.

Octavia responded with a brief nod, her gaze dropping once again.

The doctor continued, "I'm pleased to see you're recovering speedily. Thanks to Miss Jade, we managed to stop the bleeding before it worsened. Fortunately, your injuries didn't affect your babies; they're doing fine. I'll have your medications..."

"Wait! Hold up," Jade interjected, shock evident on her face, mirrored by Octavia's sudden attention to the doctor.

"Is there a problem, Miss Jade?" Doctor Franklin asked innocently.

Octavia was left speechless as Jade took charge of the inquiry of what they had just heard. Octavia had thought she was the one who misheard initially, but seeing Jade's similar reaction had her thinking otherwise.

Jade continued. "Yes, there is, Doctor. You mentioned something about babies... what are you talking about? What did you mean by that?" She questioned with furrowed brows.

The doctor's expression shifted to confusion as he nodded, affirming his statement. "I did. Oh, I'm sorry. I assumed you were already aware of your pregnancy..."

Jade interrupted. "Yes, we were aware she was pregnant, but it was confirmed a week ago that she had a miscarriage..."

Doctor Franklin shook his head in disbelief. "No, that's incorrect. This young woman is still pregnant with twins..."

"Twins??" Octavia exclaimed, finally regaining her voice. She looked between bewildered Jade and the doctor. "What are you saying, Doctor? Am I really still pregnant? How is that possible?"

"If you'd like, I can arrange for a scan to confirm," he offered, seeing they wouldn't believe him.

"We would like that!" Jade replied eagerly. "Please, let's do that right away."

"Very well then. I'll get my assistant and be back shortly," The doctor said before exiting the room, leaving them in a whirlwind of confusion.

Once they were alone, Octavia turned to Jade, her face etched with anxiety. "What's happening, Jade? How am I still pregnant? Could it be true?"

"I have no idea either, my love. We'll have to wait for the doctor to explain," Jade reassured her. "Everything will be okay, Octavia. Relax."

Nodding slowly, Octavia felt her heart race as they awaited the doctor's return. A few minutes later, he finally arrived with a nurse, and the scan was conducted immediately.

As they examined Octavia's belly, the screen displayed two tiny figures, nestled comfortably within her.

Octavia covered her mouth in disbelief, tears streaming down her cheeks as she processed the sight of her babies.

"I hope you can see for yourself, Miss Davis. Your babies are perfectly healthy. You never had a miscarriage. Congratulations..."

Octavia sobbed quietly, her eyes glued to the screen.

"We're still having a baby-no, babies! This is unbelievable, Octavia!" Jade exclaimed, her excitement palpable.

In stark contrast, Octavia remained silent, her mind racing as she grappled with the reality of her situation. This was a miracle. Despite everything, she was still pregnant. Tears of joy streamed down her face as she wrapped her arms around her belly, realizing this could be the key to winning back Carl's love.