His Deepest Regret

Olivia's POV

I had tried to move on. I had built a life for myself and Max, and I didn't need him. Or at least, I told myself I didn't... But seeing him across the room, his presence commanding the space, my heart betrayed me. It hammered against my chest as if begging for attention. I had expected the encounter- had prepared myself for it- but nothing could have prepared me for how much it would affect me.

I stood frozen in place, watching him laugh with some acquaintances, his dark hair slightly tousled in the way it always had been. His features were sharper now, more defined, but still so familiar. The man I had loved, the one who had once been my everything, was now a stranger who didn't even know my name.

Max tugged on my sleeve, pulling me back to reality.

"Mom, who is that?" he asked, his voice innocent but laced with curiosity. His small fingers gripped my hand, his little face looking up at me with a question I wasn't sure how to answer.

"That's someone I used to know," I replied, forcing a smile, pushing down the ache in my chest.

Max didn't understand, not really. He had never known Marcus. I had kept him away, not wanting to drag the past into his innocent world. He didn't know the heartache, the betrayal, or the years spent trying to make sense of the shattered pieces of a love that had once seemed so perfect.

Marcus's eyes shifted in my direction, and for a brief second, I thought he might have recognized me. His gaze met mine, and I could see the flicker of confusion in his expression. It lasted only a moment, but it felt like an eternity. Then, his lips curled into a smile, the same smile that had once melted me. I didn't return it. Not this time.

Max tugged on my hand again, more insistently. "Mom, do we know him?"

I hesitated. The words stuck in my throat. How could I explain the man standing before us, the man who had once been everything to me, only to break me apart without a second thought?

"We knew him a long time ago," I said softly, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept my composure. I had to.

"Are we going to talk to him?" Max asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

I shook my head. "No, sweetheart. We're not. We should go."

Before Max could protest, I turned away, guiding him through the crowd of people, my heart still racing, but now for an entirely different reason. My mind whirled, my thoughts clouded with the past, with everything I had been through.

He was standing there, a few feet away, looking at us with that same expression that once made me feel like I was the center of his world. I didn't belong in his world anymore, and I sure as hell wasn't about to let him back in... But that didn't mean it wouldn't hurt.

I reached the exit, my grip tightening on Max's hand. I had to get out of there before I broke down. The past was a place I had buried deep inside, and seeing Marcus again made it feel like it was all rushing back to the surface. Every word, every touch, every promise that had been made and then shattered-like glass slipping through my fingers.

Marcus's POV

The first thing I noticed was the way she looked. Olivia hadn't changed much. She was still beautiful, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders in soft waves. Her green eyes, the ones that used to melt me, were guarded now, holding something I couldn't quite read. I hadn't seen her in years, but the moment our eyes met, everything shifted.

I had moved on. I had to. The last time we spoke, she had said nothing about the child she was carrying. Not a word. I had walked away, thinking we were both better off. But seeing her again now, with a little boy by her side, made me wonder if I had made the biggest mistake of my life. The boy must have been around four or five. He had her eyes. It was unmistakable.

I had heard rumors. Whispers about her, about the son she had raised alone. A part of me had always wondered if the rumors were true. But seeing him, standing beside her, I couldn't deny it any longer. I knew that kid was mine.

I thought she'd approach me, or at least acknowledge me, but she didn't. She barely even looked my way. I couldn't blame her. I had left her broken. I had abandoned her when she needed me the most, and the guilt still gnawed at me, even now. I should have never let her go.

The boy tugged at her hand, and she turned away, walking toward the door, leaving me standing there, my heart heavy in my chest.

I wanted to run after them, to ask her-demand from her-why she hadn't told me. Why she hadn't given me a chance to be there for her. For the kid... But I didn't.

I stood there, rooted to the spot, watching her disappear into the crowd. I couldn't help the feeling of regret that swept over me. I had made millions, built an empire, but none of it mattered if Olivia wasn't there to share it with me.

Olivia's POV

I couldn't breathe. The air outside was cold, the night sky dark and empty above us, but it felt like I was suffocating. I had walked away, but the truth was, I couldn't escape. The feeling of his eyes on me, the unspoken questions that hung between us, the boy beside me who deserved the truth-it was all too much.

"Mom, who was that?" Max asked again, his voice softer this time, more insistent.

I looked down at him, trying to calm my racing heart. "That was someone I knew a long time ago. You don't need to worry about him."

"But he looked at us like he knew us," Max said, confusion written all over his face.

"That's because he does." My voice was barely a whisper, barely audible over the rush of blood in my ears. "But it's complicated."

I guided Max away from the building, past the streetlights, back toward my car. I needed to put space between us and the man who had once been my world, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the truth had finally caught up to me. Marcus had seen Max. And now he knew.

Marcus's POV

I followed them. I couldn't help myself. The woman I had once loved, the one I had walked away from, was now walking away from me. She had a son, a child who was mine. I knew it, without a shadow of a doubt.

I hadn't been a good man. I had walked away from her when she needed me most. I had chosen to ignore the signs, to pretend everything was fine. But it wasn't.

And now, there was a little boy who was mine, a boy I hadn't known about, a boy I had no right to call my own. The thought of it hit me like a punch to the gut.

Olivia was trying to protect him. From me. From the man who had abandoned her.

I knew the truth now, and it hurt more than anything else in the world. The question was, could I do anything about it? Would she ever let me in?

Olivia's POV

Max was playing in the living room, his laughter echoing through the empty space, but it did little to ease the storm brewing inside me. I had always prided myself on being strong, on handling everything on my own. But after seeing Marcus again, the cracks in my carefully constructed life were beginning to show.

I had buried everything about him so deep in the past. The pain. The lies. The way he left me, right when I needed him most. And yet, here I was, unable to shake the memory of his face, the way his eyes searched for mine, that familiar sadness mixed with regret.

Max glanced up from his toys, his wide, curious eyes studying me as I sat on the couch, staring at nothing in particular.

"Mom, you look sad," he said, his voice soft but perceptive. At his age, I hadn't realized how much he could read me, but he always seemed to know when something wasn't right.

"I'm just tired, sweetheart," I replied, forcing a smile, brushing my hair behind my ear. I couldn't let him see the storm brewing inside me. He didn't deserve to carry the weight of my past.

Max didn't look convinced. He climbed into my lap, his small hands patting my cheek. "Do you miss him?" he asked innocently, his gaze filled with so much love. He didn't know the man he was talking about, but I could see the connection he was making. The curiosity in his eyes mirrored the questions I had carried for years.

"I used to," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "But we don't need him, Max. You and me, we have everything we need."

He seemed to accept that answer, nodding as if it made perfect sense. I breathed a sigh of relief, my heart aching with both love and guilt. I had always tried to protect him from the truth, from the fact that the man I had once loved was now a stranger to us... But deep down, I knew the time had come. The secrets couldn't stay buried forever.

---

Marcus's POV

The next day, I couldn't focus. I had a meeting scheduled with my team, but all I could think about was her. Olivia. I had seen her, spoken to her for mere seconds, and it was enough to unravel every piece of control I thought I had over my life. She had changed-of course, she had-but not in the ways I expected. The years had only made her stronger, more distant. And the boy with her, Max, the one who resembled her so much, made the ache in my chest unbearable. I should have been there for her... For him.

It wasn't just the shock of seeing her after all this time. It was the realization that I had missed everything. The boy she had raised alone, the life she had built without me. I had spent so many years justifying my actions, telling myself I had done the right thing by walking away, but seeing her again shattered all those excuses.

I couldn't stop thinking about the child. The child I didn't know existed until now. The child who was mine.

I stood by the window in my office, staring at the skyline below, but my mind was somewhere else. Olivia. Max. I needed to know more. I needed to fix this. I had to do something to make it right.

"Marcus," a voice called, pulling me out of my thoughts. My assistant, Claire, stood at the door, her expression serious. "The team's waiting for you in the conference room."

I nodded absently, running a hand through my hair. "Give me a few more minutes."

She hesitated before leaving me alone again. The silence returned, but this time, it felt suffocating. The weight of my own regrets pressed down on me. I couldn't let it go, not this time. I had to find her. I had to talk to her. I couldn't stand the idea of her resenting me, of her raising my son without me.

---

Olivia's POV

The days after our encounter were filled with questions I didn't have answers to. Max continued to ask about Marcus, his innocent questions stirring up feelings I thought I had buried. I had hoped the sight of him would be enough to put the past behind me. But it wasn't. If anything, it had brought it all back to the surface.

I couldn't stop thinking about the way Marcus had looked at me. That flash of recognition, the way his eyes lingered on Max. There had been something in his gaze-regret, yes, but also longing. And guilt. So much guilt.

But that didn't change anything. I had moved on. I had built a life without him, one that was stable and safe. Max deserved better than to have his life thrown into chaos by a man who had never bothered to look back.

Still, I couldn't ignore the part of me that longed for answers. The part of me that had carried his child in silence, never able to tell him the truth. The truth I had hidden for so long. It was time.

I sat down at the kitchen table, Max still playing with his toys in the other room. I pulled out my phone, staring at the contact for Marcus. The same number he had used all those years ago, the number I had never deleted. I knew I couldn't ignore the pull to reach out. The truth needed to come out, no matter how difficult it was.

I pressed the call button, my fingers trembling slightly as the phone rang. It wasn't long before he picked up.

"Olivia?" His voice was tentative, like he hadn't expected me to call. "Is everything okay?"

"No," I said, the words coming out sharper than I intended. "We need to talk."

---

Marcus's POV

I didn't expect her to call. I had thought about reaching out, but after everything, I didn't know if she'd even want to speak to me. When her name appeared on my phone, my heart skipped a beat.

"Olivia?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady, though my mind was racing. "Is everything okay?"

"No," she said, her tone biting, as if she had made a decision. "We need to talk."

A chill ran through me. This was it. The moment of truth. I had no idea what she was going to say, but I knew it wouldn't be easy.

"When?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Now," she replied, her voice firm, resolute.

I agreed, knowing I couldn't put this off any longer. I needed to see her. I needed to understand why she hadn't told me, why she had kept everything from me.

---

Olivia's POV

The drive to the café was short, but every minute felt like an eternity. I couldn't decide what I was going to say to him, or if I was even ready to face him. But there was no avoiding it now. I had kept this secret for too long. Max deserved to know the truth, even if Marcus wasn't ready for it.

I arrived early, sitting at a table by the window, watching the cars pass by outside. My mind raced with a thousand thoughts. How was I supposed to look at him, after everything that had happened? How could I explain the years of silence, the heartache that had followed?

When Marcus walked in, my heart skipped. He looked the same-handsome, confident, but there was something different about him now. His eyes were tired, filled with guilt and regret, and for a moment, I wondered if he had always carried that weight.

He sat down across from me, his gaze not leaving mine.

"Olivia," he began, his voice low. "I've thought about this moment every day since I left. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I want to try to make things right."

I stared at him, my heart heavy. "It's not about forgiveness, Marcus," I said, my voice breaking. "It's about the truth. You don't even know the truth."

He looked confused, but I could see the flicker of realization in his eyes. "What do you mean?" he asked, leaning forward.

Taking a deep breath, I finally said the words that had been lodged in my throat for years.

"Max is your son."

For a moment, the world stopped. Marcus froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. I saw the shock register on his face, the way his entire body went rigid.

"My son?" he whispered.

I nodded, my voice barely a whisper. "Yes. Your son."

Olivia's POV

I watched as Marcus processed what I had just revealed to him. His shock was palpable, the disbelief in his eyes obvious, but there was something else- a flicker of guilt, perhaps a hint of longing, that began to take shape in his gaze. The man I had once loved and the man sitting across from me now were two different people, but in this moment, I could see the connection between us hadn't completely faded.

His voice broke the silence, almost a whisper. "Max is... my son?" The words seemed to struggle to leave his lips, like he couldn't quite believe them.

I nodded, forcing myself to meet his gaze, even though every part of me wanted to look away. "Yes. He's yours. He's been yours all along, Marcus. I just never had the chance to tell you."

The truth had been a long time coming. I had kept it from him, from everyone, for so many years. The pain of losing him, of doing it all on my own, had been overwhelming. But in that pain, I had made a decision. I had built a life for Max without him, because I had to. It was easier than facing the truth about why he had left, why he had never even tried to come back.

Marcus's hand trembled slightly as he placed it on the table, his eyes still locked on mine. "But why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you come to me when you found out?"

The question struck a nerve, and I could feel the anger and hurt bubbling up again. It wasn't a simple answer. It wasn't just about the betrayal, or the pain of losing him. It was everything-the way he had left without a word, the way he had just walked away from everything we had built. "You made that choice, Marcus," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "You walked away from me. You didn't even look back."

The room felt smaller now, the walls closing in as I relived the painful memories. I had tried so hard to forget the way he had left, the way he had refused to listen to my plea for him to stay. The abandonment had left me shattered, but I had pulled myself together. For Max. For me.

Marcus leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair, his eyes distant. "I never knew, Olivia. I never knew about Max. If I had known-"

"You didn't," I cut him off, my voice firm. "You didn't know. And that's because you chose not to. You chose your career, your life, over me and the family we could have had. I couldn't-" My throat tightened, the words choking me. "I couldn't wait around for you to change your mind. I had to move on."

A long silence followed. I couldn't bring myself to look at him. The anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface, but it was mixed with something else-a sadness, a longing for what could have been.

"I was wrong," Marcus finally said, his voice quiet but resolute. "I shouldn't have left. I should've stayed. I should've been there for you... for Max."

I glanced up at him then, meeting his eyes. The sincerity in his words was undeniable. But I wasn't sure if it was too late to fix what had been broken. "It doesn't matter now, Marcus," I said, my voice soft. "I've made my peace with everything. Max and I, we're fine. We don't need you to fix anything."

"Olivia, I want to be part of his life. I want to be part of yours," Marcus insisted, his eyes pleading. "I can't undo what I've done, but I want to make it right. Please, just give me a chance."

The words hung between us, and I felt the pull of them. Part of me wanted to believe him, to let him back into our lives, to give Max the father he deserved. But another part of me-one that had been hurt too many times before-held me back. I couldn't just let him back in without knowing he was really committed this time.

"I don't know if I can," I said honestly. "It's been so long. So much has happened."

Marcus's face fell, the desperation clear in his expression. "I understand if you don't trust me. I know I've lost that right. But I'm not asking for your forgiveness. I'm asking for a chance. A chance to be the man I should've been. A chance to know my son."

His words echoed in my mind, and I felt torn. Could I really let him back into our lives? Could I risk opening up again, only to have him leave like he did before?

"I'll think about it," I said, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. I didn't want to give him hope, but I didn't want to shut him out completely either. "But it's not just about me. It's about Max. He's not going to just accept you because you're his father. He needs to see that you're here to stay."

Marcus nodded, his face a mixture of relief and apprehension. "I'll do whatever it takes, Olivia. I'm not going anywhere."

I wasn't sure I believed him, but I didn't have the strength to argue further. I needed time to process everything. The years of pain, the years of pretending I didn't care, and now, the chance of a new beginning. It was overwhelming.

Marcus's POV

I had spent so many years convincing myself that what I had done was for the best. I had told myself that I was doing the right thing by leaving, by focusing on my career, my ambitions. I had buried my regrets, hidden them away, and allowed myself to move on. But now, sitting across from Olivia, hearing her words, I realized how wrong I had been.

The reality of it hit me like a punch to the gut. How could I have missed out on so much? I had chosen everything else over my family, and now I was paying the price. Olivia had done an incredible job raising him on her own, and from the way she spoke, she had built a life without me in it. I didn't deserve a place in that life, but I wasn't going to give up. Not without a fight.

"I should've known, Olivia," I said, my voice filled with remorse. "I should've fought harder for you. For us."

"You left," she said, her voice flat, emotionless. "You left me when I needed you the most."

The words stung, but they were the truth. I had no excuse. I had abandoned her, and now I had to live with the consequences of my actions.

"You don't have to forgive me," I continued, my voice shaky. "But I want to try. I want to make up for all the lost time."

She didn't respond immediately. Instead, she looked away, her gaze distant, lost in thought. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the battle between wanting to protect herself and wanting to give me a chance.

"I don't know what I want," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I can trust you again."

It hurt to hear those words, but I couldn't blame her. I had earned her distrust. But I wasn't going to give up. I would prove myself, no matter how long it took.

"I'll show you," I said, my voice firm. "I'll show you that I'm not the man I was. I'm not the man who left you. I'm the man who wants to be there for you now. For both of you."

Olivia didn't answer, but the way her eyes softened, even if just a little, gave me hope. It wasn't much, but it was a start. And that was all I needed.

Olivia's POV

I didn't know what the future held, but one thing was certain: nothing would ever be the same. Marcus was back in my life, and Max's, whether I was ready or not. I had no idea if I could ever forgive him, if I could ever trust him again, but I knew that I couldn't let the past define us forever.

I had a responsibility to Max, and that meant figuring out what was best for him. If that meant giving Marcus a chance, then I would. But it would take time. And trust, which was something that couldn't be rebuilt overnight.